<p>Right now I can just say that I am entirely frustrated with the college application process, specifically financial aid. At this point I can't understand the entire concept of an EFC? Why calculate it if colleges aren't even going to completely meet your need? Regardless of your EFC most colleges still expect you to pay more.</p>
<p>Perhaps it is because we have tried to live within our means as much as possible, but I never expected a college or other outside organization to pay my families expenses.</p>
<p>Say a college costs $25,000 COA. That cost is most likely a public school which only uses FAFSA to determine eligibility for Pell, work study and if you are eligible for subsidized loans.
if your EFC is $18,000, you may be eligible for work study as well as subsidized loans but not for Pell. EFC $23,000, probably only going to be eligible for unsubsidized loans but if your EFC is $3,000, you could be eligible for Pell & work study, as well as subsidized loans.</p>
<p>Without Fafsa how are they going to determine eligibility?</p>
<p>College, for most, is just another consumer product you can or can’t afford.</p>
<p>EFC does not equal what a family is supposed to pay. Never has. All it is really used to is to determine eligibility for Federal govt aid (Pell grant,etc).</p>
<p>FAFSA does several things. It “vets” you and your family for financial aid. You have to be a US citizen or permanent resident, not have other outstanding student loan issues, be registered for the draft if you are a male of age, and your SSNs are cleared. </p>
<p>The EFC that is generated then determines eligibility for federal funds such as Stafford and Perkins loans, Pell and SEOG grants, work study, etc. A lot of states also require that the FAFSA be filed in order to be eligible for their programs and many have a link that saves you some time in filling out info for such programs. A number of independent scholarships also require a FAFSA. </p>
<p>A lot of colleges use FAFSA to determine need too. Though they may not meet the need that the EFC shows is there, that is the form they use. I am glad and grateful that there is a single such form. Otherwise we’d be filling out forms like crazy for financial aid. THat there are two major players in this field , FAFSA and PROFILE, makes it a lot easier. Could you imagine having to fill out a full form from scratch for each school, program, scholarship? </p>
<p>The vast majority of schools do not meet full need as defined by FAFSA. In fact, very, very few schools meet full need regardless of how it is calculated. So that is not the function of FAFSA.</p>
<p>I understand your concern. EFC should be renamed to something that more clearly describes what it is. </p>
<p>It is really just an index number that schools are to use to determine federal aid eligibility which isn’t much.</p>
<p>For first-timers the college process is really new ground and a lot to take in. And the problem with acronyms is that we don’t learn or understand what they stand for.<br>
FAFSA = Free Application for Federal Student Aid
We learned what that really meant after the fact too, and when the shock of our EFC wore off, we accepted it. It’s unfortunate that this is the process for so many of us. Maybe we could all do a better job of telling friends/relatives with younger high schoolers. Last year I offered to share what I learned with my SIL, who has a sophomore now, but she wasn’t ready to hear anything about college. I definitely tell people about CC and what a great help it is.</p>
<p>I agree that EFC could be renamed to something “clearer.” FDMEFCFAE (BCBWM)?
Federally Determined Minimum Expected Family Contribution for Federal Aid Eligibility (But Could Be Way More) 
Regardless of the name, I think we’d still miss its purpose until we need to understand it.</p>
<p>Whatever EFC should be renamed, it should never include anything that suggests a expected or estimated contribution</p>
<p>I remember seeing a different interpretation of the EFC acronym when I first came to CC. Every “Flipping” Cent. Except the F word was not flipping.</p>
<p>Expected family Contribution is a confusing term for people new to the process who think that it means that is all they will have to come up with. The fact is that very few schools meet full need and very few people will only have to come up with what the EFC says. usually it will be considerably more.</p>
<p>A better term might be Eligibility for Federal Contribution. Same acronym, implies something totally different.</p>