<p>...is it still possible to get some kind of need-based aid?</p>
<p>I don’t think so because most (all?) schools have cost of attendance under that number. </p>
<p>Unless you have a sibling in college.</p>
<p>If you are an academically qualified student, then you might be able to get merit-based aid from some schools. I know several students who come from well to do families who received scholarships based on their intended majors and their accomplishments in HS. Often these scholarships require the FAFSA to be filed regardless of family income or ability to pay for college.</p>
<p>*if my EFC is high (70k)… </p>
<p>…is it still possible to get some kind of need-based aid? *</p>
<p>Agree with the above…</p>
<p>It sounds like your family’s income is $200k+ (or your family has substantial assets), so it’s unlikely you’d get aid - even from an ivy.</p>
<p>We’re in a similar boat. Very high EFC - no aid even with 2 in college (not even much from an ivy). So, we looked for schools with great merit scholarships, since both kids will continue with their educations (med school, etc), so we’ll help pay for that, too.</p>
<p>My kids’ scholarships did not require a FAFSA submission, but some schools do, so pay attention to those details. Also pay attention to deadlines for apps!</p>
<p>If you want to take out an unsub Stafford Loan for about $5500, you’ll need to submit a FAFSA - no income limit on that. </p>
<p>Are you a junior or senior? What are your stats? Where will you be applying.</p>
<p>How much will your parents spend on your education each year?</p>
<p>My daughter has been getting acceptances that include scholarship offers. This was before the FAFSA could have been filed. I’m not sure if there are additional merit-based opportunities that require filing the FAFSA. </p>
<p>Does anyone know the cutoff for EFC when you still can get aid?</p>
<p>*Does anyone know the cutoff for EFC when you still can get aid? *</p>
<p>That’s going to depend on each school, what the Cost of Attendance (COA) is, and what resources a school has.</p>
<p>For instance, if you have an EFC of $20k, but your child is going to your flagship public that only has a COA of $20k, obviously you’ll get nothing. Even if your EFC is $15k, the school probably isn’t going to give free money, since a Stafford loan will likely cover that $5k gap.</p>
<p>But, if your child is going to a $50k private with a well-funded endowment and your EFC is $30k, your child might get a $20k grant. A similarly priced school with a less-rich endowment may offer your child nothing but a small Stafford loan and a big ol’ gap.</p>
<p>Many of my kids’ acceptances came with scholarship offers. We’ve never done a FAFSA. However, some schools do require FAFSA submittals for scholarship consideration. Each school’s scholarship webpage will tell you whether a FAFSA must be submitted for various scholarships - it will either directly say to submit a FAFSA or it will say “need” will be a consideration.</p>
<p>However, most merit schools do not ask for FAFSA for scholarship consideration.</p>
<p>are there any private schools that give a lot of merit aid?</p>
<p>Siglio…</p>
<p>There are many schools - public and private that give lots of merit aid.</p>
<p>But, for us to give you the best advice, please answer the following 
(copy/paste if you need to… lol 
)</p>
<p>GPA (weighted/unweighted):
SAT (including breakdown):
ACT:</p>
<p>Intended major:</p>
<p>Are you a junior or senior:</p>
<p>How much have your parents said that they will spend each year on your education (if you don’t know, ASK. You need that info! ) :</p>
<p>What do you like in a school? Big, small, quiet, rah rah sports, rural, big city, college town, greek systems?</p>
<p>Some “TOP” schools, such as HYP give need based aid to middle income families. Harvard’s website explains that an average family with an income of $180,000 will pay 10% of their salary. That brings with it a lot of questions, but…they do give the most to this salary range.</p>
<p>What if one is $181,000?
What if they have 1 child in college versus 3?
What if there extenuating circumstances (huge amount of savings or, alternatively, someone in dire health with equally huge medical bills?)
