<p>After seeing on this forum that Maryland isn't exactly helpful in terms of financial aid...</p>
<p>Should I be preparing to go to comm college or something? Because I really want to go to MD, but seeing that many ppl get nothing higher than the low thousands in terms of aid (and I ain't exactly "middle class").</p>
<p>Am I worrying too much, or do I really need to think about how to pay for my education at Maryland???</p>
<p>EDIT: I have not confirmed yet to MD. Also, they don't have my financial aid package ready yet...</p>
<p>Even though we paid our 200 deposite, we may not be going. We got a 3,500 scholarship, and it would take over half of my income to pay the rest of the tuition. EVERYBODY warned us that College Park gives out terrible or no financial aid. We are very torn..............But when you look at the numbers and the money other schools have given us, it doesn't make much sense to graduate with a crushing debt. Did you apply to other schools? Keep your options open. I am so glad we applied to other schools, otherwise we would be in deep trouble. Or, you could do 2 years at Comm Coll and then go.................It also looks like a lot of kids have a hard time graduating in 4 years which adds on even more debt. I heard it's hard to get the classes you need. Also, they didn't guarentee the scholarship all 4 years where as the other schools all said as long as her GPA stys up, it will be for every year. If you times it by 4 years, the money is HUGE. We only have a few weeks to decide and it is very difficult...........</p>
<p>I did, and I got into Vtech, and so far I havent heard too many money complaints from there. We will see. It would suck to get accepted to good schools, but end up going to a comm college b/c of little aid.</p>
<p>I agree- it think going away and living in a dorm is a wonderful experience. That's why community college is out for us......we'll just take on the debt.</p>
<p>Are you in state? And you got a $3500 a year scholarship?</p>
<p>You lucked out if you ask me... I can understand if it's not quite enough though. But at least you got some scholarship!</p>
<p>have there been ANY cases of where needy familes DID get a decent amount of aid for UMCP?</p>
<p>Not that I am asking for a miracle (though it was a miracle i got in Fall Semester AND into the computer science major I wanted)</p>
<p>Terphopeful-- I guess you're right.........but I am supporting a family on 38,000 per year. We are barely making ends meet. I guess we were very naive.........</p>
<p>Heres what they are giving me:</p>
<p>FEDERAL PERKINS LOAN $2000.00<br>
FEDERAL PELL GRANT $2100.00
SUB STAFFORD LOAN $2625.00<br>
UM GRANT $1929.00
Total Aid Offer for 2006-2007 $8654.00</p>
<p>So I gotta pay back the loans once I graduate. However, my EFC was about $2000, and I am instate, so go figure.</p>
<p>My family has about a 40,000 income range (with a total of about 3 jobs), and with $8600 in aid, we still gotta pay up another $11,000. Also we are living in a rental property (house was evicited 2 years ago). I have two younger siblings as well.</p>
<p>Should I ask for more aid, or will that just be like talking to a brick wall: I won't get anywhere?</p>
<p>B_S, i think if you think it is hard for you to pay what you have to pay go on and ask for more. Tell them your situation. The fafsa is all about yearly pay and number of people in a household. It also looks into investments but if you only have one house it doens't count that. You are living on rent and they dont' know that. Your parents have younger people to support. You are not going to lose anything(i don't think) by telling them your situation. Some of us are in situations that they don't know about. Good luck.</p>
<p>It is hard for me too. I am thinking about talking to them too. I got a 1400 EFC but they want me to pay like 7,000. That is a lot more than my EFC. I know that a lot of people are upset but we have to believe they want to do the best for us but they can't. I guess I, myself, should be expected to make 7000. I'll get a job or something. I don't think I'll take the work study so it is nearing 8000 a year. I'll have to do something. It is going to be hard to pay 6 times my EFC.</p>
<p>cheapseats- when we went on our tour this summer we were told that there was a LOT of financial aid to be given out and that they just received a huge donation form somewhere (can't remember) and all that would be given out this fall. Is there any kind of board that moniters Federal money given out by colleges? Who over sees all that because I smell a rat. I know schools don't often meet all of need, but when you have alomost no need given to very poor or low income people, I think something is not right. We applied to other state schools and this was not the situation at all. Why the big difference with MD? There has been a lot in the papers lately about the board of regents which I think oversees a lot of this.</p>
<p>With all due respect to MD, I always wonder how they can give full ride scholorships to ppl. but hardly any aid to truely needy familes (not that those who get the scholorships dont deserve it, I'm just saying)</p>
<p>I think MD is using the money for something else, but I can be wrong.</p>
<p>Geez, I will be paying about 10,000 to go there. My parents combined make no more than 50,000 AT MOST, and we live in rental property AND my parents have my two siblings to watch out for too!</p>
<p>yesss.. I am not the only one...
b<em>s</em>Bowser, i have about the same $$ situation as you ( i applied to vtech too =)) . I thought being instate would help me more than what i have now. ahhh.. I wish we all can get a better fin. aid =/ </p>
<p>Try applying to some scholarships to help. that's what i am planning to do. Good Luck to all of you! Hopefully I will see you guys around UMCP! =D</p>