<p>THANK YOU so much, everyone! I came to the right place – so much good info here. The website with the merit aid calculator was very helpful. We’re taking a look at some of those schools. Several of them would give him a completely free ride (tuition, fees, housing, & food).</p>
<p>Is S2 going to test again? Getting an ACT 32 might bring in a lot more money.</p>
<p>Yes, he is planning to test again, but from the merit scholarship calculator, a 32 wouldn’t bump him up much except it would bring Louisiana Tech into play.</p>
<p>If S2 is going to be a Eng’g or Comp Sci major, then he would get free tuition plus 2500 per year from Bama with his current score.</p>
<p>DS2 would LOVE to go to Bama!! Unfortunately, he’s not a great candidate for either of those eminently employable majors. 
Even with tuition and housing, he could never afford the fees, meals, and books.</p>
<p>What is your EFC with one son in college?
This next year, our EFC will be very low, because right now (tax year 2013) our income is extremely low, we will still have his older brother at Bama, and there are two younger siblings currently being homeschooled. I don’t know what will happen after this year, if our income were to rise at all, like if I went back to work.</p>
<p>It doesn’t matter what our EFC is, because DH and I have not one dime to contribute. Barely making ends meet, even being as careful as we are with the budget. What we contribute to our kids is help, love, support, encouragement, strategy, info, insight, and helping navigate the waters when they get choppy or confusing.</p>
<p>All of DS2’s test scores are tugged down by significantly lower math scores. The math dept at his high school is the worst on planet earth. Do NOT get me started!! “Oooh, you’re a winning football coach? You’re hired!!–<em>POOF</em> now you’re a math teacher, too!”</p>