HandsAcrossTime

It might be weird to ask, but what's with the difference between mine and Angie's? Shouldn't we have the same?

Or was it a matter of owning your own home, having siblings in college, etc.?

JoeTrumpet

It probably is a matter of home equity, siblings, investments, bank accounts, etc.

I think we're around $20,000 and my EFC was 0 (and I have a sibling in college, for what it's worth). Job on-campus + summer job is all Princeton wants from us.

And it's good to note that any outside scholarships people receive can reduce EFC. At some other schools it reduces the grant they give you so it's not even beneficial for you to apply for outside scholarships!

singermom1

JoeTrumpet, Can you tell me where you read that outside scholarships can reduce EFC? As far as I can tell scholarships can replace your work study and then your summer earnings. After that, the scholarships replace the Princeton Grant. Nothing replaces EFC! I would love to be wrong on this one but unfortunately I think I'm right. Don't get me wrong though, replacing work study and summer work is good, it gives you a chance to work and save to contribute some more money as long as you are aware that a percentage of your income will be counted and deducted from your Princeton Grant as well as your assets.

ec1234

They also let you use your grants to buy a computer freshman (and I think maybe one other?) year before replacing the princeton grants with outside scholarships. Getting rid of a summer job and work study can be used to reduce the EFC, as you can work over the school year and summer and make ~5000 pretty easily.