Life isn’t fair. Maybe a year off where your work ALL THE TIME (2-3 jobs), save money and look for additional scholarship/aid. That year won’t be wasted, you will learn a great deal and gain experience that future employers will value. Another option is military - if you are qualified. Serve 2 years then get the GI bill.
I didn’t go to school where I wanted to go. I worked a lot while my friends didn’t have to work at all. I survived and so will you.
That sounds like a great idea!
Also, if you are allowed to go off meal plan and cook for yourself, you may be able to save a lot of money that way.
Are there any other things you can do to bring down costs? I know that an unexpected cost for my kids was that their colleges automatically added the college health insurance to their bill, but we were able to get that waived because they could be covered under our family’s health insurance. That was a large fee (2k for one kid, 4k for another). You can ask about that perhaps. (Note that this is usually independent of the fee to use the campus health clinic, which usually is not waivable).
Please make those appointments soon – time is of the essence.
Here is the link to use to find your specific financial aid counselor, as @kelsmom recommended above.
Thank you! I will reach out and go through with the financial aid appeal along with reaching out to the dean. If I can get anything more from them I will hopefully not have to take a year off because I only need to make it through two more years. Obviously it may not work out but fingers crossed
I’m also reducing costs in every way I can (lowest meal plan they allow, health care waiver etc)
Sounds good! Let us know how it goes .
Hoping for the best for you!
I think your biggest issue is that your college doesn’t guarantee to meet full need. So when the cost of attendance goes up, there is no guarantee your need based aid will do the same.
Also, how much do you need to bring costs down? You don’t need to tell us here…but think about that. Reducing food costs, etc can help…but it might not get you to an affordable price point.
I’m hoping you are working more than one job this summer and saving saving saving.
None of my kids colleges allowed those dorming to skip the meal plan, probably the #1 reason they moved off campus, to save money.
Also would it be less expensive to share an apartment with someone and cook your own food than to stay in the dorms and on meal plan? Is that even allowed? (Just make sure to stay someplace close enough to be safe and convenient and do make sure to eat enough!)
Yeah, i know. Sometimes there are on-campus apartments that allow a minimal or zero meal plan. Or may be OP can move off campus.
Yes they all made exceptions for apartments with kitchens, but they were highly coveted.
Often with aid you have to be on campus. And the area around AU is not inexpensive. My daughter will be in DC this Fall and the school provided housing is way less than if she rented.
OP says this -
“Here’s where my problem comes in, I was not evaluated as this strong of a student because my circumstances didn’t allow. Now, I am an asset to my school in the programs and endeavors I am a part of and driving my classes all while working, but I cannot afford this.”
I’m not sure what this means. You got into AU. They are need aware. You’re a strong student. If you mean you didn’t get a better offer - you chose the wrong school. You cannot do anything about that now. You can ask for help as others are telling you. Ask - verbally. But your situation is of your doing.
The issue is - even if you get through the next year - then what ? Another year of inflation. And another year of burying yourself financially.
And you probably stretched your family.
If you are through one year, I suggest a community college and re assess. If you are through two years, find a state school close to home you can afford. If you need to take a gap se heater or year then do it and work.
It stinks. You got into a school you wanted to attend and you jumped at the chance. The problem is, it never was truly affordable because if you are short now, you had to be stretched before.
Unfortunately it is a business and you need to be able to afford what you buy. And you overspent. It’s that simple.
If getting increased aid doesn’t work, then you need to leave and course correct. It’s time to find a home you can afford and without you having to work multiple jobs.
I hate to be blunt but it’s reality. You erred. Not the school. They made you an offer and you needed to say no. But you didn’t.
If you can’t afford a Marriott, you stay at the Holiday Inn, etc. so it’s too late now but for the future, please spend appropriately. Within your means.
Good luck. I hope you get to a place where you are not under so much financial pressure.
It’s a long shot, and I don’t know if that scenario even applies to AU, but do some of your professors have labs/research/publication project, where they could take you on as a research assistant for a small stipend (every little thing helps).
I’ve found some professors willing to take a personal interest in strong students in unfortunate circumstances and they might have creative approaches to offer, or engage their “network” on your behalf.
That could be a good option thank you!
I appreciate your response. That said, I think its important that I clarify I am not saying the school erred or shifting blame, I’m simply trying to figure out my options.
To be frank, I would have to work multiple jobs no matter where I went. It is definitely a stretch to say I chose wrong and did not spend ‘appropriately’ when my issue stems from unforeseen changes rather then the initial bill.
Life isn’t fair, I’m well aware of this fact. I’m not wishing the school changed a policy I knew about when I said yes nor do I regret saying yes.
I plan to have no housing costs my junior year with being an RA so that would help tremendously. (I will have to have a meal plan but the savings are still more then another option) Thank you for that suggestion!
How much is your tuition? Where do you live ? I’m guessing you have other options than AU.
You made it sound like - not being a good student in hs didn’t get you the best deal. You could have gotten a deal vs AU.
Also others get deals for various reasons - merit, ethnicity, hs performance - you don’t know why. And that bummed you when you learn of those kids. But it’s irrelevant and you will find the same in life. Other ms may work less but get more promotions etc.
Normally a school will ensure aid keeps up with tuition increases but you said your family income fell. Show them. But they don’t guarantee to meet need. And many profs telling you that you’re top - that’s great. But let’s be honest - in college, like hs, many keep a 4.0
Tell us how much your tuition is after aid and your home state. And I’m guessing we can find you lower cost alternatives.
As for RA - are you assured of this ?
What happened is a fairly well-known socio economic bias: lower income or first gen kids, as well as kids from rural areas, underestimate themselves academically. Tjey know their school wasn’t as competitive as that of top achievers admitted to their college. They may not think in terms of capability and not realized sustained, hard work will serve them well. They may have imposter syndrome and don’t think their capabilities are as good as other, more privileged peers (who may take some things, like college, for granted).
You proved them wrong. At AU, a 4.0 probably places you at the very top of your class (a 3.8 places you at the top of your class).
At this point, with such a GPA, you’d be able to transfer to Georgetown and, if admittted, pay less, because they meet need.
Btw Im serious about transferring to G’Town if push comes to shove bc the school is well known in many fields and it may be less expensive for you.
Plus, if you bring that sad fact up (sad bc you don’t want to transfer, bc you like AU and wouldn’t even think of transferring if FA had kept up), it may make sense for AU to try and keep you.
Are you in SIS?
Meet with the Dean and email professors in case your Dept has funds for top students-they tend to go to juniors and seniors but sometimes rising sophomores can be eligible
This would be wonderful, but keep in mind, RA jobs can not be counted on. They are competitive jobs on most college campuses because of the waiver of housing costs. But good luck to you…maybe that will work out.
Still, it doesn’t solve the problem of the upcoming year.
I agree with transfer. We don’t know the student’s need situation though. We do know, to them, it’s not affordable and we can likely find lower cost opportunities, at schools that meet need for transfer if they deem the level of need at a level that will help the student or at schools that have lower tuition than OP pays - if they’d share that info.
If OP plans to ride out AU regardless, that’s a choice they and the family will make and I imagine will have increased parental loans and stress on the day to day life.