<p>*My parents will pay nothing whatsoever in this country, so all my financial safeties are in a different country. My EFC is around $7000. *</p>
<p>This will be a problem.</p>
<p>At most schools, your financial aid package (which goes towards your “need”), will already include a student loan. Therefore, you won’t be able to take out a student loan to cover your EFC.</p>
<p>You will have to choose your schools carefully from the following types…</p>
<p>1) Full need schools that don’t put loans in FA packages (some - not all - top elites)</p>
<p>2) Some schools that will give you a huge merit scholarship - such as tuition PLUS. Hopefully you’ll score high enough on your PSAT to make National Merit.</p>
<p>3) state schools that you can commute to.</p>
<p>Schools will expect you/your family to pay for AT LEAST your EFC (actually, most schools expect families to pay more than their EFCs). How will you pay for your EFC and any gaps if your FA package already has loans in it?</p>
<p>Why won’t your parents at least contribute the same amount of money that they would pay for you to go to school in another country?</p>