<p>On my CSS, my parents' estimate of how much they will be able to pay is $10K+ less than their EFC (expected family contribution). Will this affect my chances of admission to certain colleges/universities?</p>
<p>How will it affect your admission? Do these colleges know that your parents can’t pay their EFC?</p>
<p>What was your FAFSA EFC?</p>
<p>The only thing that might be a concern is that if you have need (in excess of EFC) then some schools might be need aware. But, how would they know that your parents can’t pay their EFC?</p>
<p>BTW…what do you plan on doing about that gap?</p>
<p>If the school is need blind for admissions (most are) that means that the school will review your application for admission without considering your need for aid. If it’s a need blind school, your application will not be affected by ANYTHING you put on your financial aid application.</p>
<p>Is that estimate important at all? My parents estimated they could pay $5k. Our EFC ended up being 0, and things had changed and we obviously can’t pay $5k. Should I update the PROFILE?</p>
<p>I figured they didn’t take this number seriously, and that I wouldn’t need to update the PROFILE. Am I right in this assumption?</p>
<p>It’s a weird question. It probably won’t have any influence on anything, really. A CSS Profile college will calculate what they think your parents contribution should be. They don’t let the parents decide that.</p>
<p>As far as admissions goes, I don’t know whether it would have any effect or not. I’d love it if someday someone called a bunch of colleges and asked them that question!</p>
<p>It’s hard to know why it’s even asked. I usually just put down our FAFSA EFC… but mostly because it seems like a reasonable number that’s actually based on something objective. It feels like a respectful answer, but if I really, really couldn’t pay the FAFSA EFC (I mean, truly couldn’t pay it, not that I just didn’t want to pay it), then I would put down what felt like an honest estimate and explain why it was lower in the special comments section.</p>
<p>I mean, I think that’s how I’d approach it. I don’t think it matters much what you put in that box though.</p>
<p>Yosup, maybe you should call the FA office at the schools you applied to and ask them if a correction would be useful.</p>
<p>I was told by a non-profit company that assits with FAFSA & CSS is to list the amount left over every month (after bills) that you would feel comfortable making a payment plan to the school (x 10 months). So if you have $100 left over every month that would be $1000. Do not include the amt that you are planning on financing only cash on hand.</p>
<p>Did the company have any insight on whether the answer to that question has any impact on the aid award you receive?</p>
<p>If a person’s EFC is much higher than what they can state that they can pay, then I would be concerned that the school wouldn’t bother putting together a great FA package with its very, very limited funds. I would think that logically, they would put that effort towards another student whose family could meet their EFC, since that student will likely be able to afford to attend.</p>
<p>A family that only can contribute - say $100 a month (with a much higher EFC) - doesn’t seem to be in position to be able to make payments on any Plus loans that would need to be borrowed.</p>
<p>*I was told by a non-profit company that assits with FAFSA & CSS is to list the amount left over every month (after bills) that you would feel comfortable making a payment plan to the school (x 10 months). So if you have $100 left over every month that would be $1000. Do not include the amt that you are planning on financing only cash on hand. *</p>
<p>I think this is misleading info unless carefully explained. This advice might suggest to some parents that schools will see that you can’t meet your EFC and therefore offer more money to cover the EFC. They won’t.</p>
<p>I actually amended my contribution to $10K (I am planning on financing everything through PLUS loans). Possibly looking at $25K a year…</p>
<p>*S accepted EA to Emerson. Did not receive any aid --verified info would have been in admittance letter (still may make a trip to Boston to discuss)</p>
<p>Just applied to Hofstra and Lasell.</p>
<p>Missed Ithaca’s deadline-going to call them tomorrow.</p>
<p>Have until April 1st to apply to in-state.</p>
<p>Worst comes to worse, defer Emerson until Spring and he gets a job and I get a 2nd job…</p>
<p>Emerson is his #1 choice, I can swing the $18K EFC but was really hoping to bridge the gap…</p>
<p>Fingers (and toes) super crossed *</p>
<p>Above is from another thread…</p>
<p>Willow…</p>
<p>I know that if your son would have received a merit scholarship, he would have received it with his EA acceptance. But, that doesn’t necessarily mean that he would have received his FA package then. **When does Emerson send out FA packages? **</p>