By now, you've received many acceptances, and in some cases have already received your financial aid offers. How do you determine which offer is the best financial deal for you? Most colleges to promise to meet your need—defined as the difference between your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and the "total cost of attendance." However, colleges have options for HOW they meet your need, including grants, scholarships, loans, and so on. Also, not every college includes the same elements in "total cost of attendance." So, since you want to maximize the amount of free money you're receiving, let's break down the elements of an award letter. Cost of attendance --this section tells you how much it costs to attend the university. It always includes tuition, room and board, any mandatory student fees (e.g. health, registration, etc.). Most colleges will also list an amount for books, travel, and incidentals, but some will not list all of these. Whe