Hello, my parents filed FAFSA early and our EFC looks to 50,000+ (which is accurate, considering my household makes almost 200k). On CommonApp, should I say that I want to pursue need-based aid even if FAFSA is above the tuition costs at the schools I am applying to? On FAFSA, we could send the results to up to ten colleges, so we did, but should we not even apply for need-based aid if we won’t get anything? Or is there the slightest chance that we will? If it helps, some of the colleges I am applying to include Ohio State, Case Western, and University of Michigan.
Don’t bother. You won’t get any except for a student loan which you can get regardless of your answer. Certainly look at schools where you qualify for some merit aid.
When I look at Case Western’s website, apparently the tuition plus fees is around 60,000. Does this mean that I would get 10,000 financial aid if my FAFSA is 50,000? Or does FAFSA only represent tuition costs?
- Case Western uses the Profile, which usually results in a higher EFC than FAFSA
- Financial aid isn't necessarily free money. Run the net price calculator on the Case website to get an idea of how they balance grants, work study, and loans in a package
You might get a loan
Case doesn’t meet need
Run the npc
More important. Talk to your parents and see how much they can afford. Many family cannot even provide the EFC.
None of the above. The EFC that’s generated when you file the FAFSA only tells if you qualify for a federal Pell grant of up to ~$5k/year or not. The EFC cut off to qualify is about 5,000, so you won’t qualify for one.
To get an estimate of what a school might cost, run their Net Price Calculator. With a $200k income, you’re probably going to have to look for schools that offer merit for your stats unless your parents can afford to be full pay. How much will they pay per year?
Okay thank you all. My parents have their own retirement to worry about so I have to pay for most of college on my own, (they may pay 20,000 a year) which I am okay with. I think I may able to get merit through Ohio State. My stats are ok: 1550 sat, top 3% in my school, high GPA, ECs of #1 tennis singles player, 4 year varsity tennis and XC, oboe player, summer job, Perry Initiative Program, etc. but no hooks. If my goal is to get free tuition at a school, is aiming for Ohio State or Case Western too high to consider merit?
I am also considering UPitt.
Also, since my EFC is so high, should I not even bother applying for financial aid at the schools I am applying to because I am more likely to get merit aid?
Also, since my EFC is so high, should I not even bother applying for financial aid at the schools I am applying to because I am more likely to get merit aid?
What is your home state? I think Case may give you $15K/year but that would leave a lot to pay.
Yes, Ohio State and Pitt might possibly give you full tuition, but also apply to schools where you can get guaranteed merit.
Did you apply to Ohio State and Pitt yet? If not do it real soon, send your test scores asap because they have to be there for tOSU merit deadline of Nov 1.
Pitt scholarship committee will also start meeting in a few weeks, so applying soon is a good idea.
What is your home state?
Thanks ; I totally forgot to submit SAT scores to my colleges, I just did thanks to your advice. I’m from Connecticut.
I don’t know how much instate UConn would cost, but maybe you can get scholarship through honors college so look at inststate options too.
I am also planning to apply to UConn honors; however this year Uconn has been slammed with budget cuts from 100 million to 300 million for the next two years and thus many programs and its ranking will inevitably be affected. It’s a good college though and affordable but a little too close to home for me.
Yeah, @“Erin’s Dad” I don’t think I’d be able to afford Case if I “only” got 15,000 but I’m looking into its 6-7 year dental program which might be worth the loans. I’m from CT.
@austinmshauri thank you for clarifying, I was a bit confused at all these federal aid programs. I’ve run Net Price calculator for the majority of the schools and it looks like I will be paying close to full tuition if I do not get any merit. Is it worth applying for financial aid if the calculator says my expected COA is a few thousand below it’s annual tuition?
@billcsho The main reason I’m not applying for any ivies is with this in mind; I can’t afford to be in 200,000 dollars worth of debt. My parents have money saved up but for their retirement, and I don’t expect them to take much out because it’s their hard earned money. Most of the schools I’m applying to seem to offer better merit aid than other ones so I hope that I will be able to get some merit with my stats.
In your case, it’s not worth applying because you’re not going to get enough need-based aid to make your budget.
Are there any CT schools you can attend on a 20K budget, because your list of schools so far doesn’t seem very promising. You need a financial safety that is guaranteed dirt cheap. Alabama and other schools in that state are known for generous merit aid. Try state schools in Mississippi, New Mexico, Arizona, South Dakota, too.
You need to find the freshman scholarship pages and read them carefully. MANY state universities have an early deadline for merit aid, often November 1 or December 1, so you must hurry to find some guaranteed affordable schools. You’ll probably want to do honors program apps as well.
@AroundHere I would get free tuition at UConn if accepted. Should I also apply for University of Alabama? If it helps, I’m applying Early Action for the following schools: Case Western, UMiami, URochester, UGA, Tulane, UMichigan. I already wrote all of the essays and will submit within the next week.