Financial Aid Help

<p>I'm going to attend a public college in Texas in Fall 2014. I live there so I get instate tuition, but paying for it is going to be tough on my family. My parents do modestly well money wise. They make around 110,000 to 130,000 a year, but are still crunching numbers for college. They also help pay for my sisters college. When its time to apply for FAFSA I do not think I will get much aid and it worries me. </p>

<p>Then for scholarships I tend to get looked over because I'm pretty average. I am in the top 10% of my school, but my test scores are just a slightly higher than average (25 ACT). I am obviously going to get loans, but I need financial help. Any thoughts?</p>

<p>You need to find out from your parents what they are willing to pay. Then if you can get them to give you enough info, like income and assets, you can fill out an EFC calculator to get some idea what the minimum amount they will be expected to pay for your sister and you. That’s really what the EFC is most of the time–the minimum you will be paying while still being eligble for federal aid. </p>

<p>Then run some NPCs that your specific schools have and see if there what other money possibilities are there with state funds and the colleges’ own funds. Those are just averages, be aware, but it gives you some idea.</p>

<p>In any case, look for schools that you can afford that will certainly take you to be the base of your college list They may be the local state schools to which you can commute, or the community colleges. Ask your counselor for some suggestions of schools that have been "good " to kids from your high school with your stats. </p>

<p>That way you have alternatives. It may well happen that some of the schools will come up with some of their own money–I have no idea what your state has in terms of college funding. While there are two of you in college, the parental EFC is half for each student, but once the other is no longer full time, the EFC goes back up. But no school guarantees to meet that EFC either.</p>

<p>* They make around 110,000 to 130,000 a year, but are still crunching numbers for college. They also help pay for my sisters college. When its time to apply for FAFSA I do not think I will get much aid and it worries me. *</p>

<p>True. You won’t get any federal money after filling out FAFSA. What is your sister’s EFC? </p>

<p>Your income is too high to get Texas state aid.</p>

<p>Can your parents spend as much on you as they do on your sister? or will they have to split the amount that they’re now paying between the two of you.</p>

<p>You need the info from your parents. </p>

<p>Does your sister go away to college? or does she commute? Is she attending a Tx public university or community college? </p>

<p>Run some Net Price Calculators on some schools’ websites. </p>

<p>Since you are within the top 10% of your school, you may want to apply to some schools that are “test optional” but give good FA. </p>

<p>Are you retesting? Have you taken the SAT?</p>

<p>Keep in mind that you can’t borrow much. You can only borrow $5500 for frosh year.</p>