<p>I still haven't heard anything about FA from USC and I'm getting nervous about it :( I can't pay the full price of around $50,000 a year. I'm hoping very much that USC will actually pay for all or at least most of my tuition and such. My EFC is 0 and my family income was probably around $30,000. I don't know anybody that has gone to USC and was in my situation (financially speaking) so I don't know what to expect. UCLA is extremely cheap for me though; instead of the regular $25,000, I only have to pay $6,000 a year after Cal Grants, Pell Grants, Scholarships, University Grants, etc. Is anybody in or knows anybody that is in a situation like mine? I want to attend USC, but if I can't pay for it...well then...:(</p>
<p>USC is a need blind school. With an EFC of 0, Cal and Pell Grant elegiblity, and the fact that USC also uses the CSS (more detail on your fin. situation), I expect you're going to be pleasantly surprised.</p>
<p>We found USC's financial aid office to be very easy to work with. When our initial offer came in too low, they were willing to sit down with us to find a way to make it work. My understanding is that if you have a 0 EFC, they will pay 100%, as they pay whatever the family can't pay. This is unlike other schools which loan the money to the student--USC just grants the money and you do not have to pay it back. And, if their offer is not enough for your family, be sure to appeal. The best bet is to go in person to meet with a senior FA officer. If you are unable to go in person, write a compelling letter.</p>
<p>Good luck to you, and keep the "CCer's" posted on what your offer is.</p>
<p>Hmm interestng. It really seems like wishful thinking to me and I really do hope that USC will actually pay for most of tuition and such.</p>
<p>I don't know anybody that has experience with financial aid at USC; that's why I'm so doubtful. I know 4 people that were accepted to USC; 3 of them attend and 1 didn't. The 3 I know that currently attend are family friends, but they are extremely wealthy. The other person was my cousin. Her family income was about $90,000 a year and her net cost was $22,000 for USC. She also had a USC Alumni Scholarship that gave her about $4,000, so overall it ended up to be $18,000 a year.</p>
<p>I do have one question though, does USC actually guarantee financial aid for all 4 years? I need to speak to somebody at USC about this, but I'm actually very worried that USC might give me a LOT of money for my first and second year, and then my third and fourth year, they'd suddenly stop giving me aid, or least give me very little to the point where I can no longer afford to pay for school. I really don't want to get screwed and go to USC thinking I'll be paying a certain amount, but by my junior year, I'll be charged about $40,000 a year.</p>
<p>^ No, don't worry about that. You are guaranteed aid all 4 years. Financial aid will be based on each previous year's financial figures. You submit the FAFSA, CSS and other documents like you did this year, and your aid will be based on that. Now if you happen to win the lottery one year, well then you gotta pay lots more, but I don't think you'll be too worried about it then!</p>
<p>So no need to concern yourself with something that will not happen. USC WILL give the same aid dependent on your family's financial situation.</p>
<p>Now with the UCs for example, given the governmental budget cuts, things could be a little more uncertain in that it's possible that Cal Grants and other aid could be reduced in subsequent years. Though also, whatever FAFSA calculates, I expect will still give you decent aid for the publics.</p>
<p>I agree with Sequoia on post #2. I was pleasantly surprised myself. My efc qualified for a pell grant and USC offered me around 42,000 in scholarships and grants and an additional 2500 in work-study. I really think that you will be impressed wtih USC's financial aid.</p>
<p>^^ nibie, do you mind telling me your EFC?</p>
<p>around 3400</p>
<p>usc's financial aid is AMAZING.
i only have to pay approximately $13,000.</p>
<p>Would someone explain what efc means? Sorry to be so dense...</p>
<p>efc stands for expected family contribution. It's a number that you get after you fill out the FAFSA. Although, in most cases, your family will definitely have to pay more than your EFC. your EFC is basically used by colleges to see how much financial aid to give your family.</p>
<p>However, USC also looks at the CSS (not sure if that's exactly what it's called), doesn't it? I submitted that and my FAFSA many months ago, but I don't remember the specifics. I hear the CSS was much more detailed than the FAFSA was, which may help a bit.</p>
<p>I'm a junior, and this year's financial aid was really good. I think I had an EFC of around 4258, and the final "sticker price" (expected cost of attendance minus total financial aid) for the 2007-2008 year was only 592. After calculating my expenses and budget before the semester started, my family and I decided we didn't need to take out any more loans. I'm even not doing work-study this semester (about $1000 a semester) and it looks like I'll have enough money to finish out this semester.</p>
<p>For me, the financial aid has gotten BETTER since freshman year. I'm crossing my fingers for senior year.</p>
<p>I have a question along these lines:
My fin aid grant alone at USC came out to roughly 23000 a year, we'll end up paying around 19000 a year with everything. My brother will be a senior at a university where my parents pay 12000 a year. After he graduates in 09, will that 19000 change to 31000 a year since he will no longer be in college?</p>
<p>yes. financial aid is split when you have more than one child in college, but once there is only one child, you will end up paying the total EFC. </p>
<p>Also, has anyone been able to access financial aid info off of OASIS? I haven't gotten any updates at all</p>
<p>This thread makes me feel so much more at ease. I'm a transfer applicant and USC is my current top choice. The idea of having to take out tons of student loans made me sick to the stomach. Thank you so much for these anecdotes! Keep them coming. It makes me feel hopeful about attending (provided I get accepted)!</p>
<p>Could someone help me understand this before I call up the office of financial aid?</p>
<p>My FAFSA EFC is like 14,400. My dad's income is around $90,000 a year before taxes. My sister's going to medical school next year($40,000+) and it's pretty much completely out of pocket for my parents and my sister.</p>
<p>But online, my financial aid package was only about $19,000 ($13,000 in scholarships/grants; $2,500 in Sub Stafford Loan; $2,500 in Work Study). My cost of attendance is ~$33,000 for 08-09.</p>
<p>Is there a reason why my aid is half of what it was expected be? I submitted an update to my FAFSA about 2-3 days ago after I saw it was so high and have yet to hear back.</p>
<p>I just got my finaid and it is so good! trustee + university scholarship. The amount of aid USC is offering me is probably equal to what my second best financial aid school is telling me to pay.</p>
<p>dachanghi - USC uses the Institutional Method (which is derived from your CSS Profile) for calculating your EFC, not the Federal Method (which comes from the FAFSA). Usually the IM gives a higer EFC.</p>
<p>When I visited USC, the financial aid presenter told us to use the CollegeBoard's EFC calculators to get a rough estimate of our Institutional Method EFC: EFC</a> Calculator</p>
<p>dachanghi: Your family's assets may also have come into play in calculating your need. Though retirement assets placed in 401K, SEP and ROTH IRAS are exempt, funds in stock portfolios or investment property are not.
Make sure however that your sister's med school expenses were included in the expenses listed.</p>