Can you cite a link for the 4k? The only thing I can find is this link
https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/loans/subsidized-unsubsidized#how-much
The second column says ‘Independent students (and dependent students whose parents are unable to obtain Plus Loans)’ and the figure is 12,500 for 3rd year and on.
OP, I don’t see how this all adds up either, are you arranging Off campus cheaper housing?
re PhD programs:
In the biosciences, if you are admitted to a PhD program, you should be offered full support in exchange for some teaching and/or research responsibilities. Yes your loans will continue to accumulate interest, but the principal will be deferred. Depending on your actual living expenses, you may have some spare change left over each month to throw at the loans to keep the interest under control.
@happymomof1 Is a psych PhD a bioscience PhD?
I wouldn’t count on the stipend being enough to have money left-over each month to put towards loan interest. Stipends are often not enough to even cover living expenses. And, with this student’s GPA, it’s doubtful that they’d get into a school that has a more generous stipend. We saw stipend offerings that ranged from $13k per year to $25k…with $25k being more rare and requiring tippy top GPA and GRE scores.
It would be very hard for a grad student to live on $13k per year. typically, the student has to take on additional loans to cover COA. A funded PhD program does not mean the COA is covered.
Brownparent is right with the loan figures. A dependent junior and senior can have a 5k increase in the unsubsidized loan when there is a PLUS denial on file.
@mom2collegekids - Psychology could be bioscience or social science depending on the direction of the research. If it is basic research then it should be fully funded even if it is a social science. If it is a doctorate that is directed toward counseling or the like, then the student might be stuck paying for all of it and should shop around very carefully for programs that have excellent career placement. Given how tough the job market is for PhDs in every field after they graduate, it is foolish for anyone to accept admission unless it comes with full support.
Any PhD program worth going to is going to cover your tuition and fees plus give you enough to live on. Not well but enough to survive, certainly. Plus, depending on the school, some even offer scholarships to help you cover interest on loans while you’re a PhD student (this is not something I’d count on, but it’s something to keep in mind).
I really can’t imagine a scenario where going to an unfunded or poorly funded PhD program would be a good career move.
This kid is trying to figure out undergrad. Financing grad school is nice, but first things first.
OP have you asked if you could be assigned as an RA or some other student counseling position? This might give you free room and possibly board. If it’s too late for this semester or this year, you may want to try for it for next year.
Since OP has never attended his school (coming in as a first time transfer) his chances of getting a RA position this year are slim and none. Most positions require that you have lived in the dorms at leat one year before applying.Even if he were attending school there, it is a very competitive process to get an RA position, especially if the position covers the cost of room and board.
Not all schools provide room and board with their RA positions (I know that my D’s college did not provide room or board and it was still one of the most competitive job to get on campus).
Hello,
I’ve arranged an interview in a lab for an research assistant position the first week of classes. It’s an unpaid position that can be taken for credit.
A resident assistantship job is probably an excellent idea. I need to look into that more.
I plan on continuing my recent “4.0” grade average from this point forward to the best possible extent that I can.
UC’s give out a new GPA after transferring, and so I have an opportunity to earn great grades from this point forward. I feel no need to sulk over my old grades at community college. I am perfectly capable of excelling both at UCI and on the GRE.
I am in the cognitive science department officially, and may decide to double major in a BA of Psychology as well as a BS in Cognitive Science with an emphasis on Cognitive Neuroscience.
I’m looking at Developmental Psychology PhD programs and I see no reason why I couldn’t make it into even the most competitive schools. I am also interested in MSW programs and Clinical Psychology PhD’s. I am fully aware that MSW’s are never fully funded. I am also aware that any program worth their salt will fund my PhD whether it is Developmental or Clinical.
I don’t appreciate the talk about me not being capable of accomplishing x or y; I simply started this thread to discuss the additional federal loan options for when a Parent PLUS loan is denied.
So, what are your options now for paying the balance that will be owed?
sibbie719 I know that the chances are slim for this year, but it’s worth looking into. As he’s a cognitive/psych major, counseling of some sort might be good for his resume and would be helpful financially.
I know not all RA positions compensate in any way other than preferential housing, and that’s why I used the words “might” for free room and “possibly” for board. Never hurts to ask or at least get the particulars for applying for next year.
Well.
My housing is only $650 a month for 9 months: totalling $5850.
I haven’t signed up for a meal plan since I have a kitchen to cook in because I’m technically living in a “theme house” designed for Religious Studies majors. I can save quite a lot by shopping at the local Safeway this way (right?).
I haven’t heard back about the additional loan from UCI.
So, the total I need to pay tomorrow (15th) is $2,493.49.
