FAFSA/EFC/Scholarship Questions

Pyropunk · 02-11-2009, 06:03 PM

Hey guys,

I just finished filling out my FAFSA and getting ready to go to FullSail here in SUNNY Florida and I got an email back saying my EFC is 0054??? What the hell does this mean? It's all really new to me and my high school back 6 years ago didn't give us any prep for college it was just a kick in the arse and a pretty lil wall hanging than a party for the teachers. SO anyone who can help me out with this that would be TOTALLY appreciated. Also any info on scholarships or grants would help me out too. Thanks guys!!

<3
Mel

*PS have i told you guys how much i love you? lol*

Jesus · 02-12-2009, 08:27 PM

Your EFC is your Expected Family Contribution. You have a VERY low number but it is not zero because you are apparently still dependent on your family. Actually I find that a number of 54 is probably really low and this raises another question. Is your parent's family income very very low? It would have to be VERY VERY low to get that number. Did you do everything correctly on your FAFSA?

Maybe you aren't a dependent and live on your own. I'm afraid that the college you want to go to may think you are an automatic dependent since you aren't 25 or older.

A number of 54 is almost unheard of (i think at least). Maybe your parent's income is extremely low but I question FAFSA expecting your parents to fork up a low 54 bucks a semester. If you made a mistake on the FAFSA and it is noticed you will most likely get in trouble. Talk to the financial aid people at the college you wish to attend to and discuss this ASAP to make sure that this is not a mistake.

I know of all of this because of my past four years of college. I went right after high school so I don't know what is different if you take a break but good luck and congratulations!

Ahh I noticed you were looking for help for college. If you are in fact on your own or if your parent's income is very low then have you looked into the Pell grant? Also, many websites give you links to scholarship opportunites. You just have to look. Scholarships.com College Scholarships College Scholarship College Search Scholarships is one off the top of my head. APPLY TO AS MANY SCHOLARSHIPS AS YOU CAN! DON'T SECONDGUESS A SCHOLARSHIP BECAUSE YOU DON'T THINK YOU DON'T STAND A CHANCE! IF YOU DON'T TRY YOU WILL GET NOWHERE WHEN IT COMES TO SCHOLARSHIPS!

Pyropunk · 02-13-2009, 10:43 PM

*laughs* i'm actually 24 and considered completely independent XD

So that could be why. I know it was the 2008-2009 fasfa and my 2009-2010 fasfa is a 0 across the board. *YAY FOR HAVING ONLY MADE JUST OVER 7k THE LAST TWO YEARS!!!*

Awesome though that really did help me out A LOT and I have a better grasp as to wtf is going on

thankyou SO much!

I Actually spoke to my rep and my second fasfa was flagged for review and when I brought her in the tax papers to prove I didn't lie she laughed a bit and was like "WOW, you're one hell of a lucky SOB" but cuz i'm not "enrolled" yet she couldn't discuss more til I drop off my $150 application fee -.-

*grrrr*

THANKYOU!!!! That website was HELLA helpful!! My school gave me a list of 10 to fill out, and the fasfa, and they laughed at how determined I was cuz I filled ALL of it out the second I got back from talking to an advisor

YAYAYAY!!!

ANYWHO, i'm back off to bed, just wanted to say thankyou very much and sorry for any errors in this post, i was passed out and had a rude wake up call and couldn't get back to bed >_<

Jesus · 02-14-2009, 11:06 PM

I couldn't help but think that your FAFSA would have been flagged. It is a good thing you went and discussed it with the financial aid office otherwise you would have gotten in a lot of trouble. I can't help but ask though since you consider yourself independent and don't make much money at all. How the hell are you living???? Are you paying a tiny tiny amount of rent? Also, it would be time to find a little higher paying job than 7k a year so that you have some savings for emergencies in college. Financial aid and student loans can only be stretched so far...not to mention that if you don't have a plan that paying them back will be a pain in the ass. Luckily my parents had a fund set up when I was born so that it wasn't an issue for me.

