<p>Thank you everyone for such in-depth replies to my thread! My financial-aid appeal probably seemed like a petty ask for hand outs to all of you, and I just wanted to thank you all for your honesty. I am a beginner at this kind of stuff, and trying to figure it all out. At first, my financial report seemed completely intimidating, but I realize now that it is do-able. This is just the start of a long road of growing up for me, so thank you for your patience! Also, I will be continually applying for other scholarships, and also get a full-time job up up in NJ with my dad for the summer, so that as you all said, I will earn my money to pay for college! :)</p>
<p>When I responded, I didn’t realize you live in Florida, many many miles from USC. The $576 estimate for transportation is not even going to cover one trip home for Christmas. It’s unrealistic to think you aren’t going to go home once during the year, but this new information means you are looking at just one trip at Christmas. No thanksgiving, no breaks, no weekends to attend a friend’s wedding.</p>
<p>You have to decide if you want a life in southern California, because that’s where you will be. I also live in Florida and my kids like to go visit their friends in So Cal (we used to live there) and it takes an entire day to fly there (about 7 hours on average) and costs about $500-600. It is a major expense. My niece, on the other hand, goes to school in San Diego and it’s cheap and easy to fly back to Denver all the time.</p>
<p>Also, my 17 (now 18) year old has a job in Florida and makes about $9.50/hr, also earning about $100/wk. During breaks though, she can work 20-30 hours per week and take home goes up considerably. You need to get a job (or 2-3) where you can really earn a lot this summer because you’ll need it. There are a ton of jobs in Florida for the summer, especially in the tourist areas. It is not always fun, because it IS work. You can do it.</p>
<p>^^ Good for you. You sound like a mature and responsible student.</p>
<p>My D went far from home. She came home for winter break. In four years, she came home at thanksgiving twice but I bought the ticket as her birthday present. She came home one spring break and that was because she had friends who drove within 3.5 hours of our house and she caught a ride home. I went to visit her one spring break. </p>
<p>It wasn’t easy but when you go so far from home, you can only guarantee coming home once a year and summer. D came home one summer, she found employment near the school the other summers. </p>
<p>Let me start by saying, we were basically full pay parents. Kid had a small merit award. VERY small. </p>
<p>Our kid went to college 3000 miles away from home. She came home at Christmas break and for the summer ONLY. For Thanksgiving and Spring break, and any long weekends, she just had to make other arrangements. She sis have some relatives who invited her for some breaks, but not all. </p>
<p>Our kid knew up front that we would NOT be finding more than two trips home a year. She had to consider that when she chose colleges.</p>
<p>You are a Florida resident? Did you apply instate to any Florida schools where Bright Futures might come into play? </p>
<p>I do think your USC package makes the school affordable if you are very lean with your spending, make sure you get a job now, summer and during college. Conserve on other expenses such as books and personal expenses. </p>
<p>It would also be a good idea to find out before committing if your health insurance meets USC’s waiver requirements. <a href=“http://engemannshc.usc.edu/insurance/waivers/”>http://engemannshc.usc.edu/insurance/waivers/</a> If it does meet the minimums, be SURE to submit the waiver request or student insurance will automatically be added to your bill. If your own health insurance does not meet the minimums, the cost of student health insurance is $914 for Fall and $1,102 for Spring/Summer. <a href=“http://engemannshc.usc.edu/insurance/insurance-plan/”>http://engemannshc.usc.edu/insurance/insurance-plan/</a></p>
<p>@thumper1 I did apply to UF and received the highest Bright Futures, but still received a lot of loans from UF, which puts me pretty much in the same place as USC. I also missed the housing contract deadline because UF expects you to make a deposit on housing way before May 1st, even if you are not sure you are attending. If you break the contract they only give you a measly amount back, and I could not afford to throw money away like that since UF was nowhere near my first choice. It’s still an option, though, I guess.</p>
<p>This might be a stupid question, but do you know if dorms are closed for Spring Break?</p>
<p>@twoinanddone Is the $500-600 round trip or one way? Ha ha
I am just trying to write everything down and figure it all out.</p>
<p>@alamemom Oh wow. I will compare my health insurance to see if it applies. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.</p>
<p>Round trip means BOTH ways. </p>
<p>My daughter was invited to friend’s homes during spring break. Her college also offered community service projects that did not cost the students any money…or if there was a charge, it was very minimal. She did two of those. You don’t necessarily need to stay in the dorms.</p>
<p>USC has a number of international students, and that could mean at least some dorms are open during spring break.</p>
<p>For anyone still sticking around on this thread… I was accepted to Berkeley, which has the nation’s best civil and environmental engineering program (my major) but I was given loans that would amount to over $32,000 a year. Would that amount of debt even be worth it for Berkeley? Or am I better off at USC?</p>
<p>So you are asking if you should borrow $5500 first year or $32000? Not worth it and not possible anyway.</p>
<p>$32000 a year or total for 4 years? If it is a year, it is definitely a No, because 1) where can you borrow that large amount? 2) You will be in debt for at least $128,000 after 4 years. How long will it take to get it paid off?</p>
<p>You would need a qualified cosigner to borrow above the federal loan limits. They would be on the hook for the money too and even if they could qualify for 1 year at some point they would no longer qualify and you’d have to leave.</p>
<p>USC-owned/operated dorms and apartments are open for Thanksgiving and Spring breaks. