So is that about $12k each school after Pell grant and $5.5k federal loans, and any state/institutional aid/grants?
Here are my NPC results for Mason… It asked zero questions about my academic background though, so I don’t know how it can be accurate… And my income is basically half of the $30,000 mark.
Academic Year: 2013-14
Estimated tuition and fees $28,594
- Estimated room and board charges
(Includes rooming accommodations and meals)
$10,730 - Estimated cost of books and supplies $985
- Estimated other expenses
(Personal expenses, transportation, etc.) $3,577
Estimated total cost of attendance: $43,886
- Estimated total grant aid:
(Includes both merit and need based grant and scholarship aid from Federal, State, or Local Governments, or the Institution)
$12,645
Estimated Net Price After Grants and Scholarships: $31,241
Any chance you can commute to any of these schools?
Yes, I believe so @Madison85
They are both an hour away, and I could not do that in a Maine winter @thumper1
So when you say the two instate schools are relatively affordable, where will you get $12k per year from?
Community college within commuting distance to your home?
Summer job savings?
Agreed…an hour commute in the winter in Maine is NOT good.
Does Maine have any need based state aid for low income students?
I have no idea where I will get that from. They are just the two cheapest options… UMaine and NESCOM I guess, but in a Maine winter that would be basically impossible. I don’t really consider an hour commuting distance though… And they both have policies that first years have to live on campus unless they are within 30 miles.
I’m not sure, I don’t believe so. But I could be wrong @thumper1
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Here are my NPC results for Mason… It asked zero questions about my academic background though, so I don’t know how it can be accurate… And my income is basically half of the $30,000 mark.
Academic Year: 2013-14
Estimated tuition and fees $28,594
- Estimated room and board charges
(Includes rooming accommodations and meals)
$10,730 - Estimated cost of books and supplies $985
- Estimated other expenses
(Personal expenses, transportation, etc.) $3,577
Estimated total cost of attendance: $43,886
- Estimated total grant aid: (Includes both merit and need based grant and scholarship aid from Federal, State, or Local Governments, or the Institution) $12,645 ***
Estimated Net Price After Grants and Scholarships: $31,241
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Right, it doesn’t ask about stats, BUT, you already know what your merit award is from GMU. The school seems to have an auto award of about $8k because it’s already figured it into the $12,645 ****
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Today I was accepted into my dream school with a $32,000 over 4 years scholarship
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You’re going to be badly gapped. You’ll also get a $5500 loan which will still leave you with about $25k uncovered.
THAT is the problem. You have no way to pay that roughly $25k.
Most schools will NOT care that your mom’s income is roughly half the amount that your family is expected to pay. I know that seems crazy, but that’s how things often work.
I was told by a financial aid officer that came to my school, that if I loved it, it would be worth going as long as I took out less than $80,000 in loans. So I am just very confused.
And I definitely do not believe that the 8k is an auto award because there were many students who were accepted into honors college such as I with merit scholarships of only $16,000
Try to talk about aid in annual terms, as that is the unit that costs are expressed in. Wait until your full package is in.
You can only borrow 5,500 freshman year. Your parents are not in a position to cosign loans that is just as well because it isn’t reasonable to pay loans on a journalist meger starting salary. The size of loans you are talking about actually isn’t reasonable for any intended major. But you will especially need to be free to pick up and move anywhere there is a helpful job offer.
GMU has a very simple calculator, it doesn’t ask for gpa and sat.
Academic Year: 2013-14
Estimated tuition and fees $28,594
- Estimated room and board charges (Includes rooming accommodations and meals) $10,730
- Estimated cost of books and supplies $985
- Estimated other expenses (Personal expenses, transportation, etc.) $3,577
Estimated total cost of attendance: $43,886
- Estimated total grant aid:
(Includes both merit and need based grant and scholarship aid from Federal, State, or Local Governments, or the Institution) $12,645
Estimated Net Price After Grants and Scholarships: $31,241
Here just for info is the NPC for George Washington University which I ran by accident:
Estimated Total Cost of Attendance $ 66660
Tuition & Fees $ 50785
Room & Board $ 12050
Books & Supplies $ 1275
Transportation $ 1050
Personal Expenses $ 1500
Estimated Total Grant/Gift Aid $ 47775
Estimated Federal Pell Grant $ 5775
Federal Grant $ 2000
Institutional Grant $ 40000
ESTIMATED NET PRICE $ 18885
Estimated Total Self Help $ 9200
Student Loan $ 7000
Student Work $ 2200
ESTIMATED REMAINING COST
$ 9685
I just don’t get how I would go to college anywhere then… Even at the cheap schools in Maine, I would still have $12,000 left to pay…
YOU can’t take out $80k in loans.
As it stands, you can’t afford the two instate schools, either.
Can you ask your high school guidance counselor about state grants?
How will YOU take out $80,000 in loans? You won’t be able to do that…at all. Not without a cosigner. Your mom likely won’t qualify. She does not have sufficient income.
Your mom could apply for a Parent Plus loan…but really…do you think it’s wise to place your mom in the position of taking $20,000 or more a year in loans for you to attend college? That is more than her annual income.
Please think about this. Don’t bury your mom in debt.
$80,000 in loans will be about $900 a month in repayment for ten years. We know a broadcast journalist who felt very lucky to get ANY job. She is earning…$25,000 a year. Yep…that is her salary…and she is thrilled. But she has NO college loans.
My mom won’t help me pay for college. So I will not be burying her in debt.
I just don’t understand why I was told that though, from a financial aid officer at one of the schools I applied to…
It’s really frustrating because I worked so hard in high school, and still I have no clue how I will attend college even though it has been my goal since I knew what it was.
This might all work out…but then again, it might not. You definitely have a full Pell Grant, most likely…and the $5500 Direct Loan. That is $11,000. Add to that any grants you get from the schools directly.
It sounds like you have $20,000 or more from Franklin Pierce…without the Pell and Direct Loan. And if you got SEOG also, you would be closer.
You need to file your FAFSA ASAP after January 1. Get it done then.
Some of your schools also require the CSS Profile, and may require your dad’s info as well via the non-custodial parent form.
Just be prepared to get this all done as soon as possible after January 1.
I am doing the FAFSA January 1st. It’s just so hard to plan for college, without knowing where I will be or if I can even attend. I HAVE to attend college though, so it’s just really hard.
Have you been working and saving money from a job?
Before the winter really starts, get yourself down to UMaine and other in-state options and talk to the financial aid office about your eligibility for various programs for low income residents. If that does not yield something you can afford by working summers, work-study on campus, and the $5500 per year loan, you may need to attend a school in commuting distance. Community college credits should transfer easily to the 4 year schools and you will save the $12K out of pocket cost and getting loans.
Some private universities do meet full-need and even have very low to no cost options for very low income students, but you would need to find some that you would be an attractive candidate for.
You should still check the automatic full tuition websites and see if there are any options from those that you meet the requirements for and have not missed deadlines for. For example, if say Howard would give you a full-ride, you could get a good education and also be in DC and meet interesting people that are probably not what you are used to in Maine, all good things for a writer.