GUEST STUDENT OF THE WEEK: AMALehigh is a rising sophomore at Lehigh University, majoring in Finance. He answers questions about academics, networking, finance, Greek life, or Lehigh in general. ASK HIM ANYTHING!
Make sure to check out our July Checklists for HS Juniors and HS Seniors. Consult these quick resources to get you started on the process this month.
As we work to adjust to the current reality, make sure to check out these dedicated COVID-19 resources: our directory of virtual campus tours, our directory of extended deadlines, as well as the list of schools going test optional this fall.
EFC with twins (1 using NMF scholarship)
carmartwinmom
27 replies1 threads Junior Member
Hi- I’m totally thinking ahead here. Our boys are current Juniors. 1 should be a NMSF (225 SI in CT) while the other should squeak by as commended.
If the one ends up at a school using a NM scholarship, will that factor into our EFC for the other? Ex: if our EFC comes out to $20,000 per kid, but the one has a full ride, will our EFC for the other jump to $40,000?
23 replies If the one ends up at a school using a NM scholarship, will that factor into our EFC for the other? Ex: if our EFC comes out to $20,000 per kid, but the one has a full ride, will our EFC for the other jump to $40,000?
This discussion has been closed.
Replies to: EFC with twins (1 using NMF scholarship)
If your twins attend schools using the Profile, please just forget about that FAFSA EFC. The financial info onnthe Profile is what will be used to determine your family contribution and need based aid eligibility.
Having two in college at Profile schools....that family contribution is not 50/50. Each student will be paying 60% of the single EFC....at least. So using your $40,000 example...each kid would be $24,000 not $20,000. As noted above...most colleges don’t meet full financial need.
When you complete the FAFSA and Profile, you will indicate you have two in college. The financial aid formulas at the colleges will consider that in their equations. A very few colleges WILL ask what the other kid is paying. But most don’t. It’s just the number of kids in college.
Do build your twins college lists from the bottom up. Make sure they have an affordable sure thing for admission college...that they are willing to attend. Find that FIRST....for both of them.
If finances are a concern, your NMF kid has some doors open for very good merit aid. Look for schools that have that. And your commended kiddo also could be eligible for merit aid. Merit aid is NOT income or EFC dependent...and sometimes doesn’t even require the financial aid forms be completed.
I believe that the only time FAFSA EFC is affected like that is if the student will be attending a military academy (full ride on the gov’ts dime).
However, most FAFSA only schools do NOT meet need. So even if Twin2 has an EFC of $20k, you may still find that you are gapped and have to pay more for him.
That said, if Twin2 is going to be commended in your state, then like he can score high enough on the ACT/SAT to get good merit at some schools. Have him practice both tests.
Of course Twin1 also has to take the ACT/SAT as well to have a confirming score.
Alabama has a huge NMF award, nearly a full ride.
Alabama also has large merit scholarships for students with high stats, so if Twin2 can get a high ACT/SAT score, they both could go there and your remaining costs could be quite low. My two boys went to Alabama...one on NMF, and the other on Presidential. Remaining costs were quite low.
What are their majors and career goals?
If I were you, I’d be telling Twin2 that his options will greatly expand if he practices/studies for the ACT/SAT and gets a score high enough for big merit as well. He certainly has what it takes to get at least an ACT 32 or SAT equivalent...or higher.
I just wanted to add...my boys are 2 years apart. Knew Son1 would be NMF, but at the time Son2 was a very good but not top standardized test taker. We assumed that S2 would not get great merit, so we really wanted S1 to accept a great deal...because we assumed we would be near-full-pay or full pay for S2). In the end, S2 ended up with a top SAT score and was awarded a very large award. So lots of hope for your Twin2!!!
How much are you prepared to spend IN TOTAL for both twins per year?
In the spring, all you’ll find out is if they’ve at least made it to Commended status. In Sept, when the NMSFs are announced, we figure out what each state’s cutoff is. I believe CT has the highest cutoff, so if your Twin1 already exceeds that, he’ll make it.
They both already took the Nov SAT twin1 1480 (780 ebrw/700 Math)
twin 2 1470 (730 ebrw/740 Math)
So I believe twin1 already has the NM Qualifying Score he will need. He’s also at the top (or close) of his class with twin 2 not far behind. They both will take again in late spring or summer.
twin1 has no idea what he wants to major in. Twin2 wants Business (probably Econ) and then law school.
We went on a Midwest tour this summer and they both loved Univ of ND. Twin1 also loved Wisc- Madison.
We could swing $25k each per year. So far the NPC that I ran for some
Schools came out to just around that. Some were even less ($18k) so I’m hoping I’m in the ballpark.
If you live anywhere around the ND-Wisc area, you likely have good instate flagship options.
Getting total cost down to $25k/year isn't easy via merit. The bigger NMF schools are the easiest and most reliable method. Chasing non guaranteed merit with twins is likely to be stressful.
If you think you can cover your demonstrated need for both, I would move schools like CWRU to the top of the list for consideration. The are a meets need school that both have a chance to get accepted into.
Good to be looking now. I do think you need to figure out if you can afford the net costs the schools are estimating. Some schools like ND give only highly competitive merit awards.
My daughter's OOS public school didn't really give need based aid following a formula. She sometimes got an 'alum' award, and those were awarded by the FA office, but the student would get the $1000 or $2000 award, and it didn't matter if your EFC was $15k or $0 - the award was set by the FA office. I think the awards were most often given to 'needy' students, but an EFC of $0 didn't mean much; you weren't getting 3 or 4 of the $2k awards, just one to a customer.
Should I be doing more to get more accurate estimates?
I'd go with the 'sure, we'll pay $24k each until you learn otherwise.
I did run Yale’s (just to see one Ivy- I’m not sure either will apply, but they do want to tour a couple. We did tour U Chicago which had that Ivy feel, but they both could not see themselves there so they won’t apply). Yale’s came out to $18kish for one.
I didn’t save anything. I think today I will run some again and start printing things out to stay more organized and realistic.
Try running Cornell or Brown to see their results.