<p>On the PROFILE, section F, question 26k, it asks you to report what your parents expect to contribute towards your college education. My parents insisted on leaving this blank, or putting in a low value.</p>
<p>I just went through the Profile I already submitted and realized it was in fact left blank. </p>
<p>What is the purpose of this question? It seems like a "sneak attack" that undermines the purpose of the financial aid forms, which is to determine how much you/your parents can pay. Do you think omitting a response will mess up my aid award? </p>
<p>Contribution is defined by widely available formulas..that's likely what Cornell used. Our family is supposed to be able to contribute 40K, but we live in Fairfield COunty, CT (suburban NYC) where a 2000 sq. foot shack costs $500K, so we're kinda wondering where it is s'posed to come from too. Everyone in the town makes over John Kerry's "$200K and above", the "rich" who need to be taxed more, but everyone I know is struggling. I wish it were all regionally adjusted or something to make both taxation and financial aid more realistic.</p>
<p>put what you expect to contribute.
IMO if you put a lot less than your EFC you look like a piker.
BTW cruncha, that doesn't sound like a such a fancy area to me, in my city Seattle a 100 yr old house that is half that size ( less than 1000sq ft) goes for about $370,000 and that is if you are lucky to find one.
Im not complaining, I love this area that is why I live here. Expensive but worth it. I imagine you feel the same way about Fairfield?</p>
<p>It certainly is. It is one of the most unfair questions on the PROFILE. Guides suggest that you back into the number by looking at estimated EFC or just put in a low number or zero. I really don't know what would happen if someone put in more than they would have been told was their contribution had the put in zero.</p>