<p>It EFC is kind of an immutable number-- and while it is not easily affordable to many families–that is the figure they expect us to pay. Merit awards that are larger than the FA grants are helpful, of course, but merit awards at most schools do not stack on top of FA grants. So there is that. But, I caution a little patience. Until you see how FA is calculated at each college/university, it can be hard to pre-judge what the final costs come to be. You may find your S is bumped up to the top scholarship level (it’s rare but around 7 or so report this happening each year on CC–and we are a very limited sample), and students are often offered additional merit scholarships (sometimes called University scholarships, some are given by department) around April 1. Of course, these will often be subtracted off any outstanding FA grants, so… And in addition, many many ccers in the past have successfully appealed their FA awards. None of this is a slam dunk, but until you get all your offers in hand, sit down with the numbers, and see what else comes in, it is often prudent to wait it out. I think the bottom line in costs is truly important, but it’s not always transparent what it all ends up costing until the Financial Aid Lady/Merit Gods sing.</p>