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<p>Well, in my perfect libertarian ideal, we’d all pay less taxes so we could afford to pay 100% COA! 
Seriously, if the government were out of it, the transaction would be between student and college, and the college could give out whatever aid to whomever for whatever (diversity, grades, sports, arts, legacies…).</p>
<p>LOL on the librarian vs. libertarian! Librarians are usually much better received than libertarians…</p>
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<p>We don’t have basements in Texas, but we do have attics…don’t want any of my kids in there during my old age, for sure!!! :)</p>
<p>*Her guidance counselor started out with a cautionary tale about someone who aimed too high and is now living in his parent’s basement owing $150,000 in student loans. What am I supposed to do with a story like that? The message to me was don’t encourage your kid’s dreams or they’ll end up living in your basement. *</p>
<p>LOL…</p>
<p>I don’t mind that message. At least it gets parents thinking about the possible problems of BIG debt. </p>
<p>Dreaming is ok, but dreams need a reality check. If attending a dream school requires BIG debt, then that bubble needs to be popped. :)</p>
<p>Red Unicorn quote: *I had almost the same problem with the OP!
I filled out the FAFSA form, and aimed as low as possible. In the end the EFC for my family is 20,000k and both my parents, mom and dad combined make 72,000 a year!
Not to mention that 70% of that 72k goes to expenses. I’m now worried that I won’t be able to afford college. Geez. *</p>
<p>Have your parents told you how much they can contribute each year? If it’s a lot less than $20k per year, it’s going to be a problem.</p>
<p>Did you apply to any financial safety schools? </p>
<p>What schools did you apply to? I saw that you applied to UMass-A and Oberlin. Where else did you apply?</p>
<p>Keep in mind you won’t really know what a particular school will cost your family until the aid/acceptance packet comes. </p>
<p>Even then there are ways to cut costs. For instance, if a student is not driving at college, check with the insurance company. Ours has a deal that covers my kid when he’s home on break but is much, much less than we used to pay. </p>
<p>If a student is covered by parents health insurance, it may be possible to not buy campus insurance. This saves $1500 a year. </p>
<p>Plus you’ve been buying grocercies for the kid for years. Now you will write a check to Dining Services – so part of that EFC is money you already pay out. </p>
<p>All this adds up – not enough, but some.</p>
<p>Mom2CollegeKids:
Yes, I did talk to my parents, since I need to explain to them anyways what financial aid is about. The maximum my parents could contribute is somewhere around the neighborhood of 5,000. Especially on my freshman year, when my mother would not be working.
I did apply to two more other schools. Wesleyan University and Umass Darmouth. I have a scholarship for the Umass Schools. ( Don’t have to pay for tuition). I’m just worried that if I do get accepted to the private schools, I might end up turning down these great institutions because of financial matter.</p>
<p>*I filled out the FAFSA form, and aimed as low as possible. In the end the EFC for my family is 20,000k and both my parents, mom and dad combined make 72,000 a year! *</p>
<p>*The maximum my parents could contribute is somewhere around the neighborhood of 5,000.</p>
<p>I’m just worried that if I do get accepted to the private schools, I might end up turning down these great institutions because of financial matter. *</p>
<p>Unfortunately, that happens all the time. Many kids have to turn down their fav schools because the schools aren’t affordable because their parents can pay their EFCs or their aid packages have gaps or big loans in them.</p>
<p>You have AT LEAST a $15k per year gap. I say “at least,” because I don’t know if your favorite schools meet need without loans. If their aid packages have gaps, Stafford loans, and/or PLUS loans in them, you probably won’t be able to go. </p>
<p>Even your safety schools could be an issue. You have free tuition, but there’s still room, board, books, fees, etc to pay for. Your parents $5k will help a bit, but you’d have to take out a Stafford loan to pay the rest. If that’s still not enough, you’ll have to work in the summer to pay for books and things.</p>
<p>janerik - here is a link for international student financial aid at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania. I have read somewhere that they are very generous with aid to international students. Also, they state on the applications page that they can be flexible with deadlines. Might be worth a look.</p>
<p>[Dickinson</a> College - International Financial Aid](<a href=“http://www.dickinson.edu/admissions/international/International-Financial-Aid/]Dickinson”>International Scholarships and Financial Aid | International Scholarships and Financial Aid | Dickinson College)</p>
<p>RedUnicorn, it sounds like you’re in fine shape. You said you can go to UMass tuition free. If your parents can come up with $5K and you take a Stafford loan, you can make ends meet with a summer job.</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>I agree, but it sounds like RedUnicorn would not want to decline acceptances at top choices over the issue of money.</p>
<p>If your EFC is 41k, can your parents really only afford 15k, or do they only WANT to pay 15k…there’s a difference</p>
<p>The way I read the OP, I assumed he mistakenly arrived at the 41K, but later when talking to his parents, discovered they could only afford to pay $15K per year, not 41K. </p>
<p>I’m like mimi…a libertarian. This shouldn’t involve the govt at all. The way I see it, my full fare is going to cover someone’s loan, or grant. Silly us for having scrimped and saved.</p>
<p>@ Mom2Colle and Erin’s Dad:
Thank you for your advice. I already have two jobs, but to send money back to the Philippines ( where I came from) to send some of my cousins to school. I guess I can use that instead for college, better that or nothing. Loans wouldn’t be so bad either.
