<p>My son is applying to grad school. His EFC will be based on his own earnings, which are quite low. We have a lot of discussion on CC on how undergrad financial aidis considered, but what about grad students aside from TA and RA appointments?</p>
<p>So, exactly what does a very low EFC mean, if anything, at the graduate school level?</p>
<p>Financial aid in graduate school is a totally different beast from FA in undergrad. There is plenty of discussion on CC about finances in graduate school but the first you thing you must realize is, this is a discipline specific issue. If your child is planning on attending grad school in the biomedical sciences or engineering (Phd), then your child can expect a moderate stipend (23K to 32K) and free tuition. If your child is planning on attending grad school in a social science or humanities, everything will depend on the institution and department. Some may offer RA or TA positions, some may not. If your child is starting a masters program, he can plan for another couple of years of the same financial setup as undergrad (you pay to be a student).</p>