EFC is 4caster is VERY different

Paying for College
1

<p>My EFC in the fafsa 4caster is very very different from the actually EFC,</p>

<p>4caster is 7,000 and real is 10,000, what could majorly affect the EFC this way?</p>

<p>family of 3, make 65,000 a year</p>

2

<p>Don’t use the FAFSA4caster. Either print out the formula itself <a href=“http://www.ifap.ed.gov/efcformulaguide/attachments/101310EFCFormulaGuide1112.pdf[/url]”>http://www.ifap.ed.gov/efcformulaguide/attachments/101310EFCFormulaGuide1112.pdf&lt;/a&gt; and work through it on paper, or use the FAFSA EFC calculator at [EFC</a> Calculator: How Much Money for College Will You Be Expected to Contribute?](<a href=“http://apps.collegeboard.com/fincalc/efc_status.jsp]EFC”>http://apps.collegeboard.com/fincalc/efc_status.jsp) When I have used the collegeboard calculator, it has given me exactly the same result as the FAFSA.</p>

3

<p>Perhaps the real FAFSA EFC is higher because you may have overestimated tax paid on the 4caster.</p>

<p>Does your family consist of 2 parents and 1 child? Is the income from 1 parent or 2 parents? </p>

<p>Perhaps your family’s assets were more accurately put in for the real FAFSA?</p>

<p>Or maybe 401k contributions got added back in for the real FAFSA, but weren’t for the calculator.</p>

<p>Where did you apply for college? At many colleges, once you’re past qualifying for Pell, then EFC doesn’t make much difference.</p>

4

<p>Looks like you applied to UCs…you’ll qualify for Blue and Gold if you’re instate…which covers tuition/fees.</p>