<p>Ok so i recently saw my estimated family contribution and it was around $13,000!!!! I'm really worried because my family can't actually afford to pay this and my dad told me he didn't plan on helping me much. Also, how will i get the rest of the money that the fafsa will cover? Is it loans? Because if it is this is going to feel as though i'm being asked to pay EVERYTHING since i don't have $13,000 out of pocket and i feel like i'm going to have to take out a loan with this either way. Any info, advice, personal stories on how you paid for college???? Please i'm really worried that i won't be able to afford this. </p>
<p>First…FAFSA is a financial aid application form. The FAFSA does not give money. The info on it is used to determine eligibility for federally funded need based aid. Colleges also use this info to determine eligibility for their institutional aid. </p>
<p>With an EFC of $13,000, you will be expected to pay at LEAST that amount for college next year. That EFC is too high to qualify for federally funded grant money (Pell, SEOG). You are guaranteed a Direct Loan of $5500 as a freshman. You college might award you some of,their grant money…but this will NOT be to pay that $13,000 EFC. In addition, most,schools do not meet full need (Cost of attending minus EFC) so very likely you will be expected to pay more than $13,000.</p>
<p>So…how to pay? Did you apply where you might garner merit aid? Did you apply to instate public universities? Do you have a part time job, and are you saving money for college yourself? Have you discussed college financing with your parents (if not…do so ASAP). What are the costs,of,themschool’s to,which you applied? Can you commute to any college,to,save money? Can you take you general education courses at a community college and commute? Can you work while attending college?</p>
<p>Most people would find the EFC to be higher than they like. Unfortunately, your parents’ unwillingness to support you is not a reason to convince the FA office. You may need to get additional loan, grant, scholarship, and work study to cover the expenses. If you still can afford that school, you may need to look for a more affordable school. In some cases, one may pay less than EFC if he/she can get a lot of merit aid/scholarship from internal or external sources.</p>
<p>You can only borrow $5500 for frosh year. There will likely already be a $5500 loan in your FA pkg, so you won’t be able to borrow to cover your EFC or any gap unless your parents (naively) co-sign loans (which they likely wouldn’t qualify for or desire to do).</p>
<p>Where did you apply?</p>
<p>Did you apply to any financial safety schools? If not, why not? </p>
<p>What is your home state?</p>
<p>What are your stats?</p>
<p>How much WILL your dad pay? Ask him for an amount. </p>
<p>What is your major and career goal?</p>
<p>“Ok so the Cal states i applied to are Long Beach, Fullerton, Dominguez Hills, and Poly Pomona”</p>
<p>It sounds like you’re instate for CSU’s. Can you commute to any of the above schools? If not, then none may be affordable. </p>
<p>When did you find out that your dad won’t pay much towards college? </p>
<p>I see that you were also looking at some NY publics as an OOS student. Unless you have high stats that might garner high merit, none of those will be affordable. </p>
<p>If you are a California resident, did you apply for a Cal grant? I don’t know your family particulars but you might still qualify. A family of 4 with an income below 80 grand, for example, would be eligible for a Cal Grant A which covers tuition at CSU’s, UC’s and up to about 9 thousand at many California private schools. There is also a middle class grant for those over which can offer a little money to help.</p>
<p>We have an efc around yours and my daughter qualified for a Cal Grant A. If she were to commute from home, we’re looking at about 4 grand (additional fees, books and transportation) for the year. That’s actually something she could pull off on her own with little to no debt if we were unwilling/unable to give funds. Of course, living on campus will bring you to 13 grand easily and so loans/work study… that might be what you are looking at.</p>
<p>Find out if and what your family feels they can contribute. It might be that they can only contribute a roof, food and to keep you on their health insurance (and that IS a contribution… not something they HAVE to do once you are 18) but with a Cal grant… that might be quite possible with little debt involved.</p>
<p>Hmmm…some of the SUNY schools OOS are about the same cost as some of the UCs instate.</p>
<p>But the key here is Calgrant eligibility. With an EFC of $13,000, it would seem that this family income is below the $80,000 threshold for Calgrant eligibility. Only the OP knows that for sure.</p>
<p>But KEY here. DO NOT miss the DEADLINES for Calgrant things. There is really no leeway here. I believe they are coming up. The OP should be get to her school counselor ASAP and get this Calgrant stuff done…I believe the school counselors are familiar with what THEY need to send. The OP needs to determine if she is eligible!</p>
<p>“Hmmm…some of the SUNY schools OOS are about the same cost as some of the UCs instate.”</p>
<p>True, but the UCs are pretty good about giving aid to instate students…and he wouldn’t have big travel costs.</p>
<p>He’d be expected to pay all/nearly all of the OOS SUNY, while he would likely get around $10k in grant money from a UC.</p>