What are your stats?
Not amazing, but not that bad.
3.8 GPA, 2130 SAT (740M, 730W, 660R)
ECs: On the swim team for 4 years through high school
Community service for 2 years during the summer
Taught underprivileged kids in my senior year
Took french classes for 4 years
Tennis classes for the last two years
And, I have some academic awards which I got in the sophomore and senior years
And, I think my LORs are pretty strong.
That’s it really
You have stats for Alabama full tuition and almost for Temple (need 1420 SAT M/R). Can you work full time starting now and save to help cover expenses for next fall?
What is your FAFSA EFC? It should be clearly noted on that SAR…which is generated based on the FAFSA info.
I’m confused. You got $32,300 for the spring semester in grants fromBoston University? Or not?
You can’t take out large loans. There are limits. For freshman year the limit is $5500.
Nope, its stated as semester wise. I’ve gotten 16150 for one semester. So that’s double for the year, while their complete fee is 65k. I can’t really afford the gap in tuition, so I won’t be joining.
And yes, on the SAR, the EFC is 05233, but on Umass Amherst its double, being 10500
@Madison85
Thanks for replying!
Yes I realize that. My dad will be applying for the PLUS loans, and if it’s still not covering it, he’ll co-sign a private loan with me
Be aware that he may not qualify for Parent Plus loans and co-signing private loans in future years. If that happens, how would you finish your degree?
Your FAFSA EFC is over $5000 which means you don’t qualify for a Pell Grant at all. The only guaranteed need based aid you will receive from any college is $5500 in Direct Loans.
Some schools will,award additional need based grants…but any school,that does not meet full need cant be counted on to do so.
None of your schools meet full need. Their costs vary wildly. That is why you are seeing huge differences in your net costs to attend.
This is what you wrote in yoir first post ,
Was that a typo? Did you mean to write they had offered you this amount for the YEAR?
Also, if you are enrolling in college in January, why would,a school,award you aid for,the full year? They wouldn’t.
So,did BU award you $16150 for this year…for one semester?
Then get a job. Without a doubt your best bet is reapplying for next fall with schools that meet need or give good merit aid. Some have already been listed here.
Is the UMass Amherst number the EFC or the Net Price? Net Price is EFC (which may be the same as FAFSA EFC or may not be, depending on what the school uses) plus the student contribution (the federal direct loan and work earnings they expect you to contribute) plus any unmet need.
Guys!! Umass Amherst finally understood their mistake or whatever, and changed my EFC amount to $4680 instead of $10546 this morning! Maybe I just got lucky after posting this! I understand they don’t meet full need, but at least it does give me a higher chance.
@thumper1
Yes. I’m sorry I guess that was a typo. Because the other 16150, is stated for the fall semester and the other 16150 for the spring. When I talked to BU, they said only 16150 would be credited into my account this year. I don’t know why they’ve mentioned the fall semester to begin with.
@ucbalumnus
Thanks for replying!
I’m not too sure about that or the net price. But it did say EFC (Calulated from fafsa) 10546. But now, this morning, the same EFC (calculated from fafsa) says 4680. I think they fixed it, or something.
@“Erin’s Dad”
Thanks for replying!
Yes that was my initial plan, but when I talked to the universities (BU, umass) they told me that the financial aid of the fall at their schools was extremely similar to their spring aid. I talked to many counselors at Umass, and they said they get half of their undergrads in the spring, so they do have a budget and housing kept for the spring. So I thought I could just get started with my degree.
So is UMass Amherst now affordable? Or you haven’t seen the actual financial aid package yet, only the recalculated EFC?
@OHMomof2
Thanks for replying!
Yea that’s correct. I haven’t seen the package yet, only the recalculated EFC. Umass Lowell’s package changed too, it’s now instate after the appeal.
Well that’s promising at least. Let us know how it goes.
Let us know the aid package. All you reduced FAFSA EFC means really is that you will get about $1000 a year in Pell Grant dollars. It doesn’t mean UMass will give you additional funds, and it still might not make the school affordable.