<p>I was just curious if the number FAFSA gave to me is at all accurate. It would be great if it is, but I'm not getting my hopes up.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>If you put in the right numbers in the right places, it is always accurate. It is just a mathematical formula, I think what you are asking is if the number often agrees with the families' perception of what they should be and could be contributing towards college expenses. In that case, the asnwer is no. Most people are shocked, disappointed and outraged.</p>
<p>And another thing...your EFC does not correlate with financial aid promises at many schools. In other words, just because you have a low EFC does not guarantee aid that will make up the difference between your EFC and the cost of attendance. AND finaid can come in the form of loans and work study. It's not just scholarships and grants. That surprises some folks also.</p>
<p>I am still in shock...FAFSA says EFC is 15K. I am single mom 52K earnings, no assets to speak of, omg after taxes and college my second d and I have about 2k a month to live on plus the 4k a year childsupport (college daughter's childsupport ends in June and father says he cannot commit)....unbelievable....I mean I(and she) knew she'd have to take on some debt but I really had no idea.....this leaves all but CC out, I mean she is a good student 1300 SAT, 3.9 GPA but compared to the competition, not likely merit coming her way either...with these things weren't right!</p>
<p>Im really sorry new2this. I am in a similar position, but not nearly as bad as yours.</p>
<p>the child support is added as part of your income (so your income is actually 62,000 -maybe more since childupoort is non-taxable income) If you are also recieving spousal support that is going to add to your contribution also. Father will still have have to submit his financial information also so expect the EFC to be even higher. The school will feel that he has a social and moral obligation to contribute to his child's education. Just because he does not want to or feels that he cannot contribute will make the his share go away.</p>
<p>child support ends in June and father says he cannot commit</p>
<p>I would suggest that you go back to the courts and request an upward modification as your support agreement willbe reviewed agian because your child is going to college. If she has not obtained a bachelors, it will be adjusted to reflect the parents contribution,.</p>
<p>Maybe in NY but not in Va...My lawyer,( when my ex asked to have college obligation taken out before he would sign) said that it was a moral obligation anyway.....I can tell you that if he was a moral person, I would still be married...I don't mean to sound cynical, but from people I have talked to here, I am not getting any warm fuzzies about the law enforcing it and the decree says her child support ends when she finishes high school or turns 18 whichever is sooner...my concern is for D, she's been extremely responsible and worked hard....we'll figure it out, I just need to get over the shock....I had used the calculators a number of times during the past two years and expected about half that...</p>
<p>New2this, I do not know where your D has applied to college, but you are ever so fortunate to be in Virginia. I am in a state that just does not have the options that your state offers. Or the tuition prices. Right now to go to Virginia Tech which is a solid state school that would most likely easily accept your daughter would cost , in the neighborhood, of $10K, which is the full cost. Not going to get that in too many places. Even if you get $1000 out of the ex, that is nearly 10% of the cost. If you can split that cost between your D and you, it is doable with loans and with her working very hard at double jobs in the summer, a few hours during the week, and maybe even starting to work now. $5K in loans per year comes to about $200 per month for 7 peak years and less for the other 6 years at current interest rates. Not an ideal scenario, but certainly doable. In our area, if you don't get into the flagship state school, the alternative is certainly community college and the ones here are not very good, or out of state school which are expensive or private which are even more. Not a good situation. I see many kids with stats below your D's in a quandry because of our state situation. I often wish we had moved to Va because of the inexpensive choices your state higher education system offers, along with the quality. Also, because they compete with these great state choices, the private schools in VA tend to be a bit less expensive and often give sweetners so the financial gap between such schools and the state schools are less.</p>
<p>Thanks jamimom, again I was just surprised....it's been a struggle but I have been at it long enough to know, we will figure it out and it will be fine....I'm just not usually off by 2/3rds!!! Your right about VA schools....she had planned on W&M, as a day student since we are within 35 miles but got deferred(we remain hopeful but ..)1st bump in the road. She was so depressed we started sending them all, UVA, AU(before I knew the EFC was so high), Tech,George Mason, Old Dominion, James Madison, Mary Washington,Randolph Macon. She wants to major in International Studies, expects to work(has been working since she turned 15, saved some which adds to the EFC)....expected debt...has made contacts in the NVA area for internships which can start after her freshman year....you are right it's doable, just more than I had originally planned.
VA is nice, peninsula salaries a bit on the low side in my field and my home responsibilities have had some limitations but I do agree, VA has much to offer in education so we get to work....</p>
<p>BTW, today I used the CC EFC calculator, the same info I put into fafsa and it estimated 1/3 of the contribution that Fafsa did......something is obviously off.</p>
<p>did you try assets such as businesses or property</p>
<p>I am a single parent with a salary that is less than 32,000, 10,000 in savings, under 2.000 in yearly retirement and nothing else, no house etc. No parent support and court documents to this regard. EFC was over 16,000. I was shocked since all the "calculators" were in the 2,000 to 4,000 range. Who knows. When I tried to call about it, I got kids who really didn't know anything. So I have given up. We will make it somehow. Hopefully the colleges will help out. I have put everything I have into the education of my child. I have little funds beyond what I believe is the most important investment: my child. I think you just have to decide what is important and go for it.</p>
<p>Circumstances sound similar overseas, education has been my first priority for both d's. Like you I looked ahead, used the calculators and they were off by at least half. I have since gone back after filling out the fafsa, and using the same info, the calculators still come up with at least half of what the fafsa said. I have gone over the fafsa many times to see if I made an error and cannot find one unless it is that I left some things blank instead of putting $0. Just this evening I did the calculator on the princeton review site and still came back to $7k, not the 15K that fafsa says. If I have made a mistake I wish I could find.</p>
<p>My EFC is 3300. Is that high or low?</p>
<p>Our FAFSA EFC also was about double of what I expected from the calculators. Did they change the FAFSA formula this year? Since we have no debt and have some savings, I figure that the Profile EFC will be into 6 figures....</p>
<p>New2this, I am going to write a letter to all the colleges with the specifics of my situation. The taxes I pay do not show up on the forms etc. I will do this on the weekend. That is all I can do. :(</p>
<p>im betting they changed the formula. calculator tells me EFC is 17k, fafsa says 26k.</p>
<p>New2this-I don't know if your state would differ, but we live in CA and my mom's ex refused to pay child support for my older siblings when they were younger, now he has his wages garnered to make up what he owes even though they are legal adults (I offer this tidbit also not knowing your exact situation)</p>