<p>How likely are they to modify/change your aid package? Because seriously, Duke is my #1 choice, especially because my major (biomedical engineering), Duke is at the top of the nation (#2 I believe), and I'd hate to miss out on going to a school like this after I worked so hard...!</p>
<p>i dont know man, what are your circumstances? you don't have to get too specific but like what was your efc compared to your family's income/savings?</p>
<p>I don't know where the EFC is on the word document...it just says I get a 3500$ Fed. unsubsidized stafford loan...and the the estimated cost of attendance is like 52k or something. I'm gonn acall them up tmrw because I'm not clear on this at all.</p>
<p>Anyone know?</p>
<p>I'm in the exact same situation as you. I would think that the EFC would be the difference between cost of attendance and the "aid" Duke provided, but I am not very sure at all.</p>
<p>One if my friends had a great experience just this year with WashU's financial aid. He said he got thousands of dollars knocked off just by stopping by the financial aid office for a few minutes. ...also, he didn't really even have any extenuating circumstances...he simply felt the number they gave him was unrealistic. No promises and I know this is WashU not Duke, but hopefully it's a good indicator of what is possible. I'm optimistic. Especially because Duke gave me twice as much as WashU to begin with. Duke is my first choice as well.</p>
<p>For me, I hope to get some knocked off because the EFC factors in what they think your parents should have saved. In my case, my parents' earnings have only been close to what they are now for about the past 3 years...not giving them much time to save. Hopefully by providing our 5 year's and 10 year's past tax statements, we'll be able to justify our claim.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>They might give you a couple of thousand more in aid.
But they still expect you to pay BIG BUCKS (at least 80% of what they are telling you now).</p>
<p>I found the Financial Aid Office to be very responsive but not much more forthcoming with increased aid. The Counselor appeared to help us as much as possible, trying to come up with some things, but in the end it didn't add up to much. They did not match what another school offered. My daughter still enrolled and it's been worth every penny.</p>
<p>Predator, your EFC as far as Duke is concerned is total cost of attendance - scholarships/grants - loans - work study. This isn't necessary your EFC based on FAFSA.</p>
<p>duke doesn't know that my family has a baby on the way (due early april). if we tell them about this...show a birth certificate after baby comes, will duke lower our expected family contribution?? babies are...really...expensive...</p>
<p>drpepper I am not sure but contact the office immediately.</p>
<p>ok i plan to talk to the financial aid office in person when i visit duke in april</p>
<p>i tried after i was admitted ED back in december of 2004. i sent several emails and made several phone calls and got no response. my dad wrote a letter explaining our situation and we got no response. </p>
<p>problem was that most of my dad's retirement is not in the form of formal IRAs, its in rental real estate properties... they added all of the real estate as money they could take.</p>
<p>duke is cheap. ****ing cheap bastards. i know so many people who are not capable of paying 45k, but are forced to anyway - lots of outside loans and what not.</p>