<p>So, I just figured unofficially that my family's EFC is around 25K. I applied to Davidson, which has a no-loan package, but my family would still be expected to pay around 20k/yr. their first part of the finaid application is due soon. is it worth continuing the application since I know that I will not be able to pay any part of that EFC.</p>
<p>now comes my rant: my brother will be graduating from med school with 150k+debt... i can't count him on FAFSA/CSS profile since he won't be a student anymore. this just seems a little whacked up. maybe i'm complaining(deep down, i know i am..so please don't bash me) it just...feels so helpless.</p>
<p>thanks all for taking the time to read. i guess i would like to know if its worth continuing the application even though i know i can not pay the expected EFC. i suppose i am glad for the other options I have and thank my lucky stars i've had a comfortable, middle class life up til now.</p>
<p>I suggest finishing it up & seeing what happens. It won't hurt to do it. You never know what you might find out. As long as you are aware that things may not work out for you, you might as well give it a try.</p>
<p>Have you run the numbers carefully and used their institutional methodology too? If you've done that and know clearly what your EFC is, you need to ask yourself if you want to put any more time into this. They will not surprise you by giving you more than your EFC as determined by their methodology.</p>
<p>If it makes you feel any better, many schools don't allow you to count a grad student anyway. Many, many kids are in your position. It's great that you're handling it by looking at the bright side.</p>
<p>Finish the forms. Without them you will get NO aid at all. See what happens, and then make your decision. In the meantime, have a discussion with your parents about finances as they relate to college.</p>
<p>^thanks..i think i may as well..although, now i'm still wondering if its worth my time. </p>
<p>thing that really freaks me out if I highly doubt my parents will talk to me about their finances expect to tell me they can't afford a private school tuition. I don't even think they've been saving up. which scares me so much!</p>
<p>Well, you have been accepted into a good school, which means your parents have given you the support you need to get to this point, so don't be too hard on them for not saving up. Not every family (and I bet not too many families) have their children's college funds fully funded. Fill out the forms and see what happens, but have a good back up plan in case you decide the private school costs more than you care to pay for.</p>
<p>hopeful - your parents let you apply to a private so they must be open to the discussion about paying for it I would think. Plus you are not the "first" in that your older brother has gone down the college path. Talk to them and see what they figured they could/would contribute. As a parent I would jump for joy if I was getting a selective $50,000 education for $20,000 with no loans. $20,000 is quite close to our flapship public cost. But yes, I'd finish up applying for aid if I was you so you have the "real" numbers and the "real" info from the school.</p>