<p>I got into the school of my choice ED, and have found out that the government and school think we can pay 35,000 dollars, however in NJ this is not much of a discount because of living costs. My parents can pay about 15,000 dollars a year and I will work and earn about 5,000. Hopefully I can get some scholarships, but if not I will be at a debt of 60,000 by the time I graduate. Has anyone asked the school to resconsider FA and has it been successful? Thanks!</p>
<p>Problem is that you applied ED. This is the downside. I live in NJ too. I know that in NC, for example, the property taxes on a home can easily be 1/10 of what the ave. homeowner in NJ is paying. No, I do not have statistics to back that up, just some personal knowledge. Sad, isn't it! The cost of living on the same income is so much lower. Salaries in NC are not really lower than they are in NJ. I know that none of this helps you. I don't have answers, and I wish I did. Let us know the outcome.</p>
<p>Did you have a backup plan if the ED school was too expensive? Dumping the ED will eliminate many schools as options, but you should have some states and a few privates available.</p>
<p>The cost of the school is now 43,750. 48% got around 15,000 in grants. Most people it seems are paying a heavy sum to attend, whether they applied ED or not. I know this does not help much either.</p>
<p>I will be attending and I will be paying, but I'd prefer to make the damage minimal :). I'd rather attend Wake with 60,000 in debt than go anywhere else. The 60,000 is the worst case scenerio anyway. I'm just a bit surprised they weren't more generous with aid as their financial resources rank fifth among universities. But if anyone knows anything about appealing FA I'd like to know :) Thanks anyway scottaa and northeastmom :)</p>
<p>All you can do is try. Unfortunately schools do evaluate your family ability to take on debt, not your family ability to have ready cash to pay. Unless you have some circumstances, like high medical expenses, care of elderly relative, recent job loss or something to that extent, school will not be willing to negotiate. You can take a year off and earn some money for your college, maybe even pick up few courses at local community college and finish earlier?</p>
<p>I guess that Wake got the goods on you and made an offer that is reasonable to you. I'd call that good business planning.</p>
<p>I think that a $60000 debt is way too much.</p>