Do costs covered by my dads company count in parents annual income in FAFSA/CSS Profile?

@thumper1 the thing is that USC claims that they meet full need, and they are clearly not meeting anything close to my need especially with all the current changes in my situation. Thats why I am looking to appeal.

@CTTC @mom2collegekids I got to UF but I am an out of state student and its 30k cheaper than USC per year. I feel like I would get better opportunities at USC than UF. Also, I wanna live in a city and have a better lifestyle. USC will have more options to work in LA, which I would love to do. I wanna be an industrial engineer.

You need to pause. You’re not going to get the loans you need because your parents won’t qualify.

Stop making threads about transferring to schools (UF, USC, etc) when you will not have the funds to pay.

Are you sure that your parents can continue to pay for your current school (about half of USC) when they don’t have jobs?? What are they SAYING??? Please ask them!!!

You’re an eng’g major? Are you going to a state Univ?

@mom2collegekids I go to UF and yea Im an engineering major.

OP, you need to come understand that when a school says it “meet need” it is need as the school calculates it, not what you say you can’t pay. Also, as a rule transfers do not get anywhere near the aid that Freshman get.



$120k in loans is insane.

Get your degree at UF. It sounds like it might be affordable for your family.

USC costs are about $70,000 a year. You sound like you are planning to fund most of that with loans. That is not sound financial planning…oh…and you are actually expecting your PARENTS to take out those loans. They don’t have jobs right now…and you think taking out huge loans is their priority?

You are attending a fine college. The engineering program is fine. TBH, the ONLY thing USC brings is a higher cost…oh…and the ability to live in CA.

Get your degree. See if you maybe can get an internship next summer in CA.

Did your parents even know you were applying to transfer? Did they support this HUGE increase in costs (I happen to think that $30,000 a year more is anyuge increase…especially for parents who are paying the rest…and are currently jobless).

Stay where you are. I sure hope you didn’t already withdraw fro UF.

And thank you for (finally) adding the detail that you are a transfer student. That being the case…disregard my suggestions of a gap year.

If finances are troublesome for 2017-2018, you could ask UF for a leave of absence for that academic year.

@thumper1 no I didn’t withdraw. My parents are actually making me take the loans myself if I go to USC. I just think USC is way better than UF. Idk If going to UF will open any doors for me in california in the future. The only good thing about going to UF is that everything is cheaper and I won’t take any loans.

@greenpotatoe who do they think will loan you that much money?

IIRC, most schools don’t give much to transfer students.

@3scoutsmom We are trying to figure that out.

Don’t forget the sibling following close behind, who also wants to go to college.

If it’s hard paying for one, how much more when two are in college.

@greenpotatoe

YOU won’t be able to take $40,000 a year in loans…at all…without a qualified cosigner. Unemployed parents will likely NOT qualify as a cosigner for these loans. What lending agency would lend money to folks none of whom have jobs?

USC seems to meet full need for transfer students BUT…they determined you do NOT have financial need…as did all of the other colleges you listed above.

I just can’t imagine how you think you are going to get these loans as a student…because you WILL need a qualified cosigner to do so.

OP- take a deep breath. Nobody is lending you that kind of money-- nobody. I’d love to dance with the Bolshoi ballet but it’s not happening, so every minute I spend pining after the Bolshoi is a minute I’m not spending creating a realistic plan- save my money, buy a subscription to a local ballet company and see every production, volunteer to help aspiring dancers, etc.

every minute you spend wondering if you are getting more money from USC (you may- an extra 3K? 5K? but it’s not going to be more than that) is a minute you are spending NOT creating a workable Plan B.

You have gotten terrible advice by applying as a transfer to schools which are not generous to transfer students, plus your family’s complicated financial situation. But you can fix it. Figure out what you need to do NOW to get a job next summer in California, live the life you want to live. What courses do you need to take, which professors do you want to meet who can help you?

Move on.

If your parents have lost their jobs, did you appeal the FA awards? You need to do that through each school’s FA office.

@twoinanddone I am in the process of appealing. Also, is income reported after or before taxes?

Before taxes

When did your parents lose their jobs? The school will be asking for proof of this and whether they were given severance packages.

BTW…i hope you haven’t cut ties with your current university. Are you signed up for Fall classes at your current university?

@mom2collegekids Beginning of June. I will send them proof of this, as well as all the other expenses that come with this.

Since your parents are teachers, the schools might think that they’ll likely get new jobs for the new school year. If this is unlikely for some reason, make sure you document that.

@mom2collegekids I am already enrolled in classes, but thats my last resort.