<p>Run the numbers through the FAFSA EFC estimators, and that will give you a good idea as to what that is. Unless you get heavy merit money or go to a school that costs less than that amount, the EFC is usually the LEAST you can expect to pay. You have to pay that before getting any federal aid. Also read the rules very carefully for automatic zero EFC. Parent income under $24,000 (? and qualified for a means tested benefit (like TANF or SNAP) or could file a 1040a or 1040ez are some ways you might qualify. I don’t remember the exact thresh holds right now, and you should know these rules cold, so YOU look them up and see how it works. Your parents assets don’t count at all, I believe with those rules. I did not read up on them for the 2013 FAFSA–there are threads on the board, but you are better off reading original source material for this since it can make a big difference to you, and you should always verify info you get from second hand sources, so go to it.
There are other ways you could qualify than what I listed, but those are most common. Look up auto 0 efc for a full list. Make sure you are a dependent student when looking at the guidelines (under 24 in general, but again read the list</p>
<p>The schools that use PROFILE will have varying ways of assessing your family situation. No school I know, even Harvard honors the FAFSA EFC in giving aid, so your mileage will vary with such schools. That where the NPCs for each will make a difference. A zero FAFSA EFC does guarantee you the PELL Grant of about $5600, and $3500 of unsubsidized direct loans plus first in line for other federal money if the school carries those funds. But PROFILE schools may require a minimum student contribution. </p>
<p>A word–YOUR assets may not be protected like your mother’s, especially with PROFILE schools that can be draconian about student assets. It’s the assets as of the day you fill out the forms that count, so make sure you spend down pay your mom back, and a tip—open an account for yourself joint with mom’s name and ssn first so that it count’s under the parent protection umbrella and not a direct hit to you. Under auto zero, if you qualify, your assets won’t count, but if they do for any reason, if you don’t qualify for that auto zero and for PROFILE schools, the hit is at least 20% starting with dollar one of student assets, whereas it’s 5.6% after protection allowance for parents. YOU have no protection allowance. They go after the first dollar on up and some schools will continue the formula through all four years and they are worse than 20% . That can be a big hit to student who has saved.</p>
<p>The other thing is make sure you let your counselor fully know your situation, and your teachers who are writing the rec letters too so that the fact that you are working and earning towards the household expenses is very clear to admissions. When you get accepted, fin aid should also be apprised. You should always give those who are writing letters of such about you “cheat” sheets so they don’t leave out anything essential or get writer’s block anyways–it’s much appreciated. Many schools require a student to fill out a form with such info. If there isn’t such a process, write your thank you letter to the GC and teachers ahead of time and include such info to make it easy for them and to ensure such info will be taken into consideration. At a number of the schools, yes, your situation will be taken favorably into account. </p>
<p>Good luck to you and your mother is one lucky woman to have you.</p>