<p>as we dont qualify for need based aid, looking for any suggestions to close the financial gap. IU has been great with the merit and hutton honor awards for oos...but we will still have a 20K gap/yr. son applied for residence scholar for housing, and would like to apply for RA in future years so if accepted to either that may close some of the gap. he found the link for food services jobs on campus and will see about that. is there anything else that IU offers that we havent found yet? loves IU but he also has a full ride here in state so looking for ways to make this possible with minimal loans. (IU did offer unsubsidized federal loan but not sure we want to use that)</p>
<p>A couple of suggestions</p>
<p>Sign up for the least expensive food plan allowed for freshman in the dorms. DD still has lots of points left on her plan. (It will save about $1000 or so) I know, in general, boys will eat more than girls, but the plan can be added to at a later date. DD also typically eats breakfast in her room which saves her a lot of points/money. She buys instant oatmeal and other cereal which is still far less expensive than breakfast in the cafeteria. </p>
<p>For many of his freshman classes he can buy used books online for less than used books at campus bookstore prices or rent them for the semester for even less most of the time. We found it easy to order from a couple of different places and still get free shipping usually. (If the shipping wasn’t free, we ordered from another site even if the book was a few dollars more. Shipping books is expensive.) It’s hard to figure an amount one can save because it varies. I would guess DD saved at least $300 this year. </p>
<p>Check out the IU alumni chapter page for the chapter nearest you. Many of the chapters give out smaller scholarships to local students attending IU, but every bit helps. Here is the link</p>
<p>[IUAA:</a> Chapters & Groups - Chapters in the U.S.](<a href=“http://alumni.indiana.edu/groups/chapters/us/list.shtml]IUAA:”>http://alumni.indiana.edu/groups/chapters/us/list.shtml)</p>
<p>You may have to search the site, but it’s a starting point. The deadline dates vary and some may have passed.</p>
<p>It’s too late for the IU Foundation scholarships this year, but it’s a possibility in future years. </p>
<p>Just my two cents: if we had to take out a loan, I would use the unsubsidized loan before one of the parent type loans.</p>
<p>thanks rrah!! great suggestions.</p>
<p>Yeah, the unsubsidized (Stafford) loans don’t require any payments until you are out of school and the current interest rates are a reasonable 6.8% (for those with high EFCs)–as opposed to most banks that will charge you about 8% to 12% minimum. The school also handles all the paperwork, so this means no other fees (like loan origination, credit checks, etc.) which usually add about $250 to $500 to the total borrowed.</p>