Does anyone have a sense about how the Expected Family Contribution number correlates to aid given?
American is my DD’s #1 choice. She wants to study at SIS. She just attended a Showcase event and has been in contact with her regional rep. She’ll do a interview soon. She loves this school. She wants to be in Washington. She really wants to be at AU.
She would be happy to apply ED1 as there really is no other place she wants to go.
The big question we’re evaluating is what her costs might be, so we have a sense of what kind of aid offer she might receive if admitted ED1. She’s not likely to be top percent academically (though she is in middle 50% metrics), so top GPA merit doesn’t seem realistic.
I know they said merit aid is between $6K and $30K, but I’m trying to get a more refined sense of whether she might be somewhere in there.
If we subtract EFC from COA, will that give us a realistic sense of what AU might offer?
None of this would matter if she was applying RD, but since this is her top choice, we’re trying to get a sense of what kind of financial landscape we’re looking at IF they say yes.
Thanks. No, not yet. Waiting for final 2016 tax info (any day now.) I thought I remember reading somewhere here that the NPC might not be totally accurate. Might have that wrong.
I spoke with AU FinAid person today, and they didn’t mention that resource on their site. Not sure if I’d read anything into that or not. I’ll check in days ahead. Thanks!
No the EFC is not a good indicator of what financial aid you will get from a school like AU that doesn’t guarantee to meet the need of students. FAFSA EFC will tell you if you can expect federal grants like Pell.
The NPC can be accurate if your tax situation is simple, but if you are just doing your 2016 taxes now, they probably aren’t simple. Small business or self employed? Not so easy to read what your daughter can expect.
Financial Aid told me that the NPC was not accurate and not to rely on it. It has not been updated since 2014. They also said that your aid package will not be different if you apply ED or RD. You can decline ED based on financial reasons and there is evidence that people do decline ED as USNWR reports that768 ED students were accepted last year and 683 attended. That said my son’s counselor told us that her last student who was accepted into AU RD felt that the ED students received the better packages. I have no data to back that up - just his perception. There is not just merit available, but also AU grants to meet demonstrated financial need. Of course loans are included in meeting need too. Have you filled out the CSS, because they require that form too.
Thanks, sahmkc. Yes, we’re going to fill out the CSS too. Interesting observation about ED students possibly receiving better packages. AU specifically says it’s all equal, so who knows. I’m surprised by the USNWR #s. There’s no way to know why those 85 students didn’t attend. That’s 11% if my math is right. I suppose some students applied ED expecting more aid but then didn’t get it. $63K+/year is definitely eye opening! Fortunately DW and I have professions that allow us to work harder, expand our businesses and (hopefully) make more $$ to cover college. If DD is fortunate enough to get in, I guess we’ll have lots of opportunity for “expansion.”
LOL - love the expansion! One really nice factor of the CSS is that has an additional information section where you can explain different items. The FASFA is pretty limiting in putting in outside factors. We had deferred income, so our 2016 income was much lower than our 2017. Our estimated 2017 income will be much higher than our expected 2018. It was nice to explain the situation and what we expected for the future. You can also list additional people you support and the amount you give them. Of course my favorite part - what you expect to contribute to your child’s education! How do you answer that - whatever it takes but as littles as I have too! .
We were very disappointed with our FA from American. My D. got a virtual full ride to an Ivy as well as Wesleyan, Georgetown and Michigan, but American gave her a package loaded with loans (including parental loans). I estimate they only met about 75% of our need. So be wary.
@exlibris97 I am not surprised that their aid package came back like it did if your D got a full ride to an Ivy plus all those others. American is known for it’s dislike of being a “safety” school. They probably looked at your D’s stats/app and realized that they were really not contenders. Did your D apply for the Honors or FDDS scholarships?
@sahmkc Regarding the CSS “what you expect to contribute” question, yes, that is maddening. DW and I just went through CSS today. Hard to know what to put in there. I think I need to browse CC boards on CSS (assume they have them.) DD has everything finished on her Common app, including essay and supplemental essay question. She worked with a coach on essays and I think they really improved them. Submitting ED either tomorrow or Monday. Fingers crossed.
My husband and I had really tough time with that. I think we finally decided to subtract the highest merit award (not full-ride FDDS) from the total and went with that number. I think my sons stats put him in good position for a merit award. He’s applying to AU Honors, but I think that’s about the same as applying to an Ivy as far as competitiveness. Good luck to your DD and there is now an Early Decision thread if you want to join.
