fuzziwig - can’t help on your original question. but i wish your child well; and hope it all works out for the best.
Our son applied to some top schools and did not get in. I didnt help him at all with the apps because i knew i knew we couldnt afford the schools if he did get in. we had a FAFSA efc of around $33K; the NPC on the top schools websites came in higher - anywhere from 38-43K. I guess i just wanted to share how for us, the FAFSA EFC was the smallest number; the elite schools said higher amounts.