<p>Well then, how would I appeal this financial aid offer? I’m not exactly sure and I don’t think all of this can be done on the phone. Especially since by the time I get back from school, their office is closed =/</p>
<p>Ok it won’t let me edit:</p>
<p>Edit: Ok FAFSA says my EFC is $7928. Cornell says that it is $12,500 for parents and $2320 for student. Also, $3,000 a year for loans and $1800 for work study. I also sent in my 2008 forms/FAFSA forms on like March 20-25. Should I definitely call them up and see what’s going on. Oh ya, all these figures were from the ED financial aid report. Will we be getting updated ones soon?</p>
<p>The FAFSA EFC is moot AFAIK. They pretty much ignore that and recalc it based on their criteria. I’d call and ask though. With an EFC that low, you should be getting much more grant aid. My EFC is like 15k and I got 32k in grants.</p>
<p>Call and see what’s up.</p>
<p>k, cool. I will call soon. Hopefully I can get that lowered since me going to college will be a great strain, especially with another little sibling coming up right behind me.</p>
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<p>I have no idea…I wonder if taxable income plays a role in the calculation of the EFC b/c our taxable income was $88,000. It would be nice if Cornell published their EFC calculation.</p>
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<p>There is a formal appeal process…it’s detailed on the financial aid website.</p>
<p>i guess you will be your parents retirement fund :D</p>
<p>call and explain that your parents put their retirement savings in a weird place.</p>
<p>@dewdrop87</p>
<p>Since you went to Cornell, the FAFSA formula has changed. Now, 401k contributions count as income. Your parents made $114k and only $80k was taxable. If you were applying today and they are contributing to their 401k, much more would be taxable.</p>
<p>^^That might explain why my sister’s EFC was much higher than mine.</p>