Appealing Aid & Choosing College

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Southern California
1

<p>So I know I may be jumping the gun here, as I have yet to get an email from USC saying that my package is complete, but it's been a week since the info has appeared on my USConnect page, and nothing has changed through the revisions (March 31st -> April 1st -> April 4th).</p>

<p>That being said, I'm trying to sort out which college to attend ASAP, as I want to get good housing regardless of where I go, and it all boils down to the $$$...</p>

<p>Of the $58,000 cost of attendance, USC has listed for me $4,000 in an unnamed university scholarship and $5,500 in loans ($3,500 subsidized and $2,000 unsubsidized). That leaves my EFC to come out to ~$48,000.</p>

<p>This number is just outrageously high compared to my in-state option, UW-Seattle. UW would cost less than $3,000/year (no loans; excluding room and board, which is $9,000 more) versus USC's $48,000, which is 16x times the cost. Even though I've been dreaming of getting out of Seattle and going to college somewhere in California for the past four years, I don't feel like the cost is worth it. How can I get USC to throw more money my way?</p>

<p>A few details on my situation. Currently the EFC for USC is more than my family's annual income. I qualify for the simple needs test for the FAFSA, but it turns out that my dad has a lot invested in stocks and mutual funds. It wasn't until February-ish while filling out the CSS Profile that I found out about the assets. My dad has been a frugal spender all his life, and he's gradually added to his investments over the years. He plans for the stocks and mutual funds to be his main source of funds after he retires.</p>

<p>I got accepted into Viterbi @ USC for Computer Science and Computer Engineering.</p>

<p>At UW, I got direct admission into their Computer Science & Engineering department, which is ranked in the top 10 (?) in the nation. Didn't get into the Honors Program though. I don't know exactly what I want to do yet, but I've always had an interest in math and science and computers and airplanes, so I thought CSE would be a good base to go off of. International relations/politics and business/economics are subjects that I have a slight interest in.</p>

<p>What exactly should I do in my situation? I plan to appeal my fin aid as soon as I get the email - how can I convince USC to give me some more aid? Or is it a lost cause in my case? And if the numbers end up like this, would it be wiser to go to UW or USC? I plan to go to graduate school.</p>

<p>Any and all opinions are welcome and appreciated.</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

2

<p>You “can” appeal your aid, but to be honest simply wanting to attend USC is not a factor they consider in calculating *need-based *aid. It clearly would be wiser to go to UW - and it is a wonderful option! As you plan to go to graduate school, keeping that $48,000/year ($192,000!!!) in your father’s sensible investments will come in very handy.</p>

<p>Best of luck, and congratulations on your admissions!</p>

3

<p>UW is a great school with a very strong CS dept. i considered going there, seeing as it was my in-state school as well.</p>

4

<p>USC is a great school, but I’d go with UW without a doubt. I understand the feelings of wanting to get away and go off to some place like CA, but I can tell you from personal experience that I dreamed of living in CA for a long time and finally I got to do it. I loved it there (so much that I might be going back next year), but its really not all its racked up to be esp. for that price.</p>

5

<p>Yeah, I’m facing the grim reality that I’ll be stuck here for another 3-4 years. I was just hoping for one last ray of hope :confused: oh well.</p>

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<p>Well your experience anywhere is what you make of it, and I bet you can still have a great time at UW. Plus I’m sure if you ever move away, you’re going to find that you don’t hate Washigton as much as you think. You probably love it. ( Coming from someone who has moved 5 times and felt this way about everyplace she lived)</p>

7

<p>You could attend UW and take a vacation to California (or some other sunny place) each year over Spring Break and still save a LOT of money!!!</p>

8

<p>I’m sure those of you who haven’t seen an email yet have thought of this, but be sure to check your spam folders. We found my son’s there, it may explain why some of you haven’t received one.</p>

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<p>Spam folder. Why didn’t I think of that. Thanks 2manykids, I found it. Guess I really am screwed over :confused: I’ll try to appeal anyways.</p>