<p>So right now its April 19th, and I'm really starting to worry about getting my Finaid package. I've been admitted and everthing with a big fat letter since about 3 weeks ago and I have emailed the admissions office, but sadly no reply -_-</p>
<p>I"m really starting to stress as I need to make a decision soon. Right now my choices are between CMU and USC. USC admitted and have been offered a 50,000 finaid and scholarship package every year. Tuition is about 53,000ish. </p>
<p>Does anyone know if Carnegie will maybe give me that same amount? My EFC is 0, I have 6 people in my family including me, 2 of which are attending college. Adding me that makes 3 people in college. Next year my two younger brothers will also be attending college, and my mom makes about 31,000 thousand a year. What are my chances of getting that same finaid package from USC at CMU? I've just found the thread on appealing finaid packages and I know USC isn't on the peer list but still what are my chances of appealing and getting that amount? @_@</p>
<p>Oh and my last question finaid aside.</p>
<p>USC or CMU??? (I've been admitted for architecture to both schools)</p>
<p>Does CMU know about USC’s package? You should tell them. If the offer is similar I’d lean toward going to the school in the city where you are more likely to practice or the one with teachers who architecture you admire. In general you’ll find it easier to get jobs through word of mouth from your professors. If there’s a big difference I’d go to the less expensive school - architects don’t make enough to warrant being saddled with a big debt.</p>
<p>CMU’s package isn’t very promising.
I also have efc 0, yet i only got like 23k in grants. I am, however, a waitlistee, so that might have been a diff?</p>
<p>USC should be the right choice for you. It’s almost full tuition… I don’t think CMU can match that</p>
<p>Mt914, make sure you are comparing the grants with grants and loans with loans…i.e. how much “free money” will you get from each school. If the other school doesn’t offer you as much in loans, you can likely borrow it anyways. If a school offers you $30K in high interest loans, that’s not much of a deal and I wouldn’t even consider that in the offer. I hope you get a good package from CMU, I know they openly match other offers. I would fax them a copy of all your best offers and politely ask them if they would be willing to match them. We did that, and they reviewed it that same day (but no answer yet).</p>
<p>And REN…$23K/yr that you don’t have to pay back is alot, alot of money. My son will get nothing in financial aid and probably nothing in merit. Leaving either him with 200K in loans or us with a big dent in our savings. You’ll probably get as good/ better paying job than he will, and have $92K less debt at the end. Of course, nothing beats a free education, but CMU is offering you alot of money towards a first class education. And back in the good old days, we either joined the military to get our schooling paid for, or took loans and worked in the summer. I don’t know anyone who got it for free.</p>
<p>so I just got my financial aid package from Carnegie its about 45,00ish with about 5,000 in loans and tuition for me is about 51,000. Thanks for everyone’s advice so far. I’ll be sure to contact the financial aid office and ask them about matching USC’s offer. </p>
<p>If they do match it though which one should I go to @<a href="mailto:@">@</a>. Does anyone know which program is better? For me, I’m majoring in architecture. Any suggestion?</p>
<p>Hey well i’m majoring in Architecture this fall, i’m basically in the same boat as you… Carnegie mellon was my first choice college, but they rejected me. USC accepted me so i visited their campus/receptions/open houses and realized that they’ve actually got a very strong architecture program. Especially with their whole “trojan” family/network, the alumni are always anxious in hiring USC grads. I spoke to a USC architecture student who was finishing up her 5th/last year, and she told me taht all of her friends including she had a job lined up for her and that she was working for Boeing. I think USC is a better choice even if i got accepted to CMU; because they’re in LA, you will get GREAT connections to firms… Location is VERY important when you’re breaking down college choices. USC also has that ridiculous school pride that CMU lacks; they’re strong in many things other than architecture, while i personalyl think CMU is just filled with engineering/academic nerds + great opera/performing arts. I think CMU lacks the school pride and vivid college life USC has. feel free to msg me. hoep to see you in the USC architecture studio this fall =)</p>