<p>my parents made about 150k together in won of the wealthiest counties in the nation- eg, it might sound like a lot but its really middle/upper middle class for the expensive area i live in
my efc was 39k on the fafsa, about 32 on the css
they are both blue collar people who worked at least 40 hrs per week-
my dad probably works at least 16 hrs overtime being paid 1.5 times the usual amount per hour
so, it might seem like a lot, but a lot went into making it.
plus my mom is sick so she's only working part time now, so she will only be making 20k next year.
so anyway, am i totally screwed over or what? will colleges take this into account, especially with my mom's salaryfor next year drastically changing?
and then, if she gets well, will i really be that screwed over?
my parents (when both were working full time) said they could cover about 20k at the max. i'm willing to go into some debt, but not too much.
i really don't want to be stuck going to a state school, i'd much rather go to an lac.
any suggestions?</p>
<p>you will have to file with your schools financial aid office for them to take your mothers istuation into account. most shcools have some type of "use current years income" petition, or something to that effect.</p>
<p>Anyways, that doesnt seem like its too high... your EFC seems right for your parents income.</p>
<p>Just choose a cheaper school, one where you can utilize the 20 k they offer and then take as much debt as you feel comfortable taking on to yourself. Its not that bad.</p>
<p>there are no cheaper schools-
pretty much all the good ones are 40k a year, more or less
i didn't apply to any that didn't take the css profile or super expensive ones like gwu and nyu
i'm trying for scholarships, but most schools just subtract w/e you get that way from the aid they would have given you
thanks for responding!</p>
<p>The EFC isn't just based on current income, there is an assumption parents have saved money for college. Unfortunately, you'll probably have to pay that EFC this year, though it may be adjusted next year if your mom's income goes down. No guarantee if your school doesn't meet full need though.</p>
<p>"there are no cheaper schools-
pretty much all the good ones are 40k a year, more or less"</p>
<p>That's like shopping for a Lexus, finding it a bit pricey, and claiming:"There are no cheaper cars, pretty much all the good ones are 40K, more or less."</p>
<p>There are some very good schools where the full cost is considerably less, the state universities are a very good value for in-state students, and some of them are very good.</p>
<p>Don't forget the EFC also takes into count how much the family should have saved for college given current income (the contribution from assets relatively low to not discourage savings) and how much the family can borrow and pay back in the future.</p>
<p>but usually when a parent looses a job or becomes sick, you can file that with the schools financial aid office so that they use the current years income instead of last years income. </p>
<p>And there are PLENTY of schools under 40k. </p>
<p>My schools tuition is 7k........</p>
<p>only state schools are in the 7k range, and that's only if you live at home, or go to a community college.
i live in nj. princeton is about 40k, and so is fairleigh-dickinson and drew (never heard of them? they're not nearly as good academically as rutgers, so i don't know why any one who could get into rutgers would go there) but guess what- they're 40k.</p>
<p>as far as EFc is considered, there is literally not a cent saved for me to go to college- i have a big family that helps each other out at times and my mother says one of her main regrets is not saving more. plus my dad had a big jump in salary two years ago- has not always been making nearly this much.</p>
<p>colleges and cars are very different things. basically all degrees cost somewhat the same amount to manufacture (i know professors and their is no difference in salary between a third tier school and a top of the line school), although some alumni contribute more than others, and there is a real difference in the quality and kind of education and connections at amherst than at rutgers.
i want to go to a small lac where i will have constant interaction with profs and where i will have a great chance to go to an amazing grad school, not to mention the difference in alumni networking there than at rutgers
i'm not saying, i'd rather go to penn state than rutgers, or even u mich, unc, or another comparable school. i'm not even saying i want to go to harvarrd, another research university, than rutgers.
i would like to go to a top-quality catholic university, or women's college, or lac for undergrad. none of these things can be found in a state school. there is no comparison- in some ways the better for rutgers, in others the better for amherst/bryn mawr/gtown.
i'm NOT bashing rutgers.
but i have worked very very hard in hs (hasn't everyone here), i have experienced different learning environments (i go to a big public school and went to governor's school, which is a smal, tight knit community where i thrived and got to be friends with awesome professors) and i know what suits me best and that it just isn't offered in my state university system.
i don't understand how a family with 3 children and a large mortgage could be expected to use 1/3 of its income for just one child. i don't understand why i am being penalized for having hard working, successful parents and wishing i were poor instead of middle class.</p>
<p>why don't you look at TCNJ, which is a small LAC state school that it also a very good school. Other options include ramapo or rider or rowan</p>
<p>thanks for the suggestion
my profs at gov school said that rutgers was much better for me, being that i want to study political science and i would be part of the honors program there
thanks again</p>
<p>College is just another consumer product, you have to buy what you can afford. You're hardly alone. I've taken a gap year to earn money to be able to attend my dream school.</p>
<p>Well, given that the average family income is a bit less than 50K, you're doing pretty well at three times that. So if you want to spring for the Lexus of colleges, and you can get in, go for it. You can afford it.</p>
<p>i live about 30 minutes out of nyc
there are no homes (even in my old neighborhood which is rapidly turning into a ghetto with a less than stellar school district) that sell for less than 300 000 for a cape cod type home. a teacher's starting salary is about 37k. the area as a whole is doing well by your standards-
there are some of the highest taxes in the nation, and the cost of living is much much higher than pretty much anywhere else except for the heart of a major prosperous city like ny or la.
i know i have a lot to be thankful for, but trust me, i am not so well off as you'd imagine.</p>
<p>But you sound like you feel entitled to go to any school you want to. Many people are in your situation. The choices are not easy. Work, go into debt or choose a cheaper school.</p>
<p>There are many discussions similar to this one on the Parents forum, which are basically summed up on post #15.</p>
<p>Did you apply to any LAC's that give merit money, not just need based? There are many excellent LAC's that give merit awards ... perhaps you'll qualify.</p>
<p>Here's the voice of experience, including the lost income problem from the sick mom.
First, you sound like you're picking up your parent's upset. If her illness has her working halftime for one year, that too will pass.
BUT, here's what to do: there will be 2 fin aid forms, CSS Online Profile and FAFSA. Not all colleges use CSS. But for those that do, look for a place callled "Explanations and Special Circumstances" (some years back it was Section P; could have changed).
There, write all about your mom's situation and the income change.
There's not a place to describe it on FAFSA, but here's what to do for colleges that don't use CSS but only FAFSA: YOU ASK EACH COLLEGE FINAID dept for a form or process whereby you can describe this situation. You must ask.
(You can even do this mid-year if the dramatic income change happens then, and they'll take it into consideration for the next semester.)</p>
<p>Some students who've posted here don't quite get that income, whether it's $150K or whatever, is only as powerful as in relation to the housing costs of your geographic area. In one region, it buys a 4-bedroom with land; in another, just a 2-bedroom bungalow. </p>
<p>However, you'll need to search your soul, and talk with your folks a bit, to understand that you don't want to be poor just to get a scholarship. You really, really don't want to change places. And don't refer to your neighborhood as turning ghetto if you don't want to have people wonder about your racial outlook. </p>
<p>I think you are very worried and responsible-feeling b/c your mom's not feeling well, and you're picking up some of their understandable worry. Talk with them and find out how you can work out a plan together. </p>
<p>Also look for LAC's that are "need-blind." That could help you. Look for those with big endowments b/c the aid might be better. You might find the differential between the LAC and state school is WORTH it to your family, because (if they are educators) they'll know to think of it as an investment (in you) and not just a cost.</p>
<p>Consider majors that have more marketability, or a skill-set so you can repay loans by getting off-campus and summer jobs. </p>
<p>Above all, ask your folks to help you analyze your situation so you're less upset and don't whine.</p>
<p>I'm really trying to help you here. Been there.</p>
<p>Think about what you're saying, passionflower. "My parents didn't save for my college education, so someone else's parents should pay for me to go to school." Because that's what these grants are from - other people's parents (that's where much of the endowments came from, too). What makes you so entitled?</p>
<p>We also live in a high cost of living state (Massachusetts), with higher property values, property taxes, income taxes, energy costs, etc. And our EFC is high. But we did our own saving, and if d gets into a school we can't afford, without sufficient financial aid, we'll either figure something out or she'll go somewhere else. Simple.</p>
<p>In the CSS profile there is a section to fill out on extraordinary circumstances, such as your mom's illess. For schools like Rutgers using only the FAFSA you write a letter that states the situation, and provide documentation so they can verify the situation. The school is allowed to consider the problems and change the EFC if they feel it is appropriate. Yes, when your mom is well the EFC would go back up. Otherwise everyone would quit work for a few months, drop the EFC and then go make those big bucks again.
Go visit Rutgers on scholars day - people admitted to the honors program. it is harder classwork but in general much smaller classes and a tight-knit community. If you applied, visit TCNJ as well.
You are not being penalized for having a big income. There is money set aside for merit but most to help poorer people go to college. People making 150,000 aren't broke. It was nothing you decided, but when you family started to have a higher income they did decide to move from "the old neighborhood" and assume a bigger mortgage. Giving you $ cause your family has a big mortgage on a new home, or another family decided to buy that lexus and is in debt is a choice. Asking taxpayers to shoulder the cost of your education so they family can leave the "ghetto" is not fair.</p>
<p>Thems the breaks. As stated before, it is assumed that the FAFSA magic formula spits out EFCs based upon college savings expected for a level of income. One would hope the college(s) you are interested in are willing to take into account other factors - after all it is the individual colleges that use FAFSA as a guide, nothing is in concrete. Colleges want great students - it boosts their standing. If you have earned high academic marks consideration of any factor to get you will be made. Know what those marks have to be to be competitive - and most of us also plan for a "safety", which is basically good shopping for the most bang for the least bucks. Seems to me you are looking at a Lexus without considering fall backs - Honda's are great cars too for the money. I would rather be riding in a Honda than walking.</p>