<p>This year is my first time filing FAFSA. I don't consider myself "needy" but I do have 2 brothers that are going to college and my parents can't blow all of the college savings on me alone. I could, and would like to if I can afford it, go to an expensive private school. I could also go to a dirt cheap public U.
My main question is, with an EFC of nearly $35,000 can I kiss any dreams of private school goodbye? What can I do with an EFC that high? I am really confused, I did not expect the number to be that high.</p>
<p>Assuming you are a high school junior or sophomore, you will need to do some research. If you have a good GPA and decent ACT scores (or SAT or both), look for colleges that award merit aid based on GPA and ACT scores if you want to go to a smaller colleges. If you were my child I would advise you to narrow down the region of the country you wanted to look in. Know that the east is more expensive than the south and the midwest and that the west is a mixed bag cost-wise. Then take that region and start researching schools. The public liberal arts colleges are a good bargain for someone in your financial position. If you google public liberal arts colleges, you will find all the colleges in that consortium. If you are looking for a technical oriented/engineering school/nursing school etc. there are some very good values with good reputations and you can get alot of that information on this forum by searching. You will be fine and you are in a much better position than a student who has a zero EFC. Engage your parents in your search if they like to be involved and active as your choice will ultimately affect them greatly. Good luck and as you start your search, come back and ask specific questions. There is a wealth of experience and knowledge on this board. I also see you have your location as Chicago, there are many, many wonderful liberal arts colleges right in your backdoor to start with. Once you find one or two that appeal to you then you ask the question “if I like A, what other colleges are like A.” You can also start with books like Colleges that Change Lives or Harvard Smarvard (sp ?) that you can get from your library or maybe in your school guidance office. Those books can be helpful, too, to give flavor to the different colleges and to give ideas about alternative schools than the ones that everyone hears about. There is a good thread…very long but worth reading “Brag about your lesser known school” and a thread “Schools Known for Good Merit Aid” that have solid information in them. Good luck!</p>
<p>I am confused about your post. If you have filed FAFSA for the first time this year does this mean you are starting college in the fall? Don’t you already have your financial aid offers from schools you have been accepted to?</p>
<p>Ahh. I can see where this could be confusing. Sorry. I am a transfer student. My freshman year will be finishing up in a few weeks (3). I have not been offered any financial aid offers by any of the two schools that I applied to. They are both state schools on rolling admissions so I was in no hurry to file or apply.
I was just wondering if there are any schools out there that give aid to people that need assistance but their number does not represent that. My number obviously says to most schools, this kid can pay for college no big deal. I would imagine I am not the only person in this situation. </p>
<p>momof3boys- I have extensively researched, what seems like, every school in the mid-west. I am way past that point. Like I said I was just looking to see if anyone has had experience getting aid with a number such as mine. If so what school? </p>
<p>I would like to reiterate that even though my number says that I have no real need for money for college, I have two brothers that are rapidly approaching college (I understand the FAFSA does not take this into account until they are actually in college) and my parents have to save money for them too. I am not being greedy, in my opinion, or trying to take away money from people that need it more than I do. I am merely just curious.<br>
One of the many reasons I am leaving my current institution is the amount of money it costs. I would have no problem spending money if I feel I am getting what I paid for. </p>
<p>In addition, to really specify my question, would an expensive place like Marquette be more likely to give me aid with a price tag around $40,000?</p>
<p>“would an expensive place like Marquette be more likely to give me aid with a price tag around $40,000”</p>
<p>With an EFC (not sure if this is FAFSA EFC or estimated Profile EFC) of 35K, a school with a price tag of 40K isn’t likely to give you need-based aid. Even a private with a higher price tag, of, say, 45K, is unlikely to give you any significant grant money, since your need is minimal. Any need met will likely be loans.</p>
<p>Nor will any in-state public give you any need-based aid, since their price tag is below your EFC. Out-of-state publics aren’t a good option for you. </p>
<p>If you’re not eligible for merit aid (I thought I read that you said your grades weren’t very good, but I don’t see it now), you’re likely not a candidate for any significant aid.</p>
<p>You can check College Board to see how generous any particular school is, on average.</p>
<p>What you and your parent’s need to keep in mind is that when your sibs are in college, if their income and assets don’t change much, there is the potential for much more aid. If you and the sibs are good students that can get into schools that meet 100% of need, the EFC should be about the same and cover all 3 of you.</p>
<p>At this point if they don’t want to pay the EFC you need to look at merit aid schools, but unfortunately opportunities are very limited for a transfer. There’s a great permanent thread on the parent’s board about merit aid, but it applies to freshmen candidates.</p>
<p>Your family needs to become very familiar with financial aid and assess your situation. If your brothers are very strong students, it may not be so bad to pay the $35K for you now.</p>
<p>Whats wrong with public universitys? They are not dirt cheap, mine is going to cost me 17000 per year. Sounds to me that someone is being snobby. In this economy you can really affored to be picky.</p>
<p>My grades are good. My brothers grades are good. Similar. </p>
<p>hmom- Thank you. I understand what your saying. They are strong students as well so I don’t want to limit their choices later on by going to a very expensive school. </p>
<p>Icedragon- I going to assume you meant, “In this economy you CANNOT really afford to be picky.” Because that would make sense… I’m sorry you picked an expensive public university(maybe out of state), not my problem.
My tuition would cost me 3,250 at my public university and about 10,000 for everything. I didn’t say there was anything wrong with public universities… I actually said I was considering attending one. (Assuming you read the post) The fact is that it is dirt cheap. I might get a better education out of a public U out of a private U. Or maybe the other way. That is not really up for debate on this thread.
You saying that I’m being snobby is just ignorant seeing as how you know limited information on my situation and nothing about me as a person.</p>
<p>If you have an EFC of $35,000, you’re probably going to have to pay at least $35,000 toward your education, if the college you choose costs that much or more.</p>
<p>^^
Yea, gotcha. I figured that going in. Thanks though. With scholarship money included, I will be getting the rest of the tab pretty much everywhere.</p>
<p>What I’m saying is that if they are strong students they will be able to get into colleges that meet full need so your parent’s will pay $35K/yr for all 3 of you. They will also have merit aid opportunities.</p>
<p>hmom5- Oh now I see what your saying. Unfortunately, my two brothers and I will never all be in undergrad school at the same time. We will have 3 years when 2 brothers will be in at the same time. Thanks for clarifying that. I am #1 college fresh., #2 is a HS sophomore, #3 is 8th grade. So #1 and #2 will be in undergrad for 1 year together. #2 and #3 will be in undergrad for 2 years together. Not confusing at all right?</p>
<p>Thats for the year actually and its in state.</p>
<p>Well, you could always be on the look out for scholarships and such for paying for it.</p>
<p>Mine is for the year too. </p>
<p>I’m a transfer so there are not many outside scholarships available.</p>
<p>I understand completely. I am a homeschool student and i’ve never done any extracuriculars nor volentering, so i have a hard time finding scholarships as well. But my total amount in grants is 8100.</p>