I think I now discovered why the EFC is so high. 1.) I have two jobs. Combined together pays me more than 5k per year 2.) I have a savings account that I had saved up (total>5k) 3. My parents also have a saving accounts, and so does my brother.
Like everyone said, EFC are just estimates, so the true outcome is never sure of. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see :]</p>
<p>I’d take UMAss and run. How can you pass up free tuition? You would be wise to take the opportunity and then go to a private grad school if you so choose and then your parents may be in a better position to contribute what they would have paid for undergrad.</p>
<p>*@ Mom2Colle and Erin’s Dad:
Thank you for your advice. I already have two jobs, but to send money back to the Philippines ( where I came from) to send some of my cousins to school. I guess I can use that instead for college, better that or nothing. </p>
<p>Loans wouldn’t be so bad either.</p>
<p>I think I now discovered why the EFC is so high.
1.) I have two jobs. Combined together pays me more than 5k per year
2.) I have a savings account that I had saved up (total>5k)
3. My parents also have a saving accounts, and so does my brother. </p>
<p>Like everyone said, EFC are just estimates, so the true outcome is never sure of. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see :] *</p>
<p>What people mean is that EFC is usually the minimum that you’ll have to pay - often, you have to pay more. The only time people pay less is if they go to certain ivies or their merit scholarships exceed their “need.”</p>
<p>@ Milkandsugar: Yup, I’m actually thinking of doing that instead. At first I was quite broken hearted, but in the end I realized that it comes down to one thing. College is college. Yeah, I might be sad that I never got my first choice, but I would rather stay debt free, and not making life hard for my parents who are already suffering.
Since I plan to go to Law School, I think its best to go to Umass instead. My debts would be really high in Law School, so its a wiser decision to take the free tuition and some other scholarships that my school is giving me. Personally, I think this might do me more good in the years to come.
@Mom2collegekids: Oh, well that’s actually something I don’t know. Thank you.</p>
<p>UMASS Tuition: $1714
UMASS Mandatory Fees: $10017</p>
<p>The John and Abigail Adams Scholarship provides a tuition waiver for eight semesters of undergraduate education at a Massachusetts state college or university. The scholarship covers tuition only; fees and room and board are not included. </p>
<p>Surprise, you have a scholarship for the tuition not the fees. And people nationally wonder why we don’t trust our politicians!</p>
<p>@redunicorn. Student assets and savings are counted at a much higher rate than parental assets and savings. SPEND your savings on college expenses before your parents dip into theirs. </p>
<p>Also, on the part of the form where they ask for special circumstances, tell them how you send money to the Philippines and otherwise financially support different family members. You could add something about how you value family and community responsibilities, etc.</p>
<p>You’ll have to fill out the FAFSA each year, so even if it’s too late for this year, it won’t be for the next 3.</p>
<p>RedUnicorn, I think you are making a good decision. Obviously you have given this some good thought.</p>
<p>Last night I attended my kid’s HS session for parents of juniors starting their college search. Overall, pretty underwhelming … CC is a much better source of info. And just one quick comment about applying to financial safeties … with absolutely no mention of FAFSA, CSS profiles, EFCs, gaps, or what FA packages look like … I was extremely disappointed in the school. Complaint email goes out later today.</p>
<p>*UMASS Tuition: $1714
UMASS Mandatory Fees: $10017</p>
<p>The John and Abigail Adams Scholarship provides a tuition waiver for eight semesters of undergraduate education at a Massachusetts state college or university. The scholarship covers tuition only; fees and room and board are not included. </p>
<p>Surprise, you have a scholarship for the tuition not the fees. And people nationally wonder why we don’t trust our politicians! *</p>
<p>Oh my!!!</p>
<p>What smoke and mirrors!!!</p>
<p>Imagine thinking that you’re getting free tuition when really you’re only getting about 15% off of “tuition and fees”.</p>