<p>Last year when my son applied to USC, I sent an email to USC financial aid asking about filing electronically. They said you can print your tax returns and sign it and fax it in OR you can just send in the electronically filed returns. Last year I just faxed the electronically filed returns without the signature. This year you can submit returns electronically to USC or fax it. TurboTax saves the returns as a PDF. If you send that electronically, there would be no signature. I will look for the email I received for their exact response. This year I did the same.</p>
<p>Thanks for the information! That will save a bunch of printing and FAXing!</p>
<p>Bumping for applicants with new questions about financial aid. PLEASE go back and read pages one and two of this thread for LOTS of answers to common questions, deadline information, and financial aid contact information. Then, if your question still hasn’t been answered - post away!!!</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>this needs a good bump.</p>
<p>Hi, Thanks for all the information regarding financial aid at USC. Want to know if there would be a difference in calculating the financial aid package for the direct medical program student at USC vs. a student with regular admission ? Appreciate any related info.</p>
<p>I am not sure what the direct medical program is - is it the BA/MD combined program? If so, there should be no difference in financial aid calculatoins for the four undergraduate years from that of any other undergraduate.</p>
<p>The graduate years will be very different, however. Graduate students are considered “independant” in financial aid calculations, but in most cases there is no grant aid available for medical school. Graduate students can borrow Stafford loans of up to $20,500, $8,500 of which may be subsidized, and Grad PLUS loans for up to the cost of attendance minus any Stafford loans or other aid.</p>
<p>If the direct medical program is different than the BA/MD, then I do not have any information for you. Your best bet is to contact the Financial Aid office. Contact info appears on page one of this thread.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Yes, I was referring to BA/MD program in my post. So that answers my question and thanks for the prompt response. </p>
<p>I have seen similar queries on financial aid before but want to know if USC, in particular gives out 100% of the financial need. For example, if the cost of attendance of USC is ~55K and my EFC is 35K, how much of the 20K (55K - 35K) can I expect in scholarships and grants vs. repayable loans ? Is there a way to predict it ahead of time ? Thanks again</p>
<p>USC guarantees to meet 100% of USC-determined need. The tricky part is that they use both the FAFSA and the CSS/Profile to come up with the USC-determined need, so the amount you are expected to contribute may differ from your FAFSA EFC.</p>
<p>For most students, using your FAFSA EFC plus about 5.6% of your home equity (see the first two pages of this thread for more details) will give you a good idea of the amount you and your family will be expected to contribute. Some students will have more complicated financial situations and details, so be aware these are just estimates.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>alamemom might be able to better answer. USC uses the CSS/Profile which takes into account assets and home equity. Your EFC may be more for USC than stated from FAFSA.
Generally, they would probably start with Stafford Loans, both subsidized and unsubsidized. The max for freshman would be $5500. Then add work study, maybe about $2500. That comes to $8000. Depending on what USC says your EFC is, if there is any remaining difference, it may be a grant.</p>
<p>msheft, your answer was PERFECT! You are officially deputized!</p>
<p>Thanks, alamemom and msheft. Good to know that they start with Stafford Loans (both subsidized and unsubsidized), work study and only then consider giving out grants.</p>
<p>I have a few questions on filling the EFC estimator/calculator from college board at :</p>
<p>[EFC</a> Calculator: How Much Money for College Will You Be Expected to Contribute?](<a href=“http://apps.collegeboard.com/fincalc/efc_status.jsp]EFC”>http://apps.collegeboard.com/fincalc/efc_status.jsp)</p>
<p>and am wondering if you can provide some clarifications.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Do we specify the amount saved for education through 529 plans under the section ‘Parents Assets - cash, savings and checking’? If so, anything saved under 529 plans is equivalent to a parents savings account as far as Financial aid is concerned. Right?</p></li>
<li><p>If the child has money in UTMA plans, should it be mentioned under section ‘Students Assets - cash, savings and checking’?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Also, if there is a better/accurate EFC calculator than what Collegeboard suggests, please share with us.</p>
<p>Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>forcollege, you have it exactly right - 529 plans are considered parental assets and listed as a perent savings. UTMAs are listed as student assets.</p>
<p>The college confidential financial aid forum has links to lots of calculators - you might look around there. Collegeboard’s is a good one for the CSS/Profile, and the FAFSA 4Caster is good for the FAFSA [FAFSA4caster</a> - Federal Student Aid](<a href=“http://www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov/F4CApp/index/index.jsf]FAFSA4caster”>http://www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov/F4CApp/index/index.jsf)</p>
<p>It sounds like you are getting ready to apply next year - it is a GREAT idea to get started now. I always recommend the book “Paying for College Without Going Broke.” It is a great resource for preparing for financial aid applications.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>I know this is a really dumb question, but can we get financial aid if we dint apply for it? no, right?</p>
<p>There are no dumb questions!</p>
<p>You are correct, unless you apply for financial aid, USC will not put a package together for you. The good news is: USC is need-blind and is one of the few schools that will accept financial aid applications from all students - even those who did not indicate they would apply for aid in their application for admission.</p>
<p>If you submitted your FAFSA now, you would be eligible for all Federal aid (mainly Stafford loans and work/study). Submitting the CSS/Profile now would be a late application and USC does not guarantee to meet 100% of USC-determined need for late applicants. HOWEVER - there have been posts from a few students who submitted all applications after the deadlines and still were awarded all aid for which they were eligible.</p>
<p>If you think you may be eligible for aid, sumbit the FAFSA, CSS/Profile and student and parent tax returns+W2s as soon as possible. See page one of this thread for links.</p>
<p>*If you are a California resident who would have been eligible for Cal Grant if you had submitted the FAFSA by March 2nd, USC will typically NOT make up the $9,708 grant you would have received. It is your responsibility to apply for that grant on-time.</p>
<p>GOOD LUCK!</p>
<p>I am very nervous about my financial aid because they have not yet reviewed my parent’s W-2 forms or the expense declaration form for special circumstances; and they evaluated the tax returns on the 24th of March. I hope that doesn’t mean my aid will be reduced. The only consolation is that I did the CSS/FAFSA on time. I want to go to USC so badly this is worrying.</p>
<p>Don’t worry! You are an ON-TIME applicant. Your aid will not be reduced because of the dates they review your documents. I am absolutely CERTAIN of this.</p>
<p>I hope that it is a good thing my FAFSA/CSS were on time because I know they wanted the tax returns in the first two weeks of March or so and I only sent it last week :(</p>
<p>Thanks though. It’s just that I’m not feeling very confident at all reading some past financial aid posts. I would love to know my aid come April 1st but I think my financial aid notification date will be pushed back since they haven’t reviewed some stuff yet.</p>
<p>The tax retrun deadline is “March 2nd, or as soon as possible thereafter.” They prefer to get them early, but they understand that some families cannot file their taxes until later. The first financial aid packages do not usually post until the end of the first week of April. You should have your package well in advance of the May 1st commitment deadline. There will be many students who do not submit all documents until mid-April. Those will be the ones who may not have their packages before May 1st.</p>
<p>Okay thanks. I hope waiting 20 days is as soon as possible thereafter haha. Another quick stupid question from me…so if the three documents that are pending to be reviewed are reviewed either Monday or Tuesday for me, is it reasonable to expect a financial aid package at the end of the first week of April?</p>
<p>Thanks! You’ve been very helpful.</p>
<p>You’re welcome! :)</p>