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discussed the fact that I want to apply early with my mom and here is where the problem comes up. My mom doesn't want me to apply early because if I were to be accepted, I would have to go to the school no matter what the financial aid would be.
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<p>I agree with your mother
schools do consider area expenses but not that much
since you already have a sibling in college- your mother is undoubtably familar with the aid process
Read the threads of students who are trying to back out of schools after being accepted ED.
Read the threads of parents who want to help their child attend their dream school, but are rightfully fearful of putting their own financial future at risk
You say your family is in huge amounts of debt- however aid generally considers income first- not expenses. so if your income is high then a portion of that income can go toward college.
Unless your family has had catastrophic medical expenses, the college is going to assume that the debt was voluntary and not consider it to interfere with your obligation to pay expenses.
I can't speak for Brown, perhaps they do deduct debt from your available income, but admissions doesn't necessarily know the formulas that financial aid uses to evaluate EFC.</p>
<p>Have you used an EFC calculator?
What is your brothers EFC? If his EFC is $20,000 for example- with both of you in school, your EFC may be split making yours $10,000
find out to get a better idea if you would receive any aid or not</p>