PARENTS OF SENIORS: KNOW YOUR NEEDS THE ONE EQUATION THAT MATTERS THIS SUMMER
HAVE A LAUGH If your child is going into their senior year of high school this fall, you’re about to receive a lot of “literature” in the mail. Unfortunately, it’s not going to be Shakespeare, Hemingway, Márquez, or Vonnegut. No, by “literature,” we mean the glossy pamphlets produced by the universities your student has been applying to — and a bunch they’ve never even heard of. While these enticing, market-researched advertisements may highlight a few of the things each school on their list has to offer, don’t let your student base their entire decision off these pamphlets. Instead, your family should be crunching some numbers to narrow the field. Know Your EFC With the FAFSA complete, you should know your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). This is the amount that the federal government estimates your household should be able to
contribute to your student’s education. Knowing your EFC will help you determine your financial need — the total amount of financial aid required to make a school a viable option. Calculate Your Financial Need Determine your financial need for a given school with one simple equation. You take the total cost of attending that school (including living and textbook expenses) and subtract your EFC. For example, if a school costs $20,000 and your EFC is $5,000, your “need” at that school is $15,000.
family’s financial need. This is important to know, as some institutions may only give out as little as 20 percent of your family’s needs. To get the most accurate picture of what your family will actually have to pay for a given school, you need to know what portion of need the college typically covers and what form that aid takes. Unfortunately, most schools don’t print this kind of information on their glossy literature. You’ll have to do some research online or call their financial aid officers. If you have any questions during this process, please give us a call. Andrea, our director of financial aid, has years of experience working on the other side as a college financial aid officer. She can give you the advice you need to find out just how much you can expect to pay for your student’s dream school.
$20,000 (cost of attendance) - $15,000 (EFC) $5,000 (financial need)
Here’s the Wrinkle This equation is complicated by the fact that many schools only meet a percentage of your
SPICY CHIMICHURRI GRILLED CHEESE
[inspired by naturallyella.com]
INGREDIENTS
For chimichurri: • 2 jalapeños • 4 green onions • 1/2 cup cilantro
• 1 clove garlic • 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Juice of 1 lime • 2 teaspoons honey
For sandwiches: • 1 tablespoon olive oil • 1 ripe avocado, cut into slices
• 2–4 ounces fresh mozzarella • 4 slices whole-wheat bread
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Pulse chimichurri ingredients in a food processor or blender until combined but not pureed. Add extra olive oil as needed. 2. Heat grill or skillet to medium-low. Brush outsides of bread with olive oil. Smear 1 tablespoon chimichurri on each slice of bread. Place a layer of avocado and cheese between slices. 3. Cook gently until bread is crisp and cheese is melted. 4. Slice and serve.
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