<prompt> Human: I recently applied for the FAFSA. Im in my senior year of high school and am applying to high-expense, international schools. My parents, combined, make around 100,000k gross income every year, but in our area, living expenses are extremely high. We have always struggled financially and my parents have never had enough money to put away for college tuition, retirement, or anything. They also used to make way less money, and we spent most years of my life at risk of losing everything. Ive been applying to countless scholarships and aid programs for colleges, but since my FAFSA EFC is so high about 25,000 yearly its likely I wont qualify for any of them. It only took into account our overall income, not our expendable income. My parents, quite literally, have zero dollars in the bank. Theres no way I can go to college without aid or scholarships. Is there any way I can appeal my FAFSA EFC? The algorithm determined that my family will pay a huge amount of money toward college, but they literally can contribute 0 dollars in reality. How the heck do I work around this to get financial help for college?Tldr; given massive EFC when family has nothing saved and can realistically contribute nothing Assistant: In the United States, we have systems in place where the well off subudize those less well off.You are one of the well off people.This can make things more difficult for individuals who have been fortunate to come from well off situations. And you are finding yourself to be one of these people. The system is designed to give you nothing and to ask you to pay to subsudize others.The options for you are likely state schools which lower tuition for everyone, and actually attract many well off kids like you or merit scholarships to private schools that are offering a unique discount just for you. Your options in colleges will be limited. You have to change the types of schools youre considering. No Ivy League schools since they dont offer merit aid. Human: I see what youre saying, but my family often does not have enough money for basic living expenses like food. Would we still be considered well off?  <response>: Making 100k a year, yes, you are considered well off.x200B;On a side note, if you are struggling to put food on the table with a six figure household income something is wrong, I get that 100k Household isnt a fortune in the more expensive parts of the country, but even in New York or San Francisco you should be able to get by on that income. 