<p>I just realized something that I thought was worth mentioning...</p>
<p>I realize that my EFC to the ED school is the EXACT amount I told them I could afford when they asked "How much does parent expect to contribute?". I thought it was a fair amount.....I wasn't holding anything back for negotiation because I believe that if I am fair with peoole they will be fair with me. Ok, so now I can't help but wonder....if I had asked for more aid, would I have gotten it? Do I really qualify for more help than I asked for? </p>
<p>I thought I would mention this because the question about answering the "what do you expect to contribute" came up on here before.</p>
<p>Like I said before, I'm so pleased and grateful for the aid and scholarship. But, I can't help but wonder.....what if?.....</p>
<p>We just filled out a finaid form for DS for a summer program. Where it asked "how much can your parents contribute" he typed in "balance minus any scholarship received". We figured that summed it up. The reality is that, if needed, we could foot the bill. BUT we'd certainly be happy if he got some finaid for this program. He got a small scholarship last year to the same program so we'll just keep our fingers crossed that as a returning student, he'll be accepted again and receive a little more.</p>
<p>Momsdream, I am curious about the way you calculated your EFC. Did you use the finaid.org calculators? You may be one of those people who is so well informed about the whole aid process that you hit the bullseye. It will be interesting to see what happens in subsequent years. I applaud your fair-mindedness, in any case!</p>
<p>dont worry. if you calculate (in whatever way you used) your EFC fairly, finaid will be fair enough. the reasons are ;</p>
<p>1) since i assume your EFC is similar to what you put down, it will be unlike that difference will change fin aid that much</p>
<p>2) what if you put down less amount ?? you still would NOT get more fin aid, since they will calculate your EFC in vairous way(federal, profile, their own, etc) and they will use that number instead of what you wrote down.</p>
<p>only problem are only if you (kinda randomly) guess your EFC, (unlikely but possibley) does not keep track of your bank statements, and/or have a lot of money that's not reported.</p>
<p>Yes, there is a slight possibility that you can get slightly worse fin aid, if what you put down is higher than what your EFC is .. (since they'll always use the higher number. in other words, EFC is minimum.)
but if you've been careful (tried some online EFC .. or .. take a careful look at your bank accounts and all that) about what you put down on your S/D's app, it will be perfectly fine. dont worry.</p>
<p>No, here is what happened. I calculated my EFC on the calculators and got varied results. Princeton's was more generous to me than College Board's. But, I expected College Board's to be closer to what I would actually get. When I answered the question "how much do you expect to contribute" I put down a figure that was significantly less than CB's number because I really thought CB's EFC calculation was too much for me. I would have come up with it somehow, but it would have meant a much bigger struggle for me and more help from extended family. So, when the offer came back I was so happy with the generosity that it wasn't until tonight that I realized the number matched my contribution offer.</p>
<p>So, I wasn't basing my request for aid on the calculator results. Rather, what I really thought I could afford without eating Rhamen noodles too often. </p>
<p>But, they were very generous. To sum it up, his HS tuition is more than what I'll pay for his college. I'll get a break next year. Imagine that.</p>
<p>I never really put much weight into the calculators because the number from CB really did feel too high. Actually, Princeton's was pretty close....but the EFC offer from the school was even more generous. I did include a "special circumstance" sheet with more detail of my expenses, so maybe that helped.</p>
<p>rhamen is awesome btw :D</p>
<p>eeeeeeeeoooooowwwwwww.....so gross.. ;(</p>
<p>well during the break, trying to find a healty and really tasty rhamen. there is totally different worlds above ones you can find in walmart :)</p>
<p>one turly simpl tip, boiling(or using microwave) some water and puting down the noodle for a few seconds can improve both nutrition and taste.
btw somehow wal-mart and some other big-super-markets has some of worst rhamen ever -_-</p>
<p>Momsdream, I plan to enclose a letter detailing special medical expenses and other one-time (I hope) emergency expenditures with financial aid forms. I think it will be very helpful for the aid people to know where the money really does go. Did you use a special sheet of some sort, or just enclose a letter? Glad you are pleased with the EFC they came up with. An aside: I like thinking that my D is going to be on that same campus with someone as special as your youngin. (May be I'll run into you there!) D is getting married in the summer to her life's love, who is studying at Curtis. Man, I love your city! P.S. I had to eat my share of Ramen in grad school. Think I developed an allergy to it!</p>
<p>Momofthree, I am so bad about keeping everyone on CC straight, so please forgive me. Do you have a child at Penn? Thank you for the kind words. I would love to catch up with "live" you one day. </p>
<p>I enclosed an addendum to my fin aid forms. Someone along the way gave me good advice. She said to remember that Fin Aid people are not counselors. They don't need to know what your problems are. They are numbers people and need crisp, concise figures with very brief explanations (and I offered to back-up any of my information with more detail and proof of the expense, upon request). I made a bullet list and did the math for them, breaking out the expense on monthly and annual basis. I think the biggest impact was from medical expenses, as it sounds like it will be with you.</p>
<p>Momsdream,
I have a daughter who started grad school at Penn this year. Maybe you remember that you were kind enough to post the number for the health organization in Philly where I could get info about flu shots for DD! She ended up getting the shot at the student health center, by God's grace. (By the way, they have been wonderful to her at the Student Health Center!) I will follow your suggestions to crunch numbers only for the financial aid folks. That is very helpful advice.</p>
<p>Oh, yes!! I do remember. Glad to hear that she had a good experience with the Student Health Center. If you ever need anything for her and I can be of assistance, being that I am so close, feel free to reach out to me. I think it would be nice for every parent of a college student to be able to connect another parent in the area local to the school. Though, I'm sure your D is old enough to care for herself. But, if she's ever in a pinch, I'm here.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for your offer, Momsdream! She's pretty much into self-care these days, but when you are sick, mothercare is always appreciated! Hugs for offering. </p>
<p>I know you must be glad to have your son still near you. Does he expect you to stay away and give space? Or do you think he'll be home a bunch? (I know this is off topic, sorry) My kids could go to a great school very near where we live, but seem to want to go far afield. Sr. Son is looking a California, and the NE, near you, and the closest school is five hrs. away. Guess it makes a difference if you are born in (and live in) a town of two thousand or so.</p>