<p>According to our FAFSA our EFC is extremely high. However, our cost of living (Southern California) is also extremely high. I sent a letter to each of my DDs colleges explaining our circumstances with an evaluation of our finances. The aid awards were all loans, no need based grants. Loans need to be repayed and therefore will affect our cash flow which is already stressed. How should I approach the FA office to reconsider?</p>
<p>Our EFC was less than $3000 and we got $1900 grants and all the rest is loans, so being middle-class doesn't allow us to fare much better.</p>
<p>Best wishes to you! We'll all be paying college loans for awhile, but it's worth it. We're just thankful for every scholarship our son gets.</p>
<p>If you have a high EFC, it's because your family has high income and/or high assets. How you use that income and those assets is a choice you make. If they're already committed to a high mortgage, multiple car payments, and other obligations, then yes-- it will affect your cash flow.</p>
<p>You can always ask for reconsideration, but your situation isn't one that's likely to be received favorably, I'd think.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, EFC's are calculated based upon national averages and really have no reflection of cost of living.</p>
<p>The system is in no way close to perfect.</p>