<p>OK, now it looks like son will want/need to live off campus for first time as a senior.
We had hoped to avoid the complexity off campus living as he has been fine with dorms/apt on campus till now. But looks like his lottery number will not secure a spot on campus next year. Sigh.</p>
<p>I've already submitted his final FAFSA with real numbers BUT with 'on campus' checked on the form.</p>
<p>How will our EFC be affected if I change it to off campus? I'm inclined not to amend it till we know for sure. I guess I'm asking if the FAFSA folk/school will still include the off campus housing cost/board? Or will it look like we have less to pay and he might not even get the subsidized Stafford he's been getting?</p>
<p>I'm going to call next week but wondered what you experienced folk here think/know about this??
thanks in advance.</p>
<p>^ Like the COA would be a smidgen lower? Or would the school do an itemised read out of things, like transportation and the like? Hmm...I have no answer, and am just curious.</p>
<p>Calling the fin aid office is a rather grand idea, though OP.</p>
<p>Son's school doesn't have convenient numbers on it's website as colorado does. Of course, it's the COA I meant to ask about in my OP, not our EFC.
Everything is kind of mushing in my old brain now.</p>
<p>I have emailed his FA office with my question....I'll post response in case it might also benefit some others here.
Thanks!</p>
<p>My daughter's school figures COA the same oncampus as off-campus (unless living at home or with relatives). That's great, because it is possible to find cheaper housing than oncampus, if you try. :)</p>
<p>Hope our situation works out similarly to your D's.
I'm not hopeful of cheaper off campus than on, though.
Steep rents here in NJ even for crummy student apts.<br>
Around here, the apts rent for 12 month leases even though we only 'need' it for the school year. Possible to sublet for summer but don't know how likely that is in reality. So it will be a wash or approx $2000 more for the year.</p>
<p>Another big sigh....</p>
<p>PS.....love your name......maybe I could have chosen "AnxiousMusicMom"???
Because,even with a responsible, honor roll college junior son, I remain very much the Anxious Mom!</p>
<p>Son called this eve, very happy to say he's found two other students to fill up the 4 person suite on campus for next year!! So, as long as he submits everything online by Monday, he should be able to stay on campus as he (and we) wanted.</p>
<p>VERY happy not to have to start visiting off campus apts and worrying about utilitity hookups, lack of parking, etc,etc not to mention the approx $2T additional cost.</p>
<p>Son had tried posting online on the school website, facebook, etc and also post-its on bulletin boards. Only females looking to room.....and that doesn't work at his school!</p>
<p>A wonderful staffer in the housing office gave him a few more tips that proved successful......very personalized customer service at a large public U. Impressive.</p>
<p>For others interested:
The FA office said his COA would not change much with off campus housing, unless he lived at home. So his FA would not be affected.</p>