<p>Son applied to five Texas schools, 3 private, 2 public and FA packages are beginning to trickle in. Of course Texas is trying to plan a budget that intends to get rid of most state aid for college, at least for incoming freshmen, it would be really bad on those almost done to find out all of a sudden there is no money to finish with. Laying aside the fact that I dont understand how our governor can say on the one hand, education is very important, we need more Texans with college degrees and yet want to cut the very programs that help (and our state grant programs are not that good compared to other states) make that possible, the fact remains students have to commit by May 1st and the final legislation is not supposed to be known until sometime this summer, leaving the FA offices in a fine mess. </p>
<p>Son has heard from 3, two private and yesterday, A&M College Station. One private left out the disputed funding, admitting its a large part of their FA, and stating that if its not cut, theyll adjust packages this summer, but advising students to commit with the package as is. (This is Baylor and the aid package as is, is not doable for us, so theyre off the table, which is sad, as son liked them a lot). The other private, left the disputed funding in with a letter stating that if it is cut, the institution would most likely not be able to make it up. Son is in the running for a competitive scholarship there with an April 1st deadline and if that were to come through there is a slight possibility this package is doable, but the scholarship is only for two years, so well have to take that into account.</p>
<p>So far A&M has given the best package (of course its his least favorite school due to the size), they also left out the disputed funding, but COA is lower (we are 0 EFC), they only gapped $1982, which they provided a parent plus for, and they gave the maximum subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford and a $750.00 per semester Perkins loan. No work study, (he checked not sure on the FAFSA, as hes an intended engineering major and I wasnt sure about the feasibility of handling the freshman engineering weed-out classes w/a job) and the rest in a scholarship and institutional money. Since this is my second, I know the COA has some wiggle room in there, (for A&M Im not sure how much), so my thought is to skip the parent plus (due to job uncertainly I know Id be denied, and I wouldnt want him taking the additional unsub, I think I can directly give him what the monthly payments would amount to, as with no kids at home there are cuts that adults can do, that I wouldnt ask my kids to do), take the subsidized loan, leave the unsub, (I know we can add it back if he needs it during the semester) and with some work his summer he should manage. But what is a Perkins loan? It was not in the 2 private school packages, is it a public school only thing? Daughter has never had one in her FA package either. Is it subsidized?, carry a low interest rate? What is the difference between it and the Stafford?
We still have one Texas private, and a UT branch school where he interviewed for the honors program to hear from in-state and an OOS private to hear from, along w/2 OOS publics that we have gotten prelim reads on and I know they will also be options, but I really feel for the kids who had only Texas public schools and no financial safeties on their list. We have several in sons scout troop and I tried to talk to them and some parents about the need to include some other schools on their list, but didnt make much headway. Their parents didnt see the need, dont peruse CC and dont have good GC advice from their school, so Im thinking many will be out of luck or attending junior college. Were not talking tippy-top kids here, but theyre not slackers by any means, and its a shame good solid kids are going to be out of luck this fall. I might suggest a gap year to a couple, but who knows if it will get any better next year.</p>