<p>I agree with mom2collegekids - whether you get in to UDel or not, it will NOT be worth such high debt. If it means a lot for you to have a degree from UDel, go to a CC for 2 years and transfer, you will save a considerable amount and still have the degree you want although even 2 years at UDel may be unaffordable but they will be the years when your brother is also in school thus you may qualify for more aid.</p>
<p>Honestly, with an EFC of 25K right now, expect to be liable for the full COA at all the schools you applied to unless you happen to get offered work-study since I don’t know that your stats will get you much in merit aid.</p>
<p>We are not trying to discourage you, we just want you to have an accurate expectation of what may happen however none of us can tell you what you may/may not get in your FA packages but do assume there will be gaps and any aid may already be in the form of loans.</p>
<p>also your grades are kinda low … why not bump them up at a CC? redo your SATs.</p>
<p>at the same time you could win some scholarships.</p>
<p>just sayin.</p>
<p>I just recieved my acceptance letters from Drexel University and York College of Pennsylvania. Drexel is kind of out of the question now because I got $0 in merit-aid but York gave me $2,000 a year and I am visiting on the 18th and I will try and see if I can get that increased a little, does anyone know how I would go about doing that?</p>
<p>I actually recieved $4,000 a year from York, which is very tempting offer, it lowers the cost to about the same as a SUNY.</p>
<p>Congrats!!!</p>
<p>So what is the COA of York? And what is the COA of the SUNY?</p>
<p>York COA = $23,000-$4,000= $19,000 for room and board/tuition
SUNY COA = $17,000 for room and board/tuition</p>
<p>My parents are paying for all of the fees and book/supplies, I just have to pay room and board and tuition. Unless another school comes through I will go to York or SBU(if I get in), which ever one I like more.</p>
<p>Congrats on the merit award!</p>
<p>I would still caution against taking out $76K/$68K in loans though, make sure you have truly gone over what they will cost when you graduate and what the total amount would be that you need to repay with interest and what the monthly payments would be. Also, to take out that much in loans yourself you may have to start paying interest back immediately so make sure you account for having a job or other means to make payments while you are in school.</p>
<p>My parents are attempting to refinance their house within the next 4 years to give me and my brother $25,000, each, So I will probably have around $50,000 in loans but I have $10,000 in saving bonds from my grandparents, but they will not mature until after I graduate. So my I think my debt if I attended York would be around $40,000, which is doable when making $50,000.</p>
<p>Good!</p>
<p>Now…what can you do about perhaps earning some money on your own for “pocket money” and so you can borrow less? Do you think you can work in the summer and perhaps get a campus job part-time? </p>
<p>I’m not suggesting that you work a lot of hours during the school year, just maybe 8 hours a week for pocket money. Summer money can be used towards school costs.</p>
<p>Even if summer work means borrowing $2500 less each year, that will mean $10k less overall. Much better for your future. :)</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>congrats again on your merit…you also might think about politely asking if they’ll increase the amount.</p>
<p>We are going to visit on the 18th, how do you think I should go about asking?</p>
<p>You could mention that you really want to be attend this school, but affording it will be difficult. You could ask if they would be willing to take another look at your package.</p>
<p>Did your package include any work-study?</p>
<p>No, it was the $4,000 in scholarships and a $5,500 loan, but will ask if I can get increased even if it was a little and I will tell them I will maintain a higher Gpa if they want me too, right now I have to maintain a 2.0 which I will have hopefully even a high 3, like 3.5.</p>
<p>Often having a competing offer that is higher will help in negotiating but it certainly can’t hurt to ask, or ask if you would be eligible for an increase in future years if you got and maintained a higher GPA. Also, you may want to see if they can replace part or all of the loan they offered with work-study which would allow you some money flow. The worst they can do is say no but definitely try! Good luck!</p>
<p>Dont ask for a higher scholarship if it means having to maintain a 3.5. You might have to maintain it EVERY semester. Ask for a higher award, but make sure the GPA is doable, closer to 3.0. 2400 4.0 GPA kids in HS have a hard time maintaining a 3.5 every semester, especially if majoring in the sciences.</p>