If you're an independent student, does your EFC (expected family contribution) always equal to 0? This is my first time getting it to be zero, so I don't know if that's because i'm an classified as an independent or not.

1/22/2007 9:35:45 PM

It depends. Some kids have to be 24 years old before EFC defaults to zero. I know a guy who hadn't talked to his father in years and still got burned on EFC because his father made so much money.

1/22/2007 9:39:06 PM

well, I guess it's because I'm going to be classified as "graduate/professional" student next year.

1/22/2007 9:49:41 PM

Not necessarily. During 2005, I was employed full-time for three months. When I filled out my FAFSA for graduate school last summer, I think my EFC came out to 2500 or so. Really depends on a number of factors, but the simple answer is no.

1/22/2007 9:50:27 PM

Not always. I'm an independent full-time graduate student and my EFC for the 2006-07 academic year is greater than $19,000.

1/22/2007 11:03:03 PM