<p>I just got my EFC back and it says $99,999... i repeat, $99,999 USD.</p>
<p>Is there something terribly sick or is this the case for many people? I am confused since we aren't wealthy or anything; I'd call it well off though. </p>
<p>Anyway, anyone else witness these type of phenomenons? It would actually be pretty funny if it didn't happen to me... GAN!!~ (chinese)</p>
<p>hehehe, i got the same thing and just about passed out. </p>
<p>and what is your definition of well-off b/c i'm pretty sure that 99,999 is the max for fafsa. so your family must have some types of resources. maybe your definition of well-off is comparable to another person's definition of wealthy...</p>
<p>i feel so ripped off..</p>
<p>its just because we have 2 houses (1 "investment"), DAM!!</p>
<p>yeah, we have 2 houses too. i know the feeling, it really sucks.</p>
<p>Yeah. It sucks being well-off.</p>
<p>"Yeah. It sucks being well-off."</p>
<p>Yeah, that's so much worse than barely knowing where you're next meal is coming from and living in what could be called a shack if you even have that. Come on people, be happy with what you've got. At the very least, be more specific in your "life sucks" statements.</p>
<p>I agree with Anoel, one house (especially in San Jose) is at least the equivalent 10 years or so at a private university. You have the ability to take out a loan with your house equity (assuming that at least some of it is paid), so the government sees that as wealthy. There's always merit scholarships...</p>
<p>In our family we think it IS funny when the FAFSA comes back with some rediculously high number. After the first year, knowing this spared us from bothering to fill it out.
I guess we are "well off" but sure couldn't afford $40,000 for four years for all 4 children, so we just don't go that route. There are plenty of great schools out there that cost less and/or offer merit aid. The first two were NM finalists and we are waiting (ahem!) to find out about #3. Maybe today... :-)</p>
<p>Keep in mind that the average family income in the US is under 50K. So those families making several times that amount are likely to be subsidizing the families that make less than that, through their taxes. Not the other way 'round.</p>
<p>I wish I was that rich...my Asian parents can barely buy me a third-hand car, a crappy Hondai.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Yeah. It sucks being well-off.
[/quote]
[quote]
Yeah, that's so much worse than barely knowing where you're next meal is coming from and living in what could be called a shack if you even have that. Come on people, be happy with what you've got. At the very least, be more specific in your "life sucks" statements.
[/quote]
when i said "it really sucks" i was referring to the insanely high FAFSA number, not being well off. I never said "life sucks" either. i actually enjoy my life and i would not change any aspect of it.</p>
<p>it's not like my parents have $40,000 in cash lying around to pay for college.</p>
<p>My family is quite poor but I can sympathasize with the rich families. They have adjusted to a higher standard of living with very high expenses, as well they should be(assuming they worked hard to get their money). Its kind of difficult to come up with 40,000+ for four years once you are living off the wealth which you worked so hard to earn</p>
<p>My family's standard of living isn't great, but because its so close to the bare necessities even after paying our efc our lifestyle won't be any different because we're used to it</p>
<p>hondai? did honda and hyundai merge or something??</p>
<p>and im just saying that this is also one of the bad examples of capitalism</p>
<p>WOW 99,999 fafsa......thats incredible.......mine was 0 dollars......well single mom 3 kids in college, 18k a year....no house, live w/ my grandpa.........so i guess now's as good as ever to be poor..... geez good luck w/ everyone on their financial aid</p>
<p>People who are not well off do not have it easy... that financial aid comes with lots of loans and person has much less ability to pay it off because there is no fall back plan and there is no parents who able to help in dire circumstances.
Yes very few families have 40K laying around to be paid for college but well off family CAN find ways to do it if they so choose. Another question- is 40K school worth those money?</p>
<p>
[quote]
People who are not well off do not have it easy...
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i don't think anyone said that people who are not well off have it easy... and yes, in my opinion, attending my dream school (regardless of the cost) is worth every penny.</p>
<p>
[quote]
My family is quite poor but I can sympathasize with the rich families. They have adjusted to a higher standard of living with very high expenses, as well they should be(assuming they worked hard to get their money). Its kind of difficult to come up with 40,000+ for four years once you are living off the wealth which you worked so hard to earn
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I understand where your're coming from, but I agree only to a certain extent. If adjustments in "standard of living" means your family won't be able to take those vacations to the Bahamas as often as they used to or won't be able to get that second new Hummer they were looking at, then I don't agree. Sending a student to college is just as major an investment as something like buying a house. Thus, financial sacrifices have to be made.</p>
<p>It also costs a lot to live in the Bay Area...the average price for a house is around 650k in SJ and prices here reflect the cost of living...So it's not like there's exactly 650k for college since they don't take in the COL when they divy out financial aid...</p>
<p>Yeah, they should factor in cost of living b/c someone who lives in the middle of montana would probably be better off then their salary counterpart who lives in NYC or something.</p>
<p>does that even need to be mentioned??</p>