<p>With USC being one of my top prospective choices, the cost of attending is a major worry of mine. I understand that USC has their own way of determining financial need and I wanted to see if anyone out there has had experience with their financial aid packages. How were they? Did they seem fair? How much did they include in loans?</p>
<p>Read the first two pages of this thread (currently pinned at the top of the form) for general info on how the packages are calculated and how much is offered in loans: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-southern-california/839970-faq-usc-financial-aid.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-southern-california/839970-faq-usc-financial-aid.html</a></p>
<p>Some people posted sample packages here: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-southern-california/909468-who-else-got-amazing-fa-package.html?highlight=who+got+amazing+financial+aid[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-southern-california/909468-who-else-got-amazing-fa-package.html?highlight=who+got+amazing+financial+aid</a>
More here: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-southern-california/917781-very-very-late-financial-aid-but-wow-help.html?highlight=late+financial+aid+wow[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-southern-california/917781-very-very-late-financial-aid-but-wow-help.html?highlight=late+financial+aid+wow</a></p>
<p>To be balanced, this thread includes some who were not happy with the aid they received: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-southern-california/1117190-usc-financial-aid.html?highlight=financial+aid+screwed[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-southern-california/1117190-usc-financial-aid.html?highlight=financial+aid+screwed</a></p>
<p>Thank you! Much appreciated</p>
<p>My FA package’s amazing. I only pay to live.</p>
<p>Bottom line is that USC will meet your need or come close to it if you have a need but if you are upper middle class expecting free tuition then you won’t get anything.</p>
<p>^ Individuals have varying, and sometimes somewhat inaccurate definitions of “middle class.” If your income is near the national median, ~$45,000/year, you can expect significant financial aid. I applaud parents who raise their children to identify with the “middle class” even when their incomes significantly exceed $45,000/year, but many who consider themselves to be middle class actually are in the top 25% or higher nationwide.</p>
<p>Regardless of your income level, you will find that college is expensive and may require scrimping and sacrifice. I often repeat that the aim of financial aid is NOT to make college “affordable,” it is to make college, with scrimping and sacrificing, just barely possible. Try to be patient as you wait for your financial aid package, and I hope all of you get enough to make USC possible. GOOD LUCK!</p>
<p>My advice is to meet all the deadlines, be honest with them about your ability to pay (really), and get to know one of the counselors. The latter is really important.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, USC, like every other fancy top private school these days, uses the “high cost / high aid” model, meaning that they charge an inflated sticker price to those who can afford it (i.e. hedge fund managers, investment bankers, and surgeons) and that premium is used to finance the financial aid for the rest of us. It drives me insane but unfortunately that’s how things are these days, and you are FAR from alone in sweating the cost of college. The bottom line, like I said, is to meet all the deadlines and be honest about your family’s assets. After you’re admitted if you do all of that then you’ll be fine.</p>
<p>BTW Lame Mom is absolutely right across the board. It’s particularly funny from a social class perspective as the “middle class” itself is a nominally elite group that gets a lot of attention because they VOTE in mass numbers, and it’s certainly elite by global standards.</p>