<p>My EFC came out to about $7000. Now for example, say I get into UC Berkeley which cost about 25000 a year. Will the feds/the state of california/ and berkeley give me a package which covers the difference of 18,000. OR will the feds do what they can for the first 18000 then will california and berkeley try to pick up the remaining 7000? </p>
<p>any help would be appreciated. thanks ahead of time.</p>
<p>Berkeley will put together a package of aid to cover most of the difference between the 25K (which includes room/board, tuition, fees, travel, insurance, and miscellaneous expenses), and your $7K EFC. They might cover the full difference (our UCLA package covered full need both years) between cost of attendance and the EFC.</p>
<p>That package will include loans, grants, perhaps university scholarships, and possibly work study. It will incorporate any state or fed aid you're eligible for. You can check, but I think with an EFC of 7K you won't be eligible for the State Pell grant, or the federal ACG Academic Competitiveness Grant.</p>
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will the feds do what they can for the first 18000 then will california and berkeley try to pick up the remaining 7000?
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<p>No the EFC is what you are expected to pay - California and Berkeley will not try to pick it up.</p>
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You can check, but I think with an EFC of 7K you won't be eligible for the State Pell grant, or the federal ACG Academic Competitiveness Grant
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<p>I also think an EFC of 7k is too high for Pell grants. I don't know how much (or if) it varies from state to state. For us your EFC must be below $4050 to get Pell money and you have to qualify for Pell money to qualify for ACG</p>
<p>another question.........do they just cut you a check or what? how is the money they give supposed to be allocated towards tuition etc... thanks so far</p>
<p>If the COA is $25k, then the package will be based on $18k, this will have some loan and some grant component. The most aid I have heard of (besides loans & workstudy) is about $11k-$13k. I do not know if the school will make up the difference between Pell grant being offered or not.</p>
<p>They apply your aid to tuition and fees first, then EFT deposit the remainder, you pay your own dorm/rent/books/etc. fees.</p>