<p>I really take issue with the use of the phrase “full need” to describe any college that is using the CSS Profile, its own forms, or any other independent methodology to determine need… They are offering need-based aid, and most could truthfully say that they use a consistent, internal formula to calculate need – but they are not meeting “full need” or “100% need” or anything like that. I’d like to see that sort of language restricted to colleges that use the FAFSA EFC as the sole determinant of “need” --and I don’t think there are any that promise to meet the FAFSA-determined EFC. </p>
<p>If there were, then there would be a standard that we could all rely on, because when we complete the FAFSA, we are also given the number that applies to us. When a family fills out the CSS Profile, it’s anyone’s guess what the college is doing with those numbers. </p>
<p>I am glad that my daughter’s college gave us enough financial aid so that we only had to borrow about $40K to get my d. through college- but every year I was expected to come up with at least $10K over and above the FAFSA EFC, even when the college was happily accepting federal Pell dollars that came to them only because of the FAFSA number. </p>
<p>The house I live in is not an asset that can be liquidated for college, nor was whatever money my ex-husband earned but did not share. FAFSA EFC seemed fair and manageable – no “full need” college came even close to offering financial aid based on that number. </p>