<p>My fafsa efc came up to +9000C. Decision was to attend graduate school after being laid off and unable to find a job. We had to commit to voluntary repossession of our vehicle and moved to a more affordable apartment. Married with no children has made our situation relatively easier thant most of struggling families during this economic period. Have never receive aid for school and do not understand much of the whole process and decisions to be made by fafsa/graduate school for award letters. I received unemployment and my wife has a job that helps us to keep afloat. Please, advice in any way/comment possible for me to undestand whether aid will be offered or not.
Thanks</p>
<p>Unless you get accepted to a fully funded PhD program, most grad school financial aid, especially if you are creating a masters degree is in the form of loans.</p>
<p>Well, at this point any sort of aid will help since is impossible for me to afford graduate school. Already accepted to Clemson, Univ of Minnesota, and Rhode Island School of Design but have not received information about financial aid, yet. thanks for your prompt reply</p>
<p>But what does an EFC of 9000 means for graduate since is all on loans, at clemson the semester tuition is 7000, and then what would they consider for aid?</p>
<p>And EFC of any dollar amount has very little bearing on graduate school funding. There are no “meets full need” grad schools based on EFC. There are no Pell grants for grad school. Grad school funding is typically merit based…in the form of assistantships, fellowships, scholarships and grants from the school. Stafford loans are available to grad students. Your low EFC MIGHT qualify you for work study at grad schools that HAVE work study for graduate students…some do and some don’t.</p>
<p>Perhaps your financial aid from one of the accepted schools will include some kind of graduate stipend (assistantship, fellowship or scholarship).</p>
<p>Kmata…think of this…MANY if not most grad students have EFCs that are in the VERY low range. Many are coming directly out of undergrad school and have NO previous income or assets…EFC is $0. </p>
<p>I know this isn’t what you want to hear…but there it is.</p>