<p>@thumper1 It is not $23,000 additional cost. OP said the EFC by FAFSA is $4000 while the USC FA calculation gives an EFC of $23,000. It is first a difference between FAFSA and CSS profile calculation, and then the error in the form.</p>
<p>But Bill…USC is expecting $23,000 from this student. I can’t see any mistake that would net them THIS much additional need based aid. He needs $23,000 to attend.</p>
<p>Though, he does have $31k in outside scholarship money (but some of it is multi-year) that will help decrease the family’s outlay.</p>
<p>Those outside scholarships will likely also decrease the need based aid his school is offering.</p>
<p>@thumper1 Don’t forget the second property and primary home equity that are considered as asset in CSS profile. Disregarding the error he made that may contribute to a few thousand dollars in the $19,000 higher EFC, the main difference may just arise from the asset calculation in CSS profile.</p>
<p>I completely agree, Bill. I’m not sure this student will see a huge increase in aid.</p>
<p>I think he may get a few thousand dollars more by correcting that error. He is likely still looking at close to $20k per year.</p>
<p>Maybe he has already reported the outside scholarships to his school, so those wouldn’t decrease his aid?</p>
<p>He still needs $23,000 to attend this college. The school did not award him that amount in aid. </p>
<p>I will let you all know what things look like once all my scholarships have been added and my appeal decision is made.</p>
<p>Ah…so your outside scholarships have not yet been included by USC.</p>
<p>Yes, please do let us know. It may help another student in the future.</p>
<p>UPDATE: So my appeal has yet to be responded to, but other than a few thousand dollars, all of my scholarships were used to simply replace grants from the university and not decrease my estimated amount out of pocket.</p>
<p>They didn’t decrease your loans?</p>
<p>Ask if they can use the scholarships to decrease your loans rather than the grants ?</p>
<p>Is the OP attending USC?</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.usc.edu/admission/fa/grants_scholarships/undergraduates/”>http://www.usc.edu/admission/fa/grants_scholarships/undergraduates/</a></p>
<p>Scholarships and Financial Aid</p>
<p>Any scholarships you receive will not be in addition to your need-based financial aid but will change the composition of your financial aid eligibility. In most cases, we allow outside scholarships to reduce the student loans or Federal Work-Study in your financial aid package. Each situation must be reviewed in light of availability of funds, state and federal regulations, and the university’s financial aid policies. Federal regulations require that we consider all of your resources when determining your eligibility for financial aid. As a result, receipt of additional scholarship awards will most likely effect your eligibility for financial aid. Once your department notifies our office of a departmental award, we will revise your Statement of Financial Aid Eligibility and notify you of the revision.</p>
<p>If you are a recipient of an outside award not listed in your Financial Aid Summary Letter, please send us a copy of your scholarship award notification so that we can adjust your financial aid package accordingly and notify you of the revision.</p>
<p>Most scholarships will replace some type of financial aid in your summary letter. If you would like to know how your scholarship will affect your financial aid eligibility, please contact our office.</p>
<p>Yes…that is what usually happens. Outside scholarships reduce your need, and therefore reduces your need based aid. I think a few people posted that upstream.</p>
<p>That policy varies with school. Very often, scholarships reduce the need and therefore the financial aid. However, some schools would start cutting down from loan and workstudy (which is still considered part of the financial aid) first. Some school would allow certain amount (like $5000 in one school but I forgot which one) before reducing your aid. While some school are generous enough to let you stack scholarships with grants up to CoA (sometimes even slightly above). So, it is more important what USC says.</p>
<p>As others have said, it varies by school. Some schools have specific grants they give for fin aid with the stipulation that any outside scholarships go dollar to dollar to whittle down that grant. I’ve seen this a number of times. One has to discuss this with the fin aid director and see what alternatives are available with the specific school.</p>
<p>USC is known for not giving great financial awards to students, so what you received is pretty much in the average ball park of USC’s awards.
Its a private college and the awards varies like some other posters have suggested.
It would be a good idea to look at other options…- i.e. schools that you were also accepted into.
Best of luck to you.</p>
<p>Ccco…USC meets full need for all accepted students. Their aid is quite generous but is based on THEIR calculations of family need. No, they don’t award aid in the generous ball park of Stanford and Harvard, but their aid is very good IF you have calculated need.</p>