<p>To find out what your FAFSA EFC would be this year, google EFC formula 2013. That will get you the link to the PDF of the formula. Print it out and work through it on paper so that you can see how much the various factors affect your results.</p>
<p>You should sit down with your child’s other parent(s) and anyone else who will be helping pay for college, and sort out what you actually will pay, whether or not you are willing to take on any debt (and how much), how much you expect the child to contribute from savings and esrnings, and how much debt you think is OK for your child to take on. That way you will be able to present a plan to your child, and hold the line if it becomes necessary to. The students here whose parents have been clear about finances, are not the ones who are brokenhearted when college A turns out to be unaffordable.</p>