Pyropunk · 02-16-2009, 08:52 AM

Yea, my parents had a fund set up for me, than when my dad's business went bankrupt for the 4th time, it all disappeared... nice chunk of change they had saved up too -.- Let's just say it's a topic that doesn't get brought up anymore.

heh, living? barely... i don't have a car, i use as little for anything else that I can *basic cable, internet, etc...* and i have friends that take good care of me... Long story short, the last few years have been... rough. It all started when my ******* ex-boyfriend left me *Posted about this previously, quick recap: changed debt to my name, wiped out our bank accounts, and took my/our car and any furniture or material items he could*. SO I've been getting to start all over. Part of the reason I am going back to school is to actually GET a degree and GET the education to do something with my life. I'm sick of being treated like **** by people that I work for and being stepped on when all the customers always think I should be in a higher position. SO my goal is to go back to school, work part time for the guy who owns a coffee shop on campus, and than when I graduate with my degree, get a killer job and move forward and pay back my loans. In the long run it will all be very nicely played out and I will have everything paid back =) It will also be nice to finally be someone and do something with my life. I've looked at this school for ages so *dances* finally

Eagle Eye · 02-17-2009, 01:17 AM

FAFSA dicked me over.

Apparently my parents make too much yet not enough for them to make a contribution.......WTF?

Pyropunk · 02-17-2009, 09:06 AM

^ and that is why I had to wait til I was 24. =/ My parents made too much... YAY FAFSA YOU"RE GAY!!!

Jesus · 02-17-2009, 11:28 PM

^&^^You guys could have written a letter to your financial aid office and possibly gotten more. I know a lot of kids who didn't get much on paper but after writing a letter received double! Never think that the estimate you receive is final. Discussions and letters can increase the amount you can get. College is an investment, not something you should think is a waste of money. You put money into it so you can make more in life in the long run provided you finish your degree.

02-11-2009, 06:03 PM	#1
Pyropunk Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Gender: Posts: 367 Thanks: 139 Thanked 26 Times in 25 Posts	FAFSA/EFC/Scholarship Questions Hey guys, I just finished filling out my FAFSA and getting ready to go to FullSail here in SUNNY Florida and I got an email back saying my EFC is 0054??? What the hell does this mean? It's all really new to me and my high school back 6 years ago didn't give us any prep for college it was just a kick in the arse and a pretty lil wall hanging than a party for the teachers. SO anyone who can help me out with this that would be TOTALLY appreciated. Also any info on scholarships or grants would help me out too. Thanks guys!! <3 Mel PS have i told you guys how much i love you? lol

02-12-2009, 08:27 PM	#2
Jesus Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Gender: Posts: 5,617 Thanks: 104 Thanked 139 Times in 101 Posts Blog Entries: 3	Your EFC is your Expected Family Contribution. You have a VERY low number but it is not zero because you are apparently still dependent on your family. Actually I find that a number of 54 is probably really low and this raises another question. Is your parent's family income very very low? It would have to be VERY VERY low to get that number. Did you do everything correctly on your FAFSA? Maybe you aren't a dependent and live on your own. I'm afraid that the college you want to go to may think you are an automatic dependent since you aren't 25 or older. A number of 54 is almost unheard of (i think at least). Maybe your parent's income is extremely low but I question FAFSA expecting your parents to fork up a low 54 bucks a semester. If you made a mistake on the FAFSA and it is noticed you will most likely get in trouble. Talk to the financial aid people at the college you wish to attend to and discuss this ASAP to make sure that this is not a mistake. I know of all of this because of my past four years of college. I went right after high school so I don't know what is different if you take a break but good luck and congratulations! Ahh I noticed you were looking for help for college. If you are in fact on your own or if your parent's income is very low then have you looked into the Pell grant? Also, many websites give you links to scholarship opportunites. You just have to look. Scholarships.com College Scholarships College Scholarship College Search Scholarships is one off the top of my head. APPLY TO AS MANY SCHOLARSHIPS AS YOU CAN! DON'T SECONDGUESS A SCHOLARSHIP BECAUSE YOU DON'T THINK YOU DON'T STAND A CHANCE! IF YOU DON'T TRY YOU WILL GET NOWHERE WHEN IT COMES TO SCHOLARSHIPS! Last edited by Jesus; 02-12-2009 at 08:33 PM.

