<p>I've been reading threads about how kids should not go to specific colleges because it costs too much money. I was wondering if I can afford to go to UF (instate). All I have right now is Bright Futures (the max) but I don't think it's 100% anymore as of last year, so that will pay out like 3-4k of tuition I'm assuming. </p>
<p>Anyway, I'm turning in my FAFSA today. My parents combined income is around 37k. We have free lunch at school and basically my parents wouldn't really be able to contribute to paying for college. </p>
<p>The CoA of UF is 18k/yr. What I don't understand is if UF gives out other aid besides what I will get from the Pell and Stafford Loan?</p>
<p>Here are my stats (if it matters): Hispanic, 4.0 UW GPA, 2010 SATs, In the Top 10 (not percent/percentile but actual top 10 kids) of around 800 seniors. </p>
<p>What do you advise I do to get aid? I've looked at UF's scholarship page and there's many of them but I'm not sure how to apply for them or if they even are for incoming freshman.</p>
<p>Have you tried calling the financial aid office? One of the UF financial aid staff should be able to give you some good recommendations as well as answer specific questions. Good luck! You sound like a great student and I hope things go well for you!</p>
<p>What is your FAFSA EFC and did you meet their priority deadline for filing? There is a UF forum here on CC…they may be able to help you with the scholarship info. Look to the left on your screen, under Colleges, F.</p>
<p>BF pays a certain amount per credit hour. It doesn’t specifically say how much %. </p>
<p>My dad and I were talking on the phone and I told him to read off the AGI line to me and apparently it said $11k. I’m not sure if this is correct and if this includes the rental income so he said he’d call his accountant. Does $11k make sense? I know my dads earnings are like 23k, my mom is listed as 3k and the rental is 11k. </p>
<p>As for a job, I was accepted to the Summer Term but I am going to write them a letter and tell them I can’t afford Summer. Hopefully they will switch me.</p>
<p>It looks like a Pell grant and a Stafford loan would cover most of the remaining costs. I would plan on getting a job and applying for local scholarships to help you with the initial expenses anyway though.</p>
<p>It is not possible to predict what a given college will give you in terms of aid. You find out when they give you your package. If you look at the specific boards for the specific school, you can get some more directed information from those who do know the school. However, with the way budgets and taxes are going these days, it is shaky to come up with any guesses as to what anyone will get in terms of aid and scholarships.</p>
<p>You should ask the financial aid office your specific questions. They can give you their specific policies for thing like their summer session.</p>
<p>Most importantly of all, you should have a back up plan if the money does not pay out. With BF, Pell, and Staffords, you certainly will be able to afford to commute to a local school. Though my personal opinion is that you will also be able to get enough money to go away to UF with those programs, especially if you work to fill in some gaps, and I think that unless UF is broke, there is a chance that some other funds may come your way, you still should have a financial safety just as every student should have. So, do look at some local choices as well as researching how you could make UF work.</p>
<p>I don’t think you should start college in the summer. Pell wouldn’t cover all the costs…tuition, room, board, etc. </p>
<p>Besides, you really need to work this summer to get some money to cover various expenses that new college students have. Even just getting things for one’s dorm costs money.</p>
<p>It is possible to use Pell grants for summer, but Pell is always awarded by the school and they will be your best source of information on summer aid. The Pell grant amounts depend on how you are classified, so most students wouldn’t get a full time award for summer as that usually requires at least 12 credit hours are taken in the term. Also, you should be aware that any summer Pell could reduce the amount of your award in the following semesters. Again, UF’s financial aid office should be able to give you guidance on that.</p>
<p>I see that their summer session for freshmen is only 6 credits, so I agree with Mom2 that you may not receive enough aid to make that feasible. Only UF can tell you that for sure though!</p>
<p>Okay just turned in my Summer FAFSA (2009 taxes) and my EFC is 0. It only asked me for AGI and Parent Earnings. Was that it? I thought it was way more, like my own income and savings as a student? </p>
<p>Ah so if I get a Pell for Summer it’ll deduct from Fall/Spring? I don’t want to start in the Summer because I want to work but they will put me on a waitlist and I wont find out if they switched my term until mid-May. That’s why I’m preparing for Summer anyway. In case I don’t get switched.</p>
<p>iSenior, if it is the difference of getting into UF or not, and once the regular year starts , you are fine with the costs of attending the school, it might well be worth it to take out the loans you need to go there in the summer. You also might be getting the last of the PELL summer monies. Your challenge will be getting sufficient funds for living expenses, is my opinon. </p>
<p>Does BF cover Summer starts or just the regular year? You do need to talk to the foks at UF and find out how this can work out for you.</p>
<p>It sounds like summer is considered part of the 10/11 (current) academic year since you had to file another FAFSA. If that’s the case, then the 1/2 time Pell you’d receive would NOT affect your grants for next fall/spring, so that’s good. But it’s still probably not enough unless there’s other aid offered for summer as the 1/2 time grant is only $1387.50.</p>
<p>Because Pell is based on your enrollment (full-time, 1/2 time, etc.) and it looks like UF’s freshman summer program is only 6 credits, you’d receive a 1/2 time award, or 1/2 of the normal $2750 you’d receive in a full-time semester.</p>