<p>jrt336
I am not asking for you to answer here on a public forum, but I raise the question on why are you paying your entire cost of college if your EFC is going to be close to full price? hope4freeride is correct that schools will help you guesstimate your EFC early and there are many calculators online. Vandy’s full price is very high and they will consider the incomes and assets of parents according to a set of rules. There is a process by which you can apply to be considered emancipated from parental income, but I am not sure what you have to prove. I think you have to have serious reasons to demonstrate that parents will not or cannot contribute.<br>
congrats on your NM status…I would suggest that you apply to reach colleges that have good merit options as well as to schools that are less selective and reward NM students.</p>
<p>My husband and I were also surprised to see that in some state schools even at the graduate level, we are required to provide our income information if our sons apply for financial aid. I was under the false impression that anyone over 22 would not be having to turn in parent assets but this varies greatly. Of course, it is more common for those over 22 to assume full price debts without taking a penny from parents. But we had not recognized that parent information can be requested in graduate school.</p>