<p>I know that you have to find your EFC, plus filling out the FAFSA and other forms to apply for financial need. I’m looking for other ways to get money for college, and not just by applying to lots of scholarships. I was thinking of calling all of my favorite colleges and asking them about how I can get more financial aid, letting them know about my whole financial situation and extreme desire and commitment to go to their college. I am looking for mostly need-based financial aid, as I am middle-income but most of the money is actually spent on health/medicine for one of my parents who has tough health problems, so I really dont have much money for college and have to find any way to let colleges know about how I can get the most money possible. So is calling colleges a good way to find more financial aid? Are there other ways to do so? Thanks for your help!</p>
<p>You can appeal any FA offers based on medical costs. Then you will have to provide the supporting documentation for that.</p>
<p>I don’t think contacting colleges right now is going to tell you much. Colleges want applications and will likely just ask you to apply and submit your FA applications.</p>
<p>Don’t expect much accommodations from public schools or private schools that don’t meet need. </p>
<p>You will need to pick your colleges carefully since it sounds like your family will have an unaffordable EFC. </p>
<p>If you have high stats, you need to apply to at least a couple of schools that will give you big merit for your stats. Those can be financial safeties for you.</p>
<p>edu47…I don’t want to sound like a pain…but you have started a number of different threads asking the same question in different ways. It’s a lot easier to have only ONE thread going with the same question.</p>
<p>Re: your question here…EVERY college has a application procedure for awarding need based financial aid. The private schools you listed (on another thread) EACH have a way of determining your need based aid based on the information you provide on the FAFSA and Profile (if it’s required). If you have very extenuating circumstances (your mom’s medical bills, for example), you can ASK for a special circumstances consideration…but this would be done AFTER you are accepted to the school. You would also need to document every penny spent AND the need for these expenditure. Colleges can review these if they choose to…some do and some don’t.</p>
<p>Now having said that…some schools will discuss financial aid issues with you prior to your application and will give you a guestimate of your need based financial aid. You could call the school and ask them if they would be willing to do so…including the medical expenses your family has. If they say YES, please have everything they will need to make a good estimate…excellent income information, asset information (bank accounts, etc). mortgage/home value information (for Profile schools), AND information about the medical expenses that were not covered by insurance.</p>