At this income level…is this EFC what you will pay out of pocket, then the balance is “covered” by loans?</p>
<p>Etc.</p>
<p>I doubt that HYP will give much to someone with an EFC of $70k. That suggests an income in the $200k+ range, or lots of assets…</p>
<p>Sorry to divert the topic… but it is on-topic :)</p>
<p>Okay, I have a similar situation myself. When my parents plugged their numbers into the Collegeboard estimator, it came up with slightly under $100k using one method and over $100k using another method. Will the “higher-price” method be used at private colleges?</p>
<p>This may be skewed by the fact that I have thousands in personal assets. If I just withdrew that from the bank and just had it in cash at hand, that may drag my EFC down to the level where the OP of this thread is at. Would doing this be worth it?</p>
<p>OHKid…</p>
<p>LOL…</p>
<p>I don’t know if doing that will bring your EFC down to below $50k. Your parents still have money and assets.</p>
<p>BTW…what do you drive, a Brinks Truck? Do you plan on walking out of a bank with tens of thousands of dollars??? </p>
<p>I really doubt you’re going to be getting much aid.</p>
<p>Have your parents warmed up to the idea of you going far away? Or, do they still want you to stay close.</p>
<p>P.S. Are you a trust-fund baby? LOL</p>
<p>@mom2collegekids
thank you for helping me
w/ regards to merit aid
GPA: 3.8 UW/4.2 W right now (ill probably have a 3.6 UW/4.0 W by the time i graduate)
SAT: believe it or not i have not taken it yet, but i expect to get around 650 for each section
i’m not sure if ill take the ACT, but i think i can get a 30</p>
<p>i want to be an engineer or at least something science related…i am a HS junior right now</p>
<p>my parents are not willing to spend a whole lot on me…$10k/year would be stretching it, so a more realistic amount would be $5k/year</p>
<p>i dont care what type of environment my school is in, but i do want it to be residential as much as possible</p>
<p>my parents are not willing to spend a whole lot on me…$10k/year would be stretching it, so a more realistic amount would be $5k/year</p>
<p>OK…Glad to help you. :)</p>
<p>Your GPA is fine. keep your grades up. :)</p>
<p>Take both the ACT and the SAT as soon as you can. Pay the extra for the score report. Then after you take your tests, you’ll get the test book sent to you with an answer key with your incorrect answers indicated. With that info, work on your weak areas.</p>
<p>To get a full tuition scholarship and possibly more money, you need to aim for either a 1400 (Math + CR) SAT or a 32 ACT. You’re smart, so with some practice and dedication… :)</p>
<p>Did your parents tell you that they will only spend $5k-10k on your education? Or are you guessing that? </p>
<p>IF that’s the case, you’ll need a good strategy. But, in the meantime, you’re going to need some good test scores. :)</p>
<p>Will your parents buy the Collegeboard SAT practice book and The Real ACT Test Guide? Using those books will help your get a good score.</p>
<p>What did you get on your PSAT?</p>
<p>I think it will work out in the end. :)</p>
<p>You are basically looking for a full ride if all your parents will pay is $5K/yr. With your EFC if will all need to be merit aid. That is an extremely hard thing to find. You need to look primarily at 3rd tier state schools that have low OOS tuition and give lots of merit aid. </p>
<p>Even if your parents pay $10K and you take maximum unsubsidized loans, you’ll probably be looking at a $15-$20K gap at less expensive schools. That’s a lot of merit aid.</p>
<p>OHkid, what you’re talking about doing is lying. Cash is a reportable asset.</p>
<p>^Ouch. Thanks for the advice, hmom and mom2collegekids. :)</p>
<p>To the OP: God luck!!! That ACT/SAT is killing you right now, so prep for that. LSU and U 'Bama both offer great scholarships, so look there. Mom2collegekids will have more info fo sho.</p>
<p>Mom2collegekids, my parents still have not warmed up to anything, not even filling out the stupid, simple FAFSA form. It took me forever to finally get them to do the estimator on the collegeboard. No, I not a trust-fund baby, but I am an only child, which skewes things. Any money that is not invested in my family home (which I’ll probably be getting unless everything goes to h*ll because it has been in our family forever) will likely be going elsewhere.</p>
<p>Hmom5 quote: *You are basically looking for a full ride if all your parents will pay is $5K/yr. With your EFC if will all need to be merit aid. That is an extremely hard thing to find. You need to look primarily at 3rd tier state schools that have low OOS tuition and give lots of merit aid. *</p>
<hr>
<p>Siglio21 quote: *i dont care what type of environment my school is in, but i do want it to be residential as much as possible…i want to be an engineer or at least something science related…i am a HS junior right now
*</p>
<p>Since getting a full-ride without being an NMF is very difficult, I was thinking of this strategy…</p>
<p>1) getting an ACT 32 or SAT 1400 (M+CR) (or see below*)</p>
<p>2) getting a full tuition OOS scholarship</p>
<p>3) Using parents’ money to pay most of room & board (maybe they will pay all of this)</p>
<p>4) taking a small Stafford to go towards balance of room, board, fees, books</p>
<p>5) Working in summer to pay whatever’s left or to save for pocket money…</p>
<p>6) Working 6-8 hours per week during the school year for pocket money.</p>
<ul>
<li>Even if the student ends up with an ACT 30, he could still get a substantial scholarship. Right now, Alabama is giving engineering students with ACT 30+, full OOS tuition PLUS $2500 per year - that’s amazing. If that is still offered next year, that would be a real possibility for a student whose parents have a high EFC, and can’t pay it.</li>
</ul>
<p>Students who have a 30-31 ACT or 1330-1390 SAT (math and verbal scores only) and at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA will receive a tuition supplement to bring their University-level scholarship offer up to the value of tuition. In addition, they will receive $2,500 per year for four years. Of course, those who have an ACT 32+ get full tuition PLUS the $2500/year.</p>
<p>perhaps i will see what i get on the march or may SATs and see what my options are then</p>
<p>yes!</p>
<p>But, also take the ACT. Some kids do better on that and merit schools will award scholarships based on whichever one is higher. :)</p>