EFC number implications?

Paying for College
1

<p>I'm so very confused! My parents refuse to help me with this because one is mad at me for leaving him to live near the other and said other simply does not care.</p>

<p>Anyway, I didn't come here to complain. So I filled out my FAFSA a bit ago, and just got this 'processed application information':</p>

<p>"
Comments About Your Information </p>

<p>Based on the information we have on record for you, your EFC is 00000. You may be eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant and other federal student aid. Your school will use your EFC to determine your financial aid eligibility for federal grants, loans, and work study, and possible funding from your state and school.
"</p>

<p>EFC. Expected family contribution, right? I gathered the paperwork and filled out the FAFSA by myself (including mine and my mother's taxes - I was surprised I organized it all! yay!) but some of the questions on this new document confuse me... I can't share that information, but I should figure out that out by myself, anyway. </p>

<p>Um.</p>

<h2>MY QUESTION IS: So what do I do now, based on that number? Do I apply for scholarships/grants/loans via the FAFSA website or my specific school's (FSU) website? I've got a few other scholarships from essays, but nothing substantial. I figure if it's that low (I guess the lowest it can be, right?), I should be eligible for a few grants? Does anyone have a similar number?</h2>

<p>ps~ Sorry for the rant. I'm rather disoriented, if you couldn't tell. D:</p>

2

<p>The FAFSA SAR will be sent to the schools you listed on your FAFSA. They will use that data to construct a financial aid award which should include any grants and loans you are eligible for. This would include any federal, state, and institutional money.</p>

<p>What those are will depend on the school and their policies. If your EFC is 0, you should get the max Pell grant of $5550. The Pell is the main federal grant. Any other grant money will depend on the school (and state) and if they offer institutional (or state) money in grant form (not all schools do). The other federal grant is the SEOG. That is not automatic as the school gets very limited SEOG funds and sets their own policies for awarding those funds. At our school they give SEOG only to 0 EFC students, but filing in March at our school would be too late for SEOG funds as so many people qualify and they quickly run out. </p>

<p>Also, it is possible you will be verified, especially with a 0 EFC. If you are verified make sure you submit the data (copies of tax returns etc) quickly when the school requests it.</p>

3

<p>Just to clarify…</p>

<p>EFC isn’t really what your family has to pay. FSU doesn’t meet need.</p>

<p>Did you qualify for Bright Futures? If so, which level.</p>

<p>Plan on getting a summer job and working LOTS to help cover any gaps.</p>