"Explain your financial need"?

Paying for College
1

<p>OK so here's the deal.</p>

<p>I'm filling out my school's scholarship and app which includes a general essay along with a list of local scholarships. To apply for a local scholarship I simply check off a box and attach whatever that specific scholarship asks for to the entire application.</p>

<p>However I'm having trouble determining just what they want when the phrase "Must have established the need for financial aid" is used. Do they want me to attach a piece of paper, explaining my family's financial status? Or do they want a small essay explaning it? Or by "have established" do they mean I need to have already mentioned it in the general essay?</p>

2

<p>Financial need is actually a calculation. If you’ve filed your FAFSA, you know your EFC. Cost of attendance minus EFC equals financial need. If they want a written explanation, a few sentences about the cost of attendance at whatever school you’re likely to attend and a mention of your EFC should suffice…it’s odd that they’re not telling you how to substantiate your need. You can always ask your GC how it’s typically done.</p>