EFC from FAFSA too low!?

<p>i only saw the efc and it was pretty low for me.. do you have the link?</p>

<p>Oh sorry, I misread it and thought you meant the EFC. I don't think there's a link for that exactly since it comes up with the secure site after submission. But you can view it (EFC) in your SAR.</p>

<p>Haha, my EFC was 000003. Last year's was 000000. I don't like the looks of this.</p>

<p>what's SAR?</p>

<p>SARS, the virus that hit hong kong..</p>

<p>I am a 30 year old single person trying to go back to school. If i made $19,000 and had no additional income or investments- doesnt it seem like $4700 is too much for my EFC?</p>

<p>$4700 is about right.</p>

<p>You get a $6220 income protection allowance, and the taxes you paid are added to the income protection allowance to get your total allowance of around $10K. They consider 50% of your income above the allowance as available for college.</p>

<p>Try the finaid calculator, it will tell you exactly how the $4700 is calculated.</p>

<p>FinAid</a> | Calculators | Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and Financial Aid</p>

<p>FAFSA needs to be revamped in a lot of areas in my opinion. I also agree with what someone else said regarding having more than one in college, the college AND cost to attend college should be considered.</p>

<p>I love it when people say they make over 100K and are average income. 100K income puts you in the top 19% of earners in the US. 150K and you're in the top 5%. If the majority of aid is going other people, it's because 80-95% of those people have less income.</p>

<p>Fafsa should be changed, but incorporating the cost of one college over another should have nothing to do with the formula. That has nothing to do with your contribution.</p>

<p>I vote for changing the asset allowance of single parents to more than about 1/3 of what a married couple gets. that makes NO sense whatsoever.</p>

<p>A lot of problems with FAFSA and flaws with the way aid is given. I agree. I do want to make it very clear to everyone who is reading this that the EFC derived from FAFSA only makes you eligible to certain government grants and loans. It does not mean that your family will only pay that amount. What you are required to pay is calculated by the individual colleges, and those that use FAFSA alone rarely pay 100% of need. Private schools and colleges that tend to pay close to 100% of need nearly always required an additional form that has other stipulations to meet their definition of need. A zero EFC does NOT mean that you are going to get your college costs paid.</p>

<p>I earned $27000 last year (2007). My college, Baker College, said my EFC is $7400. WHAT!?!?!?!?! I am 23 years old, I am an independent, I live on my own, I pay rent $900 monthly. If you're considered an independent, don't they factor in your expenses like rent????????? Due to my EFC being $7400, I was not awarded any grant for the year 2008-2009.</p>

<p>No, the cost of your rent is not specifically figured into your EFC. I would suggest you get a roommate.</p>

<p>The formula considers half of your income above your income allowances as available for college. So $7400 is about right. (Are you sure you're independent for FAFSA purposes?)</p>

<p>Yes, I am an independent. I was born before Jan 1 1985.</p>

<p>Use the calculator at FinAid:</p>

<p>FinAid</a> | Calculators | Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and Financial Aid</p>

<p>It will take about 2 minutes, and will confirm your EFC, and explain what your income protection allowance is, and basically how FAFSA calculated the EFC.</p>

<p>FYI:
Colleges Eliminating Loans from Financial Aid </p>

<p>Colleges that have eliminated loans from the financial aid packages of all undergraduate students include
Princeton University, Davidson College, Williams College,
Amherst College, Harvard University, Pomona College, Swarthmore College, Haverford College, University of Pennsylvania,
Yale University, Bowdoin College, Dartmouth College, Stanford University, Wellesley College, Columbia University and Claremont McKenna College. </p>

<p>FinAid</a> | Answering Your Questions | No Loans for Low Income Students.</p>

<p>Go to this link and many more schools are listed:
ie
Lafayette College No loans in the financial aid package. Students from families earning less than $50,000 and with typical assets. 2008-2009
Limits loans in the financial aid package to $2,500 per year. Students from families earning between $50,000 and $100,000 and with typical assets. 2009-2010 </p>

<p>Lehigh University No loans in the financial aid package. Students from families with income less than $50,000. 2008-2009
Caps loans in the financial aid package at $3,000 per year. Students from families with income between $50,000 and $75,000.</p>

<p>MichaelAngelo, do you live near one of Baker's campuses with residence halls? It would cost you less than your current rent.</p>

<p>My mom is the only income and she usually claims me as a dependent. recently she got ill, stoped working and only has bout $400 from DOE in her earnings 2008. she said the doesnt need to file a tax return and now its up tpo me to file my own tax return?!what do i do?can i talk to anyione about this situation or do i need to dig up/call around for my W2 from 2008 jobs?I might onky have 1 or 2 W2's and i HAVE NO IDEA WHO TO DO.....HELP?PLEASE</p>

<p>MAHALO</p>

<p>tyneski-</p>

<p>Sorry about your Mom's illness, and your current situation.</p>

<p>You should have been sent W2's from each employer in January. You may have also received a 1099 for Miscellaneous Income. Dig 'em up, you'll need them.</p>

<p>You can check on the IRS website to see whether you're required to file income taxes here:</p>

<p>Do</a> You Need to File a Federal Income Tax Return?</p>

<p>If you have to file, you can probably use the 1040EZ, which is available on the IRS website. It's pretty straightforward. Taxes are due April 14th. You might want to file, even if you didn't have enough income to make it required, in order to get some of your withholding back.</p>

<p>You didn't mention college and financial aid, but I assume you're considering college and will need some financial aid. Take a look at the webistes for the colleges you hope to attend, and see what forms they require. Nearly all require FAFSA-- it's free, and can be filled out online. With your Mom not making much money in '08, you'll likely be eligible for considerable aid toward college.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>