Crap. Can I choose more colleges?

Paying for College
1

<p>So I just revisited my financial aid form, and submitted it. It showed my EFC, which is 7800. Is this good? Anyways, thats not my main concern, but it'd be nice if someone could answer.</p>

<p>I looked at the lower half of the page, and it showed only one college, which is Cornell. I'm not even sure if I want to apply to Cornell to be honest. Can I retract college or add to it?</p>

2

<p>It may be good or it may not be…</p>

<p>Depends on…</p>

<p>1) what schools are you applying to? (most don’t meet need and don’t give a lot of aid.)</p>

<p>2) can your parents pay your EFC or more?</p>

<p>3) what are your stats?</p>

<p>4) do you have a non-custodial parent?</p>

<p>Yes, you can choose other schools.</p>

3

<p>From your other thread…</p>

<p>*SAT:
1770 now. Taking it in Oct. Will raise it over 2000.</p>

<p>Rank: 26/145 GPA: 94.3 Weighted
*</p>

<p>If you raise your SAT substantially, then your chances at the schools that meet need increase.</p>

<p>Students with a lot of need who don’t have high stats have the hardest time getting the aid they need to go away to school. </p>

<p>What is your financial safety school?</p>

4

<p>Hey mom, you seem very knowledgeable about financial aid stuff judging from your posts in this subforum and there’s certain things I don’t want to leave public, so I want to address some things with you over personal message if that’s ok.</p>

5

<p>The FAFSA is not yet available for the 2011-2012 school year. If you area senior in high school you will not be submitting your FAFSA for next fall (2011) until Jan 1, 2011 which is the first day it is available. You probably submitted the 2010-2011 FAFSA - which I assume Cornell will ignore since you are not a current student or spring transfer.</p>

6

<p>My guidance counselor told me to fill out my fafsa if I’m applying ED. So… I guess fafsa counts for ED and EAs or is my Guidance Counselor way off?</p>

7

<p>qweasd
It looks like you don’t file FAFSA for ED now. They apparently will base your initial aid package on the Profile. See link</p>

<p><a href=“http://admissions.cornell.edu/apply/firstyear/Admission_and_Financial_Aid_Timetable_Mailing_Instructions.pdf[/url]”>http://admissions.cornell.edu/apply/firstyear/Admission_and_Financial_Aid_Timetable_Mailing_Instructions.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

8

<p>The current FAFSA is for the current 2010-2011 school year. It is not any use for the 2011-2012 school year. </p>

<p>If you are applying to schools that take CSSprofile then you do need to complete that sometime soon (your school web site should tell you when). </p>

<p>You need to research your individual schools to see what forms they require and when their deadlines are. It should be fairly easy information to find on each school’s website.</p>

<p>The FAFSA for 2011-2012 will be available January 1st. Completing the current 2010-2011 one will not count as having met any deadlines so make sure you complete the correct one after January 1st.</p>

<p>

I do not understand this comment. You are the one that decides which school to list on FAFSA. It would not list Cornell unless you put Cornell on it.</p>

9

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<p>You need to check the websites for the schools you are applying to…and see what financial aid applications and supporting information they require AND find out the DEADLINES. This will vary by school. For ED/EA, some schools have a “priority deadline” that is much earlier than for regular decision. The Profile is available for filing NOW and ED/EA schools that require it will likely have an early deadline of mid-November or so. </p>

<p>As noted by others, the FAFSA for the upcoming school year is not available for filing until Jan 1, 2011. </p>

<p>If you are applying ED/EA, you will likely be completing a Profile (if required) VERY soon. The FAFSA should be completed ASAP after January 1. In both cases you will be using estimates for the 2010 tax year for income and taxes. Make these estimates as close to the actual numbers as you can. You will be required to update the Profile and FAFSA with information from your parents and your 2010 tax return AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. This is not the year to file your taxes on April 15. Any financial aid award you get with estimates will BE an estimate. Once you put in the actual 2010 tax return information, your schools will finalize your financial aid award…and yes, if your estimates are not accurate, this CAN change your award.</p>

<p>Your GC is misinformed if they are telling you to complete a FAFSA for NEXT year now…it’s not yet available.</p>

10

<p>When you do fill out the “real” FAFSA (for 2011-12) you can add schools later if you want to. You access your file online (don’t lose your FAFSA ID#!) and add more schools. It’s pretty simple. </p>

<p>Now is a good time to keep a notebook near your computer to write down the hideous number of ID numbers, passwords, etc. you’ll need for all your apps and financial aid forms.</p>