<p>Well my situation is as follows: My EFC was 0 for the 09-10 year. My mothers income was about $28 grand. Now during my current school year, my EFC is 2300. My mothers income went up to about $39 grand. I have no type of assets or income. My mom hasn't had a bank account in years because she has a debt. Although there was a significant increase (I guess) in income does it really warrant a 2300 EFC? Yes tuition is covered but if I do get a refund, it won't even be enough to cover books. I have seen other people getting help on this board so I decided to make a thread and see if anyone can chime in and help me. Please.</p>
<p>Unfortunately it is probably correct. When your Mom’s income was $28k you probably qualified for the automatic 0 EFC. Once her income went over the auto 0 income cut off ($31k this year) then her income would be used to calculate an EFC.</p>
<p>How many people are in your family? Is it just you and your mom?</p>
<p>You may need to get a job this summer, save the money, and have it ready to help you with any unpaid school bills and books. It’s not unusual for students to have to work and contribute some of their own money towards their education.</p>
<p>Yeah its just me and my mom. Like I said, she has no other assets, not even a checking account with a $0 balance. I just don’t get how other people in very similar situations are getting full pell grants.</p>
<p>Based on my information, would I be eligible for work study? I have been looking for a job that won’t interfere with school for a while with no luck. If work study can provide me with a job best believe I am taking it.</p>
<p>* I just don’t get how other people in very similar situations are getting full pell grants.</p>
<p>*</p>
<p>Because they may have larger families…more kids…or 2 parent household. When a household only has one adult and one child, then the formula assumes that more money can be put towards college.</p>
<p>You’ll need to call your school about work-study. But, even if you’re awarded work-study, that doesn’t mean that you’re handed a job. I think you still have to find one that qualifies for work-study…usually the job is on campus, but not always.</p>
<p>That said, work study jobs are usually during the school year. you should also be looking for a SUMMER job.</p>
<p>Of course, I’m in the process of getting a lifeguard license so that should cover me for the summer. How in the world does the formula assume more money can be put down in a one parent household? Maybe in a one child household compared to 2 or 3 but one parent? Makes no sense. I just think its pretty nuts in NYC, in a single parent home in which we live month to month on a $38 grand income, I have to pay for books out of pocket with money that is not existent.</p>
<p>That is a very low EFC.</p>
<p>You may have misunderstood me. </p>
<p>You only have 2 people (1 adult, 1 child) in a household that makes $39k. If your family made the same income, but had 2 adults and 1 child…or 1 adult and 2 children…then the formula would give a smaller EFC…because that income would be supporting MORE people. You asked how others with a similar income had lower EFCs, I was telling you how.</p>
<p>Sorry, I misunderstood. When you mentioned 2 adults I was assuming the income was automatically doubled.</p>
<p>How is that a very low EFC? I don’t buy it. I just don’t see how I should be paying for books I cannot possibly afford.</p>
<p>gshox22, I urge you not to listen to susgeek. Rather than attempting to remedy a problem or help propose legitimate solutions he/she seems to enjoy posting on people’s threads that they are ungrateful because they have what susgeek would consider to be a low EFC. I just posted a similar thread. My parents make less than $40000 for a family of four and I too was questioning my $2066 EFC. Thankfully mom2collegekids at least understands that we post because we want answers and suggestions, not criticism for our comments. </p>
<p>I wish you the best of luck in finding a job and getting work study and I hope that you find a way to continue paying for your education.</p>
<p>Kkmall, I saw your thread, makes me feel like my situation isn’t so bad. How they came up with an EFC of $2066 for your situation is ludicrous. EFC isn’t based on income and household size solely, maybe your parents’ assets made the difference, but its worth calling fafsa and having them bring your information up to at least discuss it. I called today just to see if I can get some kind of answers to no avail as I expected but give it a shot.</p>
<p>Good luck to you as well, I saw the schools on your horizon I’m sure you have a bright future.</p>
<p>Since FAFSA doesn’t count your home or parent’s retirement funds towards assets, that left my parents with about $100 in assets. We are probably going to contact FAFSA just to ask, but in the meantime I’ll just continue applying for scholarships and hope for the best.</p>
<p>join the club. At least you once had the pell grant…my efc is over 6,000…my parents think college is a waste of time and won’t help me financially. I got a job, used loans, and pay for it myself. it sucks, I know.</p>
<p>Maybe I’m just cranky this morning but I’m getting more than a bit of a sense of entitlement from some of these posts. </p>
<p>My parents gave me $0 for college. I worked 40 hours a week for 4 years during school and took a full course load. Took any job I could get during the summer. Between that and loans and some aid I managed. </p>
<p>My DS’s girlfriend goes to college full-time and works two jobs that are more than 40 hours per week. </p>
<p>People work and go to school. Find a job and make your dreams happen. It requires sacrifice and hard work. Not whining.</p>
<p>Print out the FAFSA formula at <a href=“http://www.ifap.ed.gov/efcformulaguide/attachments/101310EFCFormulaGuide1112.pdf[/url]”>http://www.ifap.ed.gov/efcformulaguide/attachments/101310EFCFormulaGuide1112.pdf</a> and work your way through the calculations by hand. That way you will know which parts of the formula have the largest effect on your own personal results.</p>
<p>Actually my daughter’s EFC is about the same. My son’s was a little bit higher.</p>
<p>I am a parent, not a child, and I do see how much we have to be grateful for. I am trying to bring some perspective. Like Iron Maiden, I find the sense of entitlement is very frustrating. </p>
<p>With an EFC that low you will be eligible for PELL and unsubsidized government loans - things that those with much higher EFCs don’t get.</p>
<p>My kids have to work very hard for their portion of their school expenses, and we do what we can - but ultimately it is their responsibility.</p>
<p>A higher efc given because you have more resources. That’s something those with low efc’s might envy.</p>
<p>How is that a very low EFC? I don’t buy it.* I just don’t see how I should be paying for books I cannot possibly afford.** *</p>
<p>It is a lowish EFC because it’s low enough to qualify for a Pell Grant. </p>
<p>2300 EFC provides 1650 per semester…or 3300 total. </p>
<p>Can you tell us how much your school costs?</p>
<p>Also, there is an expectation that students need to pay/contribute towards some of their college expenses…that generally means working a summer job and using those funds towards things like books, supplies, computer, and perhaps some of tuition.</p>
<p>Even low income students who are going to ivies are expected to provide a “summer contribution.”</p>
<p>OP, it sounds like you fell under the auto 0 EFC formula last year but do not this year. The 2300 jump in EFC with the income increase is due to that reason … if you hadn’t qualified for auto 0, you probably would have had an EFC somewhere between 0 and 2300.</p>
<p>Rather than calling FAFSA for this, please use the link happymomof 1 provided. Be careful, because you have to really pay attention to the directions when working through the formula.</p>
<p>The cut offs are very low to get the full PELL and it is intended to be that way. I’m sorry for any families and students who have low EFCs but do not qualify for any grants. The problem is that the money is so tight for all of this and there are cuts looming on the horizon for what is now available.</p>