<p>I'm graduating in 2011 from high school and because I wanted to do early decision at W&M, I was wondering how much financial aid I would get. My family's annual income is $20,000. My sibling, who will be graduating from college in 2011, got an EFC of 65. Can I expect the same for myself? Also, how much would W&M offer me in financial aid, as well as what type of aid would it be (i.e. loans and grants)? Would it also be work study? Should I expect work study to be part of the aid? Although Id rather not have to rely on work study.</p>
<p>Please reply ASAP! I need help!</p>
<p>I’m not sure how much they will give you, but the college is committed to meet the 100 per need if virginian’s family’s income is less than 40,000.</p>
<p>heres the link :[William</a> & Mary - Financial Aid](<a href=“Financial Aid | William & Mary”>Financial Aid | William & Mary)</p>
<p>Yep, sounds like you’re a possible candidate for the Gateway program. Look through the details on the Financial Aid site. Financial aid for the Gateway program is primarily grants. The goal of the program is to essentially eliminate the debt that would otherwise be required.</p>
<p>If you do qualify for Gateway based on your family income, all of your family’s need will be met with grants (i.e. money you do not have to pay back). You may still have an estimated family contribution that you’ll have to pay but that would be the only money you’d be responsible for.</p>
<p>Since the FAFSA has to be completed and evaluated every year you cannot bank on having the same aid/EFC as your sibling although if your family’s finances haven’t changed much it’s likely to be similar.</p>
<p>Keep in mind each school has different policies on financial aid and different processes they go through so if your sibling attends a different school, W&M may ask for different forms, etc once they receive the FAFSA.</p>
<p>Is it merit-based? For URMs? For international students?</p>
<p>Gateway is a way of packaging our highest-need in-state students. Any in-state student who completes the FAFSA will be evaluated for Gateway. Gateway packaging (i.e. a financial aid award that is made up only of grants and not loans) is awarded to those students whose combined family income is less than $40,000. Those students packaged as Gateway may still have an EFC to pay but any need-based aid will be met with grants.</p>
<p>Gateway is solely need-based and solely for in-state students. It’s not a scholarship or merit-based and cannot be awarded to out-of-state or international students.</p>
<p>My son is a rising senior at WM on the Gateway program. (Our income has recently risen so it is possible we will be in regular financial aid this year.) I highly encourage any low-income Virginia students to give this serious consideration. So far he has not paid one dime for his college or his books. This includes tuition, room, and board. He owes no debt either. They even gave him a laptop to use. He is able to work 10-15 hours at the college for spending money (not Work-Study, just a regular job). Our family income was low because of my husband’s health problems and my serious underemployment. My son is as hard-working a kid as you will ever meet, and the fact that WM took a chance on him means the world to us. It is truly a world-class university.</p>
<p>How he got in: early decision was probably a factor. Once he saw WM, he didn’t want to go anywhere else. Also, admissions seemed impressed that not only did he take the hardest classes his small school offered, he also did a self-study in calculus because they had no calculus teacher. He took Latin classes from Virginia Online. And he is from an underrepresented part of the state, the Shenandoah River Valley area. And he slammed the SATs on his second try after using the practice book the College Board puts out.</p>
<p>mybelle - How wonderful to hear such great news that your hardworking son was able to get the help he needed to get through college. Best wishes to you and your son!</p>
<p>mybelle, so glad your son and your family have been able to benefit from the Gateway program.</p>
<p>We do remind families who may qualify for Gateway that in some cases, there will still be an out-of-pocket expense for the family (when an EFC is greater than zero, the family will still need to pay the EFC). However, all remaining monies will come in the form of grants should the student qualify for Gateway.</p>