fafsa for idiots
March 26, 2013 3:06 PM
FAFSA-filter: how did we end up with an EFC of 43979 when it only goes up to 5273, and we don't have any money?
Single mom, single income, few assets, nominal child support (which will end before college starts), state school where kid will be a full-time freshman. Did the FAFSA online and wondered what all the fuss was about because it was easy ... and then the confirmation form says our EFC is twice the cost of the school! What in the world? Surely I missed a few pages ... but it doesn't look that way.
Single mom, single income, few assets, nominal child support (which will end before college starts), state school where kid will be a full-time freshman. Did the FAFSA online and wondered what all the fuss was about because it was easy ... and then the confirmation form says our EFC is twice the cost of the school! What in the world? Surely I missed a few pages ... but it doesn't look that way.
This post was deleted for the following reason: poster's request -- cortex
The father is alive but the FAFSA did not ask about his income so is that imputed (and if so, based on what)? The amount of child support in arrears is enough to pay for 4 years of tuition, room, and board in cash. The father will not be part of this in any way.
posted by headnsouth at 3:20 PM on March 26, 2013
posted by headnsouth at 3:20 PM on March 26, 2013
Did you perhaps type in cents for your cash-on-hand? I know it says not to but it's a super-easy mistake to make if you're used to filling in forms online. If so, instead of crediting you with, say, $1000.01, your EFC would have been calculated off of $100001. Not that I've ever done that, ahem.
Your child's school should have a financial aid advisor who can help you sort this out and probably get a much more realistic EFC. I believe 5273 is the eligibility cutoff for Pell grants, by the way -- as you've found out, the scale definitely goes higher!
posted by teremala at 3:27 PM on March 26, 2013
Your child's school should have a financial aid advisor who can help you sort this out and probably get a much more realistic EFC. I believe 5273 is the eligibility cutoff for Pell grants, by the way -- as you've found out, the scale definitely goes higher!
posted by teremala at 3:27 PM on March 26, 2013
Did you put in the child support? If so, that might be what is causing the EFC to be so high (the highest an EFC can be is actually 99999 - 5273 could just be this year's cut-off for the Pell Grant). You should also review the information you input into the FAFSA - sometimes people accidentally add an extra 0 on the end of something or input a parent's income as the child's. If everything looks OK, I would also contact the schools you sent the FAFSA to as their financial aid offices will be able to explain this to you using the actual numbers you used.
I used to work in financial aid (and hope to go back!), but it has been about a year, so I would still check with the institution (if someone is rude or does not explain things in a way that makes sense, then ask for their supervisor as unfortunately misinformation and curtness run rampant in FA offices). Also! Call early in the morning if possible - this is the busy season for aid and there will be hour-long phone queues.
Good luck!
posted by vakker at 3:27 PM on March 26, 2013
I used to work in financial aid (and hope to go back!), but it has been about a year, so I would still check with the institution (if someone is rude or does not explain things in a way that makes sense, then ask for their supervisor as unfortunately misinformation and curtness run rampant in FA offices). Also! Call early in the morning if possible - this is the busy season for aid and there will be hour-long phone queues.
Good luck!
posted by vakker at 3:27 PM on March 26, 2013
This is really hard to answer without knowing the amount of your "single income." If you make about 175k a year this amount is entirely possible.
posted by murfed13 at 3:55 PM on March 26, 2013
posted by murfed13 at 3:55 PM on March 26, 2013
According to the FAFSA website they don't even fully process the application if you are claiming a parent won't be financially involved. So I think something must have gone awry with filling that section out.
(I remember we had to submit a whole bunch of stuff to prove my father was not involved, including letters from people, and all sorts of ridiculous stuff.)
posted by grapesaresour at 4:04 PM on March 26, 2013
(I remember we had to submit a whole bunch of stuff to prove my father was not involved, including letters from people, and all sorts of ridiculous stuff.)
posted by grapesaresour at 4:04 PM on March 26, 2013
According to the FAFSA website they don't even fully process the application if you are claiming a parent won't be financially involved. So I think something must have gone awry with filling that section out.
Nope, that's talking about people who report no parent info at all. For divorced parents, you fill out the info for the custodial parent.
Are you remarried?
posted by murfed13 at 4:11 PM on March 26, 2013
Nope, that's talking about people who report no parent info at all. For divorced parents, you fill out the info for the custodial parent.
Are you remarried?
posted by murfed13 at 4:11 PM on March 26, 2013
I think you are right murfed13, it's an unanswerable question without details, I might ask the mods to pull it. I assure you that I don't make 175k. I make less than the 2012 U.S. median income and I've raised my boys on less than that for 17-19 years. I think the problem is that I actually saved money and right now I have cash on hand (earmarked for a new roof) that's counting against me. It's not a lot of money and it's all I have in the world and I've worked my ass off to save it but I think it's fucking my kid's chances to go to college.
posted by headnsouth at 4:32 PM on March 26, 2013
posted by headnsouth at 4:32 PM on March 26, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 3:12 PM on March 26, 2013