<p>I have not seen what my EFC is, I’ve tried to calculate it before but to no avail because my dad (who handles most of the finances, knows how much money really comes in, goes out, and gets saved) is usually very busy at work or too exhausted after work to be bothered. I’ll ask him when he has a free day. Though I’m not sure how much the number value will help me. Getting an idea will be fun I guess, but it’s too late to start saving franticly for college or much of anything so knowing in advance doesn’t have too much of a tangible benefit from what I can tell, but I’ll definitely look into it again.</p>
<p>Why do you think that you would get fee waivers for college apps? Those are for low income people only. It doesn’t sound like your family is low income.</p>
<p>*
But I really didn’t mean this to be a question for advice on finances.*</p>
<p>You may not have intended this to be about finances, but when parents can’t pay $50k+ per year for college costs, then it’s really silly not to consider what will be financially do-able when compiling a list. “Selling a car” doesn’t provide $200k for private school education. </p>
<p>What’s the point of creating a list if the list is not do-able? You could end up with a bunch of acceptances without a way to pay. There isn’t time next spring to do a “do-over” because you’ve applied to the wrong schools.</p>
<p>Do this is the right order. </p>
<p>Talk to your parents about how much they will pay each year. </p>
<p>Find out your EFC (both institutional and federal). Again, that’s not the most your family will have to pay…most schools cannot meet need.</p>
<p>Once you have the right info, then a proper list can be formed.</p>
<p>Though I’m not sure how much the number value will help me. Getting an idea will be fun I guess, **but it’s too late to start saving franticly for college or much of anything so knowing in advance doesn’t have too much of a tangible benefit **from what I can tell, but I’ll definitely look into it again.</p>
<p>You could not be more wrong. Knowing this info in advance has many tangible benefits. What is the benefit of NOT KNOWING? Do you think it will be “loads of fun” to spend hours and hours on applications only to have a pile of acceptances of schools that you can’t pay for???</p>