<p>To shiny: Nooooooooo! The EFC, ultimately, has nothing to do with how much you pay! The EFC is used as an index to calculate your aid package. Just forget that number. At this point (aid package presented),what a year at USC costs has to do with your aid and your individual expenses.</p>
<p>You live in New York for example. Your travel costs are sure to be *more *than the budgeted amount. If you shop on Rodeo Drive for all your clothes your personal expenses will be *more *than the budgeted amount. If you shop online for used books, your books and supplies will be way less than the budgeted amount.</p>
<p>You must now let GO of that index number… LET GO!!!</p>