Our EFC is $41K: Expect any aid?

Paying for College
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<p>I'm wondering how good of a chance I have to get some aid in the $30-35 range if I have an EFC of $41... My parents said they would pay $30-$35. I'm specifically wondering how good Villanova, Lehigh, and Bucknell are at financial aid. Is it simply wishful thinking to hope of a bit of a better financial aid package?</p>

<p>I'm kind of annoyed at my parents. They told me that I could end up at Bucknell, Lehigh, or Nova...I studied so hard in school, devoted myself to numerous extracirriculars, leadership positions, studied for the SATS like crazy, and am #1 in my class.</p>

<p>It's always been MY DREAM to go to one of those 3 schools... Now, I'm really worried about how the F.Aid situation will fare out, because I got a great bit of merit scholarship from a respectable school, which will make me pay $23 a year. I think that I'm just annoyed that I was decieved into believing that money wouldn't be a problem. If I'm accepted and am not able to go to any of those three schools, I think I will be crushed....and I'll just feel that I worked so hard for nothing.</p>

<p>I don't know. I'm really stressed out right now...I really really want to attend those schools. I DO not expect my parents to shell out that kind of money if they don't want to--- I just feel pretty let down thinking that I'm going to have to go to my safety school, simply because of financial reasons. :( </p>

<p>Anybody else in a similar boat? Did this happen to anybody else? I wouldn't have been as dissapointed if my parents were more upfront about costs in the beginning. I don't knowww... Any advice or anything would be helpful :(</p>

<p>But the big question: Can I expect anything less than my EFC?</p>

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<p>Could you clarify this quesion? You say your parents would pay $30-$35 (I'm assuming thousand)...is that per year? If so, you would need about $7000 or less in aid per year. Half or more would be in a Stafford loan in your name and the other half could be your summer earnings. That is VERY doable.</p>

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<p>I'm in a similiar situation. I applied to lehigh and bucknell as well and my parents EFC is about 48,000, but my parents wouldn't really be able to contribute that much. Like you, I have worked very hard and am at the top of my class. I also recieved the same size scholarship from a respectable school and now my parents are pushing that on me because I expect to get next to nothing in aid. I feel your pain. It kind of stinks. You worked so hard throughout high school and now might not be able to go to your first choice school because of the finances. From what i have heard, bucknell is notorious for not giving much in aid and lehigh is fair but not overly generous. Pretty soon those letters will be rolling in, and we'll be able to make our final decisions. I hope all works out well! Best of luck!</p>

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<p>Like thumper1, I am also having a hard time following your explanation. I don't understand why you need aid in the range of $30 - 35K if your parents are already willing to pay that much, because none of those schools costs $60 - 70K a year.</p>

<p>If you do get financial aid commensurate with your EFC of $41K (which is a likely scenario) then your actual gap between financial aid and the $35K max that your parents are actually willing to spend is only $6K. As posted above, you can cover that with loans.</p>

<p>Certainly it's best not to have debt when you leave school, but $25K (assuming 4 years of similar size loans) is not an unreasonable burden for a new college graduate -- particularly if it lets you attend one of your "dream schools."</p>

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<p>If EFC is $41 a $48 school might not meet full need and give you only say $3500 in loans and $2000 work study, so you'd have to work and take out loans beyond that to get down to $35.</p>

<p>Good luck. I'm sure it must be very frustrating to have worked so hard and then find out you might not be able to afford it anyway.</p>

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<p>Types</a> Of Aid || Financial Aid || Bucknell University
they have need and merit scholarships</p>

<p>villanova
Scholarships</a> and Grants</p>

<p>lehigh
Lehigh</a> University :: Admissions: Types and Sources of Aid</p>

<p>you could get merit aid from any of them, regardless of need, if they want to. Remember, the colleges can offer their own money to anyone they want for any reason they want</p>

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<p>Honestly I think you have a pretty good shot for a bit of FinAid.</p>

<p>My EFC was like 46, so i thought that I was pretty much screwed as far as need-based aid went, but was suprised to find out that I qualified for a few $3,500 awards from schools costing ~30 a year.</p>

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<p>why bother asking if your EFC is $41K gs..that means some serious cash is lying around..lol ..with that kind of dough you can dream high</p>

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<p>^ not everyone lives up to their EFCs. I would know.
I don't know specifically about those schools, but as a reference, I applied to a few schools within the $40k - $50k/year range and my EFC was $48k - I received only loans for my need-based aid, and the most I got was 10k for merit aid (and I'm pretty good grade-wise).</p>