<p>I expect our EFC to be zero (but am worried about how her getting scholarships affects that).</p>
<p>Having an EFC of 0 doesn’t negatively affect her getting merit scholarships or grants that help meet need. However, not all schools meet need.</p>
<p>Pell is from the feds. If she qualifies, she gets it.</p>
<p>Find out what your EFC is…it might be higher than 0. EFC doesn’t count debt.</p>
<p>Quick EFC
[FinAid</a> | Calculators | QuickEFC](<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Quick EFC - Finaid) </p>
<p>You need to know what your EFC will likely be. Also, CSS Profile will be used at some privates, so you need to know what your institutional family contribution will be.</p>
<p>If you get a good scholarship, does it reduce your ability to get grant money? How does this all work?</p>
<p>If she qualifies for Pell, then she gets it. A good scholarship doesn’t cover what a school calls the “cost of attendance”…so Pell and anything else could still be offered.</p>
<p>If she gets into an ivy or WashU then her need will be met. But, you have to find out what your EFC and CSS family contribution will be. It might be higher than you think.</p>
<p>You need her to apply to financial safety schools just in case the top schools that meet need don’t work out.</p>
<p>What is her school list?</p>
<p>What are her SAT or ACT scores?</p>