<p>I sent my parents's tax verification to my school and they changed my EFC contribution when nothing changed financially on my parents's forms. My financial advisor told me the reason why she changed my EFC was because only one family member will be attending college in the fall ( me) instead of two individuals ( my mother and myself). I went to FAFSA and changed # of people going to college to one individual and my FAFSA EFC did not change from the previous EFC I sent before verification. What can be some possiblities of why my EFC rose significantly?</p>
<p>Can anyone please help?</p>
<p>My suggestion is that you talk to your college's financial aid office because since they have the paperwork and made the decision, they should be in a much better position to answer your question than would a board of anonymous strangers.</p>
<p>Yes, I have spoked with her but she isn't that much help. I just wanted to know if anyone knew why would EFC increase significantly. Thanks</p>
<p>if the number of people going to college went from 2 to 1, your EFC should double. Is that what it did? originally the EFC was split between the two people, but they don't count parents when figuring the EFC for students.</p>
<p>NO NO NO..
Your EFC is based on your income etc.
Let's say EFC $10,000
The amount of money paid to the institution(s) would be that number ($10,000)
However, your contribution to 2 schools for 2 students would be approx. 1/2 each or $5,000 and $5,000. If mom decides not to go to school the $10,000 goes to pristineCE college. EFC should not change, but allocation of EFC will.</p>
<p>
[quote]
However, your contribution to 2 schools for 2 students would be approx. 1/2 each or $5,000 and $5,000. If mom decides not to go to school the $10,000 goes to pristineCE college. EFC should not change, but allocation of EFC will.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>the EFC is not "split" if a parent & child are both in college, the "split" usually happens with siblings in college.</p>
<p>OP, states that she and her mom are both in college. As a parent who is currently attending school, who also has a child who is currently an undergrad, I can tell you first hand that while yes, your EFC is based on your income but if a student and a parent are both in school, the parent being in school has no bearing on the student's EFC. Yes, the student can have an EFC that is considerably higher than their parents even though the same information is being used in both situations.</p>
<p>However if a parent is in school and has a child in college, their EFC is lowered.</p>
<p>My daughter's EFC is considerably higher than mine because I "benefit" from her being in college, but it does not happen the other way around.</p>
<p>what I was saying was that if all the figures are exactly the same (what the OP put on the FAFSA and what the school put during verification) is that the EFC should be twice what it was originally, since she is not benefiting from splitting the EFC (parents don't count).</p>
<p>If the EFC is more than doubled, another figure has been changed -- look it over carefully. Also -- your EFC does not automatically equal what you will pay, it is a starting point for determining your financial aid award. If you are at a public university, they frequently "gap" students.</p>
<p>What was your original EFC?</p>
<p>^spoken*</p>
<p>My EFC was 974 and it changed into $2,319</p>
<p>pristine,</p>
<p>keep in mind that your EFC given to you on the FAFSA is simply and estimate. the college will give you an EFC based on their cost.</p>
<p>that helps -- since it increaed more than double (which is accounted by the change in the number of students) you need to look for other changes. Was there any change in the amount indicated for worksheet 1,2 or 3 from what you put and what the school put? that is the biggest problem area. </p>
<p>do you have your original print out when you completed the FAFSA (where your EFC was 974) and a copy of the FAFSA with your current EFC of 2319 (you can get it online). compare every number and see if there is any difference. If you don't find any difference you will have to talk to the FA office -- it is a straightforward system and the numbers put in will generate the number that comes out (the EFC)</p>
<p>Stef,</p>
<p>from what I have seen it is very rare that the EFC amount that is given on the FAFSA and the EFC given by the school are both equal (maybe the exception being someone with a "0" EFC). I know from our experience, D was accepted to 7 need baed colleges and the EFC on all of them were different and none matched the FAFSA or school on-line calculators (although some were close).</p>
<p>That's the problem when I did it online my FAFSA stayed the same 974, after I changed the number of individuals attending college. I have an original copy of my SAR and I've looked at both of my parents's income tax worksheets. For Worksheet 1,2, and 3 what do I look at on my parents's income to see a change?</p>
<p>Interesting -- I assumed that for all schools using the EFC based strictly on the FAFSA (I know that IM schools are different) was just numbers based. The school determines COA and the FA package, but I thought that the EFC was a set number. That has just been my experience with three schools I attended and applied for that were state schools. Mine was adjusted because of what I reported on the worksheet #1 (i put 0, the school changed that) but I thought that the EFC was generated by the FAFSA program and that the school can only control the numbers that are input into the program (as in changes during income verification and professional judgement) and cannot control the actual EFC number. Am I wrong? I know a school can change the numbers going into the program, but they have to have justification for that -- right? It is student information, correct?</p>
<p>It is very confusing because I told the woman none of the numbers changed and she agreed with me but said b/c of only one person attending college in the fall my EFC increased. Unfortunately it increased more than double which is odd when all the numbers are all the same.</p>