<p>Question on one of the application forms: "write in the amount that you think you will be able to pay for the student"</p>
<p>Should we just do a EFC calculation and put an etimate down or put down what we want to pay?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>That's very difficult. I do not require seeing that question anywhere when we went through this process. If there were some way to be sure that it wouldn't harm the applicant's chances of acceptance, I would be very tempted to NOT enter a dollar amount, but rather enter a statement along the lines of "within the context of our financial ability and institutional value, we are committed to providing the fullest possible support to our son's/daughter's educational expenses" - or something like that. </p>
<p>Surely someone else has a more useful answer, especially if this is an electonic form that permits only numerical entries.</p>
<p>I had one of those questions at one point, and as I recall, I put down a range; slightly lower than our EFC to slightly above our EFC.</p>
<p>LTS, I think the question is on the PROFILE. I saw it when completing EA FA forms this fall. It's a numeric field, so there was no option to do much else. </p>
<p>Dad II, we calculated the federal EFC on one of the online calculators and then deducted DS's contribution to the pot via merit money, work and loans, to equal what DH and I thought we could reasonably contribute to college. (That amount does include tapping into home equity, savings and current income. We're prepared to put up our share.)</p>
<p>I'm sure FA people look at those numbers and get a good laugh at what parents think they can afford vs. the realities of the formulas. I don't know that the parental estimate actually factors into the FA calculation, however.</p>
<p>DW decided to put down $15,000.</p>
<p>Every time we calculate EFC, the number keeps going up. The interest from one of our accounts tops 5K, much more than my estimated. </p>
<p>We showed DD the EFC using the federal method and she got upset with us. "if I knew you would have to pay this much, I would not have applied to these schools!!!"</p>
<p>Don't I recall you had this conversation with her a while ago? :) Wait 'til she sees the Institutional Methodology. That'll shake her up!</p>
<p>Is she excited about the big merit $$ invitation to OSU?</p>
<p>yes, I had a conversation with her about this. At that time, I did several mistakes in using the calculator (misunderstood the AGI) and the EFC was at merely 20K. Right now, the number is about double of that. </p>
<p>I know, I did not show her the IM, which counts in our HE. </p>
<p>She is not excited at all about OSU.</p>
<p>PS. Any one has any suggestion for schools we could apply now? Schools that ranks in top 40 and gives a full ride?</p>
<p>Full rides are HARD to get. Since you can afford to pay something, why don't you look at schools that offer scholarships that will bring down the cost to "affordable"?</p>
<p>^^^ excellent thought, anxiousmom. Dad, if your EFC is 40K, you must be able to pay something. Barring exceptional family circumstances (serious illness, unique business situation), I don't understand why you'd need a full ride. As I'm sure you're aware, time is short and the deadline for many top schools has passed. Case Western has a strong merit program and a deadline of 1/15 - is it on your d's list?</p>
<p>If you truly can't pay anything, your d can defer admission at the schools that accept her (and I'm sure several will) to work for a year and allow your family to bolster its financial position. Or she can decide to get enthusiastic about the wonderful opportunities for her at OSU. Or a big merit scholarship might certainly come her way - but you won't know for several months yet. </p>
<p>I think the Profile question is there to give the financial aid folks a good laugh - theirs is a tough job and they deserve one now and then.</p>
<p>"I think the Profile question is there to give the financial aid folks a good laugh - theirs is a tough job and they deserve one now and then."</p>
<p>I agree. I put down an amount that is a little less than my EFC. </p>
<p>Dad II
I screwed up on the financial aid estimators by not adding our 401k contributions back in ... so I totally understand where you are at. However, your family is still in a position to look at merit aid schools that your D might prefer to OSU. In addition to Case Western, also look at University of Rochester. Penn State is on rolling admission, an is the top choice public for the top students at my son's highschool.</p>
<p>If you give us some parameters, we can be more helpful. </p>
<p>I think you need to have a heart to heart with your D, though. Your family is still in a position to make college list adjustments if you act now. Less choices after Jan 15 ... less again after Feb. 1. </p>
<p>None of us parents are perfect. You are a good and stressed parent that has made a math error. Move forward, not back!</p>
<p>Dad II, Is your daughter working on the Wash U scholarship applications? Is Vanderbilt still on the list? If I remember correctly, she wasn't too thrilled about Vanderbilt, but they offer partial as well as full tuition merit awards, and not all of them are listed anywhere on the web site, nor do they all require separate applications. I sure wouldn't wait around to submit more apps or scholarship apps, though. Now or never.</p>
<p>Did she apply to MIchigan? They offered my S a substantial merit scholarship four years ago, with not nearly the stats your D has. And they're ranked fairly high (and though not far from you, going to a different state U might be more palatable to your D). the Honors program is great. I'm pretty sure it's not too late to apply there, though not sure if the scholarships would still be available.</p>
<p>DadII - I entered an entirely reasonable number. It was totally ignored.</p>
<p>University of Rochester has a December 1 application deadline to be considered for merit scholarships. Regular decision deadline was Jan. 1 anyway.</p>
<p>Thanks, Chevda - the USNWR info I checked is WRONG.</p>
<p>No problem - after last year, I have these dates burned into the inside of my eyelids! (And yes, I did check that they haven't changed!)</p>
<p>did the EFC again using Collegeboard's calculator: FM $18,336 and IM $20,068. The numbers are much more acceptable. It is clear to me now that we have no clue as how to fill these forms. </p>
<p>Is there a place we could go for help in terms of filling FAFSA?</p>
<p>re - merit aid - try case western reserve and tulane.</p>
<p>Re :help in filling out forms- you may want to PM sybbie, the CC financial aid guru.</p>
<p>
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Is there a place we could go for help in terms of filling FAFSA?
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</p>
<p>DadII, there is indeed a place you could go for help. Actually, this is a time where the government produces a crystal clear document. Years ago, I was able to build an Excel spreadsheet that allowed me to figure out the EFC to the penny, and this by simply using all the formulas detailed in this guide: </p>
<p>Mu suggestions is to abandon all the online calculators and spend a couple of minutes filling the forms using the above guide. In case you find a couple of definitions confusing, there are people on CC who are well versed in using the more detailed version of the above guide. Completing the FAFSA is NOT a very complicated matter and anybody can become a guru by paying a bit of attention to a few details. </p>
<p>For what it is worth, I would make sure to understand all the figures you''ll have to use for the FAFSA and the Profile BEFORE you sit at the computer. It's much easier to make "corrections" NOW than after submitting the forms.</p>