<p>I just finished my fafsa and my EFC is $27000. The problem is, my parents have $0 for me for college. Today I found out I got a full ride at my local state college. I am interviewing for Regents, but I really haven't gotten any other scholarships. I have to tell the state college by March 10 if I will accept their scholarship. Will I get any financial aid with my EFC, or do I just need to stay home for the next four years and go to college for free? I am okay with graduating with debt, but nothing big like 100,000.</p>
<p>Interesting.
I bet you won't have that big of a debt so don't worry so much about that.</p>
<p>My opinion is:</p>
<p>Apply to other scholarships, doesn't your high school have a community-run scholarship programs? (i.e. band, american legion, rotary club, church)
I received 3,500 dollars in scholarship money by just submitting a few essays to these organizations.</p>
<p>Did you apply for the UC Berkeley Alumni scholarships? (they were for like 1,000 each)
If you're a regent you may as well get other type of scholarships (There are those scholarships you applied for with your UC app)</p>
<p>Finally, Consider where you want to go (Local college vs Berkeley)
Have u done a campus tour? what do you want to major in?
stuff like that.</p>
<p>Also, the government gives cal grants, I'm sure you can get one (as long as your a U.C. Citizen) and if you have a regent invite that means you must be shining on academic grades</p>
<p>Sorry, but if you are instate, you will not recieve any financial aid with a fafsa efc of $27k since every UC has a COA of less than that amount. But, you maybe eligible for federal loans. [Note, even with a efc of zero, UC requires $9k of self-help.]</p>
<p>The other option is commuity college for two years and transfer to Cal. Good luck.</p>
<p>I would lean toward your state college. There are plenty of graduates who do not have jobs lined up at this time. Yes, the economy can improve four years from now but who knows. You also have the option of transfering after a few years. My advice is avoid undergraduate debt like leprosy. If you go to graduate school, you won't have the burden of previous student loans.</p>
<p>You'd be crazy to turn down a full ride, if the other option is going into debt.</p>