<p>How exactly does one go about doing this/how is it done/what are the chances I can do so succesfully? No drastic family illnesses or anything occured, they simply didn't give me anywhere close to enough money for me to be able to attend. 60k-22k in grants/merit scholarships= 38k... my EFC is 23.5K using fafsa and CSS and according to all the net price calculators I've used where they ask for basically all the information USC would've had available to make its decision.</p>
<p>Any advice? I really want to go to USC, I love it there, but without more money it's just not feasible... :(</p>
<p>Have you been told that your package is complete? If not, then there may still be adjustments to be made to your financial aid. If you have been told it is complete, you will need to appeal with the financial aid office. Read the financial aid thread that is stickied at the top for more information.</p>
<p>Since USC is a CSS profile school, your EFC should be calculated from this— not FAFSA, which could be very very different. It sounds like you did both, though.</p>
<p>Remember, part of the financial aid package will be loans, work study, summer earnings etc… All things most of us normally wouldn’t consider “aid” at all, but colleges do.</p>
<p>Right, I actually did get the official “aid complete” email… and yeah, all my other CSS and FAFSA schools calculated my EFC to be around ~23.5 K and gave me mostly grants in aid. USC did not… even including loans, they gave me 28k, which still doesn’t close the gap between the net cost and my EFC. I suppose they never said they met full need, though…</p>
<p>Yes, they do say they will meet USC calculated need (how they come up with this-- from the CSS and other financial records, though, may be debated).</p>
<p>I would contact the financial aid office next week (yes, they may be overwhelmed, but do it anyway) and explain your situation, your confusion about this package vs. your others so that they can offer you more information. Other people have successfully appealed and others have at least gotten more information to make this difficult decision.</p>