<p>Hi, in the financial aid application form we are asked to estimate the expected family contribution for the next four years. Will the final family contribution decided by the college be around the amount of what we expected ? Or will it be less than what we expected ?</p>
<p>Your ECF (expected family contribution) is the sum of a portion of:</p>
<p>Student Assets
Student Income
Parent's Assets
Parent's Income</p>
<p>See post 'question about assets' for more.</p>
<p>It's not based on your answer to this question-- although individual aid processors might consider that number in structuring an aid package, or considering a reevaluation of the aid package. Best to figure out what your EFC is, and indicate that you're able to pay somewhat less than that.</p>
<p>There's no guarantee for most of us that our income is guaranteed year to year, or that our income will increase year to year. So estimate conservatively.</p>
<p>Correction- it is contribution for only one year then you will have to file again.
google financial aid calculators and put your numbers there that will be colse to your real EFS.
Colleges are obligated to give federal help by FAFSA numbers, what they do with their own funds it is up to them so your EFC might be more or less if it is private school specially those using CSS profile</p>
<p>So if my estimated EFC is 99999 on the confirmation page, I would still be elgible for the universities scholarships and things like that, correct?</p>
<p>for merit based $ yes.</p>
<p>if they are merit based-</p>