<p>Hi everyone, so I'm applying to a few LAC's and one or two ivies that all say they meet full need (along w/ my state school which I know I could pay for). However, I'm not sure how they generally calculate need in the case of divorced parents. My mom (custodial parent) would basically have 0 efc on any of the aid calculators, but if you simply lump my parents' incomes together, the efc is higher. Let's say my mom's income is 25k and my dad's is 45k. How would colleges of this type generally determine efc for this situation? Also, if a college (ie, Vassar) says they don't include loans for incomes under 60k, does this apply to me? Thanks :)</p>
<p>While your parent (s) may have a 0 EFC, it does not mean that they will have a 0 EFC once they fill out the school’s form for institutional aid.</p>
<p>Have either of your parents remarried?</p>
<p>If yes, then your stepparent’s income also becomes part of the equation.</p>
<p>Schools will ask for the profile or their own institutional aid form in addition to the non-custodial profile/their own non-custodial forms.</p>
<p>Are either of your parents self employed or own their own businesses?</p>
<p>Does either parent own real estate other than their primary residence?</p>
<p>Each school will have their own formula for how they determine your EFC.</p>
<p>^It depends if the school uses CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE to determine your need or not. FAFSA only requires your mother’s financial data. PROFILE requires both.</p>
<p>Vassar is a PROFILE school. See [Financial</a> Aid - Vassar College Catalogue - Vassar College](<a href=“http://catalogue.vassar.edu/general-information/financial-aid/]Financial”>http://catalogue.vassar.edu/general-information/financial-aid/)
</p>
<p>Neither of my parents is remarried, and neither owns a home or business (though my mom is self-employed on the side, just w/ cleaning, not a huge thing).</p>
<p>All of the schools I’m talking about (besides the state school) require the css profile and the noncustodial parent’s info. I just don’t really know how they consider it- lumping both parents’ incomes together wouldn’t really be fair… Does the process differ from school to school? (I’m thinking like Brown, Tufts, BC, Barnard, Amherst, Midd, etc)</p>
<p>Your mother will have to include the income from her self-employed on the side job in addition to any child/spousal support she receives from your father.</p>
<p>
See [The</a> CSS Profile Form - Overview of the CSS Profile Form for Financial Aid](<a href=“http://collegesavings.about.com/od/applyingforfinancialaid/a/cssoverview.htm]The”>What Is the CSS Profile Form?)
</p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry much about financial aid (especially for the schools that give 100% demonstrated need). My parents’ income are slightly higher than yours and I’m only paying 5k at BC compared to the 60k price tag. Every school has their own way of calculating aid. The only people who can accurately tell you what its based on are the financial aid advisors themselves. </p>
<p>Also you can check out each college’s financial aid calculator on CollegeBoard. It gives you a rough estimate on how much aid you can expect to receive.</p>
<p>Other than that, you should just apply to all those schools and then make a decision based on what’s your best fit and what you can afford.</p>
<p>Good Luck!</p>
<p>@sybbie, I know, I’m considering that.
I guess I’ll just wait and see where I get in and what they offer me?
Thanks for the link. And argh, I didn’t know the profile costs extra…</p>
<p>@BostonCollege: Thanks! That’s good to know, I visited BC and really liked it! Hopefully it’ll work out for me too, I guess I shouldn’t stress that much yet, haha.</p>
<p>As you know, both parents have to complete PROFILE. How the two household incomes are treated, depends upon each school. If you have a zero EFC from the FAFSA, you would be entitled to the PELL grant and subsidized Direct Loans up to $3500 and non subsidized up to $2K. How each school integrate these entitlements, again varies. </p>
<p>Even the most generous school usually require a student contribution of about $4K or so. What kind of a contribution they will expect from your father and your mother is really up in the air. Can’t tell yet how accurate NPCs work with split familiies.</p>
<p>Go on ahead and apply to the schools that you have on your list, but like anyone else who applies to colleges, there should be some sure thing options on your list too. Those are often the most difficult schools to find, and the most important ones, because getting into the selective school are a lottery process and getting aid is up in the air too.</p>
<p>they won’t just add the two incomes together since there are separate households.</p>
<p>However, they do get to use their own formulas.</p>
<p>And, YOU will likely have a “student contribution” that you’re supposed to earn over the summer.</p>
<p>I do have to ask how you’ll be able to pay for your state school with a custodial parent making $25K. I assume merit aid? If so great. You’ve got one sure thing and anything else can be considered when the FA numbers come in.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info everyone! And erin’s dad, I know I’ll be able to pay for the state school because of merit aid + tuition remission (which I’m eligible for because my dad works in the state college system). And I’ve got some money saved up for my contribution, not 4k but I’m planning to keep saving.</p>