I’ll need to pay an additional $1300 over two months for the cost of housing this quarter. My housing is due the 15th of each month, so $650 Oct. 15th and $650 Nov. 15th, bringing the total for Fall to $3,793.49. This is including a $2,474 credit from my $7500 federal loan.
So, it looks like the total out of pocket amount on tuition and housing + fees will only be $11,380.47. That’s quite a lot less than UCI “estimates” on their website.
This is the amount I’d pay if I don’t ever sign up for a meal plan, and so I’d have to factor in the cost of food bought from the grocery store, and of course books. I’d guess $500 per quarter on textbooks and $200 a month on food? I’m actually not sure how much I should estimate on groceries for myself – I’ve never really needed to buy myself food so… Maybe $200 a month for groceries ($600 per quarter on food then?)
If I estimate $500 for books, per quarter, and $600 for food, per quarter, then that adds $3300 to my total out of pocket costs. Making my total estimated cost (without incidentals or clothing) $14,580.47 annually. Which, now that I look at it, seems quite low?
I guess living in the theme house helps cut costs on room & board.
If I add my Federal Loan to my total estimated out of pocket expenses, the total becomes $22,080.47 annually. Keep in mind I have also waived health insurance, saving myself another $499 per quarter.
I may have also been too conservative with the cost of food, but the meal plans are very expensive at ~$1500 per quarter ($500 per month) for 14 meals per week and ~$1600 per quarter ($533.33 per month) for unlimited access to all you can eat dining halls. This means that the meal plans are more than twice as expensive as my estimated cost of groceries from a grocery store. Which either means that my estimate is too conservative, or that UCI serves some really good food at the dining halls.
In any case, It’s beginning to look as though I might just be able to afford tuition, fees and housing without the help of additional loans. I guess I’ve never sat down with anyone to go through the details. Thanks for helping to do that here.
My Dad claims to have the $1000 he promised. My mom seems to be onboard with her promise of $3300 per quarter, plus $500 for books, (so really $3800 per quarter I suppose). I also overheard that she just got a bonus and a raise, and so that’s great news for us. I guess if I am correct with my assumption that groceries will only be $200 per month it seems as though I have enough to cover my costs (right?).
Again,
Where is this money coming from? If you don’t have the money, you wont be able to stay on campus.
What about transportation? Health insurance fees? Activity fees? Cooking utensils? House supplies? Pocket money?
Uhh, well, I am going to ride my bike everywhere. I’ve been biking in place of driving a car within a 10 mile radius for the past year now. I find I really enjoy biking opposed to driving.
The money is coming from my parents. My dad is going to write a check of $1000 to my mom and my mom is going to wire transfer the full amount to UCI through my “zot account.” I’m in the process of making her guest account now.
My mom will make the payments through the guest account while I am at school to pay the monthly cost of housing.
I’ve waived health insurance fees as I’m covered through my mom’s employment up to age 25.
Cooking utensils… well. I don’t know. I might need to bring some basic stuff with me like frying pans, a couple pots and I guess I’ll have to hope they have barbecues for students to use.
Aunt Bea:
Activity fees… I plan on using the ARC (rec center, which tuition covers), and I guess I plan on riding my bike to Huntington beach once in a while. I mean, the beach is free… I’m not sure what I’d spend money on when you say activities? Could you elaborate a little more?
House supplies are a given. I’ll need toiletries regardless of where I live.
Look, like I said before, cost isn’t out of reach for my parents, my situation has more to do with rocky relationships more than anything else. I know for a fact that 90% of families dead set on sending their kids to college who made the same amount of money that my mom and step-dad do wouldn’t have a problem doing so. My mom just likes to have money to do stuff with. She’s a typical “keeping up with the Joneses” type. I have never really liked that about her, but ya know.
My dd is at a UC; the activity fees cover the ARC. Maybe it’s different at UCI. Some fees cover bike registrations in case the bike gets stolen.
Southern California traffic in OC is a nightmare.
We make too much money for aid, so we pay everything in cash. We don’t spend on luxuries and we find it hard to keep up with the costs paying for two full tuitions. I know a lot of parents who have decent salaries, who go without vacations and luxury items in order to pay their kids tuitions; you can’t assume that most people can afford it.
Your parents are NOT legally obligated to pay for your education.
The fact that you’re relying on loans to pay for most of your education sounds really scary given the payback and uncertainty for grad school.
Ride your bike to Newport Beach - it’s much closer than Huntington Beach. There is also a ferry over to Balboa Island and the Fun Zone from Newport Beach.
Your estimate of $200/month on food sounds low. That’s $2.22/meal, or $3.33 if you never eat breakfast (not advised).
College students can be very cleaver at getting free food. Work at a food place, eat at the spaghetti dinner offered by the religious groups (or soup, or donuts and coffee). That’s a tight budget, but it can be done.