<p>I was able to log into the family contribution section and see the estimated family contribution amount. Good luck to those still trying.</p>
<p>I was finally able to pull up the information too. It sounds like the issue has been fixed.</p>
<p>I wonder if they have changed the way EFC is calculated this year. Those families with income about unchanged from last year, are you seeing a higher or lower EFC this year?</p>
<p>Our EFC is different, with very similar income. The main difference is that last year, it gave me a very specific number and this year it gives me a number for day schools (even though we applied to no day schools) and tells me to add 1700 for boarding to the EFC. </p>
<p>Without this adjustment for boarding, our EFC decreased slightly, as did our income. With this adjustment, our EFC increased with a slight decline in income. Apparently, this is something that is added to boarding students regardless of the computations. I guess they figure that I’ll save 1700 in groceries. They don’t know my son! I’d save that in 2 months.</p>
<p>Another question: What’s the impact of pre-tax savings to retirement (401K or IRA) for the year? Is it just considered as regular income? In other words, does putting aside more or less for retirement last year change your EFC amount?</p>
<p>Ugh, I’m getting a ‘Reporting Services Error’ error when I click on the link to my son’s name! I guess I missed the ‘window of opportunity’ in the middle of the night.</p>
<p>I got to see it but didn’t even save a copy. Kicking myself now… lol</p>
<p>Got our EFC and found that its almost exactly the same figure as the amount the SSS asked what our family thought it could contribute towards tuition.</p>
<p>Finally got ours as well; our EFC was actually much lower than what we estimated we could contribute. The schools are definitely looking at that number, however.</p>
<p>did they send it by mail?</p>
<p>I was actually able to log on and access our EFC, so I printed out a copy and saved one as well. Has anybody gotten anything in the mail from them?</p>
<p>I was able to get it today on the website as well. It was the same one I was able to access in January. I have NOT received anything in the mail.</p>
<p>I sent my 2009 1040A and W2 and they didn’t upload them properly. They put one is as Misc. tax document and one of the schedules, but didn’t put the actual 1040A. Also, one of the schools can see another school’s supplemental FA app. I’m am so beyond frustrated with SSS. I have to call them YET AGAIN!</p>
<p>I sent my W2s and 1099s some time ago and they aren’t showing yet. With everything that I have heard on this thread about the troubles, I’m not even going to bother calling them. If my son is provisionally admitted and his file moves on to the FA committee, and they still aren’t posted, I can fax them directly to the school that needs them. I have done everything that I was supposed to. </p>
<p>On the SSS site, some schools show the form that requests transcripts as “received” and others have it listed as “required.” Go figure. I know I sent it because it was in the same envelope as the other stuff they have marked.</p>
<p>Again, if this is needed at a later date, I can fax it directly to the school. I imagine that the schools are just as frustrated with them as we are. One school my son applied to had us send everything directly to them. Maybe they knew that the transition wouldn’t go so smoothly!</p>
<p>Yes, the schools are frustrated as well. However, they have all told me NOT to send things directly to them despite the problems. I am really hoping this doesn’t affect my daughter’s chances of receiving aid. I received an email from one school saying:</p>
<p>"It has been confirmed with SSS this morning that they are currently experiencing a major delay in uploading the documents that parents are sending to them. If you filled out the Parent Financial Statement (PFS) on-line you should expect to see that completed the following day. If you are sending in a hard copy of the PFS, it will show completed within two (2) weeks time.</p>
<p>Again, _____ School will not be receiving any paper documents this year from you. Everything that is required will be sent directly by you to SSS by NAIS. When you are sending your paper documents to them, please make sure you attach the SSS provided cover sheet. We were told that if your documents are sent with a cover sheet to expect them to be uploaded within 7-9 business days. If you send the documents in without the cover sheet you may expect a two week turnaround time. They are not accepting faxes or emails from parents; all documents must be sent via mail or FedEx.</p>
<p>Please rest assured that this delay will not negatively affect the processing of your information based on the PFS nor will it stop the deliberations done by the Financial Aid Committee. If there is a conflict with the information provided on the PFS and the required documents, then _____ School reserves the right to modify the Financial Aid Award."</p>
<p>I wouldn’t send anything directly unless they specifically asked for me to do so.</p>
<p>can someone explain the table to me? The one below:</p>
<p>________________<strong><em>Contribution</em></strong>_________________
_____<strong><em>Parents</em></strong>Students<strong><em>Family</em></strong>
All Students ____ x <strong><em>y </em></strong> z __________
(My Name) <strong><em>x _</em></strong><strong><em>y </em></strong> z __________</p>
<hr>
<p>What is the EFC? I must be stupid. But what is the overall contribution ? is it the X Y or the Z?</p>
<p>Family contribution is the sum of parent and student contributions. Then, you add 1700 to that for boarding school.</p>
<p>So the short answer to your question is that your parents are expected to pay Z+$1,700</p>
<p>Oh thats not bad. Under family it said around $200 for one parents pfs and $1300 for another. so $1300 + $200 = $1500 + $1700 = $3200. </p>
<p>And schools usually give you more than the amount listed?</p>
<p>So do you think I have a good shot for full aid?</p>