<p>Even if there is somewhat special circumstances, will I pretty much be out of the running for any need-based aid?</p>
<p>i'm in the same boat. i have special circumstances but idk if that's gonna mean anything to my schools. both parents just started new jobs this year but before that one was unemployed for 6 years and savings were depleted</p>
<p>What kind of special circumstances? Most colleges will take something like high medical bills into consideration, but they won't consider high credit card bills.</p>
<p>Depends on the special circumstances. But absent any major adjustment in the EFC, you won't be eligible for need-based aid. You should still probably file FAFSA, in case your situation changes, and also because some schools use info on FAFSA to award merit aid.</p>
<p>If one's EFC were 56,000, would he/she receive aid at Harvard or MIT? Assume typical assets.</p>
<p>"If one's EFC were 56,000, would he/she receive aid at Harvard or MIT? Assume typical assets." - maybe, it depends on the CSS profile and perhaps whatever they see in your tax returns.</p>
<p>Harvard doesn't provide need-based aid solely on EFC. They also have a program that discounts tuition based on family income, so some upper middle class families, with high EFC's, could qualify. Not sure if MIT does as well.</p>
<p>From the Harvard website:</p>
<p>One fifth of families qualify for the Harvard Financial Aid Initiative, where parents with total incomes less than $60,000 are expected to pay nothing.</p>
<p>Parents with total incomes between $60,000 and $180,000, and typical assets, are now asked to pay an average of up to 10% of their income.</p>
<p>father was unemployed for 5 years and during this time had a medical problem. mom still employed full time but savings were depleted. special learning needs brother and parents had to finance a $30000 private school tutition bill for 5 years. in addition, major construction was done on house that cost over 100000. problem stemmed from an oversight by the builder. we on back most of it in a law suit but still had to pay some out of pocket. both of my parents started new jobs in 2008 though (yea i know wrong year to do it) so our EFC is now high</p>
<p>If your expected contribution is 56,000 then you can afford to pay for school out of pocket obviously. Why are you trying to get financial aid??</p>
<p>Well, we have somewhat unusual circumstances. We live in one of the most-taxed counties in America (our house was bought for $500k and it is the size of an average house in America, my dad lives in a $420k town house), among other divorce problems.</p>
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<blockquote> <p>our house was bought for $500k and it is the size of an average house in America, my dad lives in a $420k town house>></p> </blockquote>
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<p>Chronicle...your family (mom and dad) own almost a million dollars worth of real estate. To be able to afford the mortgage on those properties, I would guess that your family's income is high.</p>
<p>Check your numbers again. With one parent unemployed that does sound kind of high unless your mom makes a lot of money.</p>
<p>This is America, a lot of people make enough to produce a $56K EFC.</p>
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both parents just started new jobs this year
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</p>
<p>Columbia Student...Swoopes wrote that the parents just started new jobs in 2008. Both parents are no longer unemployed. Sounds like the income from those jobs is what netted that $56k EFC. This student should discuss the other expenses the family had and the unemployment situation which depleted savings and such prior to this year. Still...an EFC of $56K would be an income for the year of over $160,000....that's mighty high.</p>
<p>And Swoopes...if you recovered most of the costs of that housing fix...that would NOT be included in your special circumstances. You will have to explain the reasons for your parent's expenditure for private school for your sibling. The school may understand the need for this...and they may not. Ruling on special circumstances is at the discretion of the schools.</p>
<p>"If your expected contribution is 56,000 then you can afford to pay for school out of pocket obviously. Why are you trying to get financial aid??"</p>
<p>This is what I was getting out in my first post on this site. My EFC(IM) is $58k. Why? ...because of a $600k empty lot with a water view that was given to me over 10 years ago by my mother. Our income is modest, but this property kills any financial aid. Do they expect us to sell this family property?</p>
<p>Yes. Or possibly borrow against it.</p>
<p>geeps20 - Sounds like a nice property!!! Why not sell it to pay for college?</p>
<p>..because my wife and I have a greenhouse business on the property..that's our livelyhood..$90k a year, with a EFC of $58k...sigh</p>
<p>Green houses with a water view? My heart bleeds for you. </p>
<p>A lot of people have seen their businesses go belly up in the past year. Spare me the whine about your successful business and a drop dead gorgous peice of land. Put of college for a couple of years and save money from the business to pay for college.</p>
<p>oh please...we have been saving for years. I was just pointing out that everyone's situation is different. The water view is meaningless to me....All property valuations in my town our crazy, especially water views. Doesn't do the owner a bit of god..unless their selling.</p>