FAFSA & UW need-based aid

<p>I did the FAFSA, and my EFC is $28,715. This is really high. There's absolutely no way I could pay that much a year for UW. Most of the assets taken into account are owned by my parents. They are illiquid, or otherwise inaccessible for me to pay for college. All I have a 529 account and a few bonds from my grandparents. This will cover tuition (better than nothing, yes?). That's great, but there's still another $18,000 a year that I absolutely cannot afford. I can take out a dinky stafford loan, but that's still not enough.</p>

<p>According to UW's financial aid estimator, I'd get $0 in aid from them, just based off my family's EFC. That sucks! I thought I could at least get work study. According to FAFSA I can, but UW says I can't.</p>

<p>Does anyone know how UW looks at financial need? If they only look at the FAFSA EFC and nothing else, I don't know how i'll afford college. If they look at my need holistically and consider special circumstances; I might actually be able to afford college.</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

<p>Don’t rely on these estimates - after all, they are just estimates.
After an actual person reviews your application, your EFC can get adjusted (hopefully down).</p>