<p>So i'm sure everyone has heard this story before, divorced parents, live with mom who earn about 14kish a year (counting child support), dad isn't involved in paying a cent for my college, but css still considers the non-custodial parent's money (110k income, decent amount of assets), blah blah blah.</p>
<p>I realize my situation is FAR from unique. With just my mom (FASFA), my EFC was around 13kish, because she unwisely transferred some 100k+ dollars into her account that she borrowed from my aunt to buy our house (another strange choice when her income earning abilities are so low). I'm sure it would've been lower otherwise. Yet with CSS included, the aid sent by UChicago had my EFC at around 49k. And the 3k wasn't in grants, but in loans. Quite obviously, we cannot even DREAM of meetings this EFC.</p>
<p>HOWEVER i have heard that some universities have some sort of waiver that if you get signed by the non-custodial parent, somehow waves the non-custodial parent's contribution. Does Uchicago have this waiver?</p>
<p>Not that I have heard of, but it doesn't hurt to ask. Do you have other college options that use the FAFSA calculation? I am so sorry - this is such a miserably unfair situation for you to be in.</p>
<p>Could your mom go talk to their financial aid office in person? Or call them?</p>
<p>by phone, most definitely. in person, most probably not.</p>
<p>However how big a difference does it make if i talk to the FA office in person or on the phone. Because most likely, I will only be able to talk to them on the phone. Also, is it better if my mom talks to the FA people? She's not too involved in my college app process, and I've pretty much handled most things up to now (though she did help me out on some parts in FASFA), plus her English isn't that great.</p>
<p>In my experience with successfully getting a revised FA offer from UC (where my S is joyously completing his 1st year), they will want everything in WRITING. So, I don't think it'll matter whether the communication from you or her is by phone or in person. It'll probably have to be in writing, including whatever documentation you can possibly provide.</p>
<p>breakurjea,</p>
<p>I think your mom should call, explain the basic situation (even if her English is not perfect), and say that you will be sending supporting documentation. If they are willing to accept additional documentation - that's good, but, I am not sure what would be appropriate to send - maybe you could take the phone at that point.</p>