<p>I recently just got accepted to WashU RD, and I received my financial aid package online today. My family and I definitely need a lot of financial aid, as my EFC from my mom and stepdad is only ~3.6k. My dad, however, makes around 70k a year and his wife makes around 80k a year. When I received my financial aid award today, I only received 27k from WashU's Eliot Scholarship (need-based scholarship) and 2.5k in work-study. Does that mean I have to pay the other 30k out of pocket? I can't believe that WashU would expect my parents to contribute over 10 times my EFC, even if my non-custodial parent's income is considered. Do I not get anything else from the government? </p>
<p>Sorry if this is a dumb question, but I'm kind of speechless right now especially since I've heard WashU's financial aid assistance is among the best.</p>
<p>Is that per semester, or total?</p>
<p>Total. I get about 13k per semester from the Eliot Scholarship.</p>
<p>I fall about 7k below their average grants given, yet my parents only make about 30k a year. While my non custodial parent and his spouse make about 150k together, they won’t contribute a penny and I just don’t know what to do.</p>
<p>I believe there was a form to get the non-custodial parent to sign off that they won’t contribute a penny, though I don’t know much about it. Contact the Financial Aid office right away.</p>
<p>Did you fill out the CSS or WUSTL Profile, they may be considering your NCP income too. </p>
<p>If you ask this question in Financial Aid site you will get many good suggestions, some folks over their are awesome and experts in these matters.</p>
<p>I highly recommend you to call the office of financial aid, tell them that washU is your top choice, and also explain your situation. Hopefully they will re-evaluate your needs and offer you a better package!</p>
<p>Couldn’t agree more. Contact the FA office and fill them in on your situation. Wash U is very hands-on. Good luck, and congrats on being accepted!</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for the help! I really hope it all works out.</p>
<p>My S got work study and loan offers totaling $8k. I’m divorced with another kid in college. I absolutely can not believe they think we can fork over $52k a year for four years! Dropped to last on our list of possibilities. </p>
<p>^^ I agree what you said. What was your EFC ?. </p>
<p>Despite my supreme disappointment and crabbiness, I think it is important fir people to keep in mind the following info quoted from the FAFSA site:
“Note: Your EFC is not the amount of money your family will have to pay for college nor is it the amount of federal student aid you will receive. It is a number used by your school to calculate the amount of federal student aid you are eligible to receive.”</p>