So I was recently accepted in GWU though EDII, which is a binding decision. I also got my financial aid award, but I realized that it’s not really affordable (I would have to pay 10k out of pocket, plus another 10k in loans every year, making it a grand total of ~70k by the time I graduate.) I noticed that my family’s EFC was over estimated (by about 8k), so I’ve been trying to get in contact with the financial aid office to fix the problem. However, the financial aid office won’t return my emails and the day to turn in my deposit is March 1st. I know that I could back out of the early decision agreement if I can’t afford the school, but I’m not sure whether I should just go ahead and pay the deposit and wait for the school to get back in touch with me about the financial aid OR should I wait until I hear back about the financial aid to see if it’s affordable, and then pay the deposit?
Also, if I did have to back out of the binding decision because of financial reasons, does anyone have any advice as to how I should go about that?
How do you know your family contribution was over estimated by $8000. GWU uses the Profile…if your FAFSA EFC was $8000 less…that really isn’t the basis for their awards. The GWU awards are based in the info provided in the Profile…not the fafsa EFC.
@thumper1 On my gwu federal shopping sheet it says my family contribution is $7,400 a year
Is that from the net price calculator?
If so, first check to make sure that every entry is correct.
Then contact the financial aid office and just ask them to explain the disparity. It is possible it’s an worry someplace…or maybe they included financial information from your financial aid forms that is NOT asked for on the NPC.
@thumper1 yeah I think I’ll call them tomorrow and talk to them about it, thanks!
Hope it works out!
Part of you challenge is that GWU does not meet 100% demonstrated need.
Your parent’s federal EFC was $7400 a year, after taking a deeper look at their financials (FAFSA + CSS Profile), the school determined that your parents can afford to pay $10,000.
They gave you a financial aid package that has a gap.
If the gap is 10k, and you use your $5500 loan then your gap is only $4500, which you can fill if you work after school (might have to work 2 summer jobs) starting now and over the summer.
Even if you appeal and ask for a few more $$, they most likely are not going to reduce your parents EFC and you will still need to take the $5500 loan. IF you asked for a financial review, what would be the basis of your review? Do you/your parents believe that there is something in your financial situation that the school did not take into consideration (unreimbursed medical bills, bills for a special needs, child, eldercare, etc?)
@sybbie719 I’m don’t think there’s anything really that was overlooked, except maybe (but probably not) the fact that both me and my sister will be attending semi-expensive colleges next year
If you indicated two would be in college on your FAFSA and Profile forms…this was NOT overlooked in the calculations.
Give them a call…and ask. That’s really all you can do.
@thumper1 I’m going to give that a try tomorrow afternoon, hopefully I’ll get it all sorted out
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federal shopping sheet it says my family contribution is $7,400 a year>>>
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It doesn’t matter what a “federal shopping sheet” says. That just sounds like something where GWU is showing you what your FAFSA EFC is. That means nothing to GWU, really. The Feds don’t determine what your family should pay.
BTW…why the heck is there such a thing called “federal shopping sheet” anyway? How misleading!!