<p>No, you should not apply ED.</p>
<p>FAFSA forecaster is not going to estimate what HMU is going to expect your parents to pay.</p>
<p>HMU uses CSS PROFILE to determine what your family should pay…not FAFSA. They only use FAFSA to see if you qualify for federal grants and such. And, your EFC is too high for federal grants.</p>
<p>You can’t use FAFSA forecaster to determine what HMU will expect your parents to pay. </p>
<p>And…HMU determines what your need is, and if they say that you have very little need, then that’s all they have to meet. </p>
<p>CSS Profile considers other sources of money…such as home equity, car values, and other things. And, if either of your parents is self-employed, then that could also hurt your chances for aid.</p>
<p>You won’t be able to take out a loan to cover a gap in your “family contribution” because there will already be a loan for you to meet need. You would need your parents to co-sign any extra loans.</p>
<p>Since ED decisions are in the Dec/Jan timeframe, it’s highly unlikely that you would know at that time if you had private scholarships to help you cover costs for 4 years. Besides, private scholarships are often only for freshman year only. You might be able to earn some of the money, but you will also need some money for “pocket money” and daily expenses during the school year.</p>
<p>Since you already know that your parents’ budget is $30k per year, you need to apply RD and EA to various schools so that you can compare FA packages. AND…be sure to apply to financial safeties, because CSS Profile schools may determine that your parents should pay full freight…or near full freight.</p>
<p>Your salary with a HMU degree in engineering will not be higher. Engineers from all schools start at a higher salary than other college grads. You will not get a bonus in pay because you graduated from HMU. An engineering grad from UCLA or Berkeley or many, many other good schools will net the same salary.</p>