02-13-2009, 10:43 PM	#3
Pyropunk Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Gender: Posts: 367 Thanks: 139 Thanked 26 Times in 25 Posts	laughs i'm actually 24 and considered completely independent XD So that could be why. I know it was the 2008-2009 fasfa and my 2009-2010 fasfa is a 0 across the board. YAY FOR HAVING ONLY MADE JUST OVER 7k THE LAST TWO YEARS!!! Awesome though that really did help me out A LOT and I have a better grasp as to wtf is going on thankyou SO much! I Actually spoke to my rep and my second fasfa was flagged for review and when I brought her in the tax papers to prove I didn't lie she laughed a bit and was like "WOW, you're one hell of a lucky SOB" but cuz i'm not "enrolled" yet she couldn't discuss more til I drop off my $150 application fee -.- grrrr THANKYOU!!!! That website was HELLA helpful!! My school gave me a list of 10 to fill out, and the fasfa, and they laughed at how determined I was cuz I filled ALL of it out the second I got back from talking to an advisor YAYAYAY!!! ANYWHO, i'm back off to bed, just wanted to say thankyou very much and sorry for any errors in this post, i was passed out and had a rude wake up call and couldn't get back to bed >_<

02-14-2009, 11:06 PM	#4
Jesus Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Gender: Posts: 5,617 Thanks: 104 Thanked 139 Times in 101 Posts Blog Entries: 3	I couldn't help but think that your FAFSA would have been flagged. It is a good thing you went and discussed it with the financial aid office otherwise you would have gotten in a lot of trouble. I can't help but ask though since you consider yourself independent and don't make much money at all. How the hell are you living???? Are you paying a tiny tiny amount of rent? Also, it would be time to find a little higher paying job than 7k a year so that you have some savings for emergencies in college. Financial aid and student loans can only be stretched so far...not to mention that if you don't have a plan that paying them back will be a pain in the ass. Luckily my parents had a fund set up when I was born so that it wasn't an issue for me.

02-16-2009, 08:52 AM	#5
Pyropunk Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Gender: Posts: 367 Thanks: 139 Thanked 26 Times in 25 Posts	Yea, my parents had a fund set up for me, than when my dad's business went bankrupt for the 4th time, it all disappeared... nice chunk of change they had saved up too -.- Let's just say it's a topic that doesn't get brought up anymore. heh, living? barely... i don't have a car, i use as little for anything else that I can basic cable, internet, etc... and i have friends that take good care of me... Long story short, the last few years have been... rough. It all started when my ******* ex-boyfriend left me Posted about this previously, quick recap: changed debt to my name, wiped out our bank accounts, and took my/our car and any furniture or material items he could. SO I've been getting to start all over. Part of the reason I am going back to school is to actually GET a degree and GET the education to do something with my life. I'm sick of being treated like **** by people that I work for and being stepped on when all the customers always think I should be in a higher position. SO my goal is to go back to school, work part time for the guy who owns a coffee shop on campus, and than when I graduate with my degree, get a killer job and move forward and pay back my loans. In the long run it will all be very nicely played out and I will have everything paid back =) It will also be nice to finally be someone and do something with my life. I've looked at this school for ages so dances finally

02-17-2009, 01:17 AM	#6
Eagle Eye Diddy bops Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Birmingham, AL Gender: Posts: 15,014 Thanks: 1,616 Thanked 1,084 Times in 597 Posts	FAFSA dicked me over. Apparently my parents make too much yet not enough for them to make a contribution.......WTF?

02-17-2009, 09:06 AM	#7
Pyropunk Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Gender: Posts: 367 Thanks: 139 Thanked 26 Times in 25 Posts	^ and that is why I had to wait til I was 24. =/ My parents made too much... YAY FAFSA YOU"RE GAY!!!

02-17-2009, 11:28 PM	#8
Jesus Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Gender: Posts: 5,617 Thanks: 104 Thanked 139 Times in 101 Posts Blog Entries: 3	^&^^You guys could have written a letter to your financial aid office and possibly gotten more. I know a lot of kids who didn't get much on paper but after writing a letter received double! Never think that the estimate you receive is final. Discussions and letters can increase the amount you can get. College is an investment, not something you should think is a waste of money. You put money into it so you can make more in life in the long run provided you finish your degree.