<p>So I looked on the UCLA Financial Aid Website and it seems that eFANs are available after May 1st. This means that I won't know how much aid I'm receiving until AFTER I've committed. </p>
<p>I was wondering, how accurate is the ePAL estimate? I don't want to commit to UCLA only to find out that I will have to pay more than expected. </p>
<p>I am an out of state student and the cost of attendance for me is about 55000 dollars. My expected family contribution is roughly 10000 dollars.</p>
<p>From my experience, the ePAL and eFAN awards are pretty similar. It’s possible for things to change, but I think it’s an accurate estimate of what you’ll be receiving. It’s also possible for you to earn scholarships later on, and the Financial Aid Office may replace a loan with a scholarship (that has happened to me), and they’ll send you a new eFAN. Keep in mind that the Cost of Attendance may also be different from what you’ll need to spend because it depends on your living situation, amount you spend on textbooks, and additional expenses.</p>
<p>I’m not so sure, but current UCLA students haven’t received their eFAN for the next academic year yet, so it doesn’t surprise me that prospective students only get a provisional award letter.</p>
<p>My daughter is an in-state student, who was awarded aid with both UCSB and UCLA. The UCSB aid brought the total cost to about $20,000 while the UCLA aid brought the cost to about $24,000. </p>
<p>She wants to attend UCLA, but it’s frustrating trying to get a complete answer about the aid package and final cost of attendance. I’ve called the Fin Aid office 3 times, and each time, I’ve received slightly different answers. One person told me that the aid shown in the ePal is just merit-based aid and that once the student commits to UCLA, they will be awarded any needs-based aid. Yesterday, when I called back again, the Fin Aid representative said this answer was absolutely inaccurate and the aid we see on the ePal incorporates both merit and needs-based aid and is not likely to change. The very first person I spoke with awhile ago said the ePal aid amounts change all the time!! </p>
<p>So I’m not sure what to think…very frustrating. The rep I spoke w/yesterday suggested that we speak with someone at the financial aid office when we visit for Bruin Day so I guess we’ll do that. I hope we don’t get yet another answer. Fortunately, for us, the $4000 difference between the two schools is not going to make a difference in our daughter’s decision, but it’s still confusing as to what UCLA will actually end up providing in aid and it does seem reasonable to expect to have the total cost of attendance in hand before making a final decision.</p>
<p>Carsch: I understand your frustration! It seems a little odd to me that a school would require a student to commit and inform him or her of the financial aid package AFTER committing. Its also strange how no one will give you a straightforward answer!</p>
<p>I just hope I get a decent package that will allow me to attend UCLA…</p>
<p>Hope you get some answers and best of luck to you and your daughter!</p>
<p>In my experience, the ePAL is sufficiently similar to what you will receive when you attend UCLA. Once you register at UCLA, you will get an eFAN most likely during the summer, which is official and not provisionary. But the eFAN is subject to changes (you will be notified via email that you have a new eFAN ready for review). Changes for me have included a scholarship that will replace a loan.</p>
<p>The eFAN lists all the aid you are anticipated to receive (both merit and need-based). But you may still be awarded scholarships later on. If that happens, a loan should be replaced with that scholarship.</p>
<p>My advice is to take the ePAL numbers as what you’ll receive. There’s no more “need based aid” waiting for you.</p>
<p>Again, no current UCLA student has received his or her eFAN for the 2012-2013 academic year. I would not expect prospective students to have anything other than a provisional offer.</p>
<p>ITS SOOOO FRAUSTRATING! I sitting here wondering about the estimate so I just put my deposit in hoping that I would get more because its only about 7,000 more than what my parents are happy with/ willing to pay. I keep asking them, is the ePAL my final cost of attendance because I might not be able to afford it easily and all they do is ABSOLUTELY by pass the question saying we can’t offer anymore money and congratulations. -_-</p>