<p>It looks like you are already committed to UCLA for your frosh year (versus other options of gap year to apply to big merit schools, or starting at CC). But it also looks like the circumstances which cause it to be more expensive than anticipated (got an expensive single room as a last choice of housing) could be eliminated next year if you can get into cheaper housing.</p>
<p>You can still apply to transfer, but be aware that only a few schools will do better than UCLA on need-based aid (basically, they need to use federal methodology EFC so that your father’s income will not raise your EFC, and have a lower ESC assumption than UCLA), and merit scholarships for transfer students are rare (and many private schools accept very few transfers anyway). So do not assume that you will be successful at lowering your costs by the transfer route – try to figure out ways to lower costs at UCLA, or reconsider the gap-year-to-apply-to-big-merit schools and start-at-CC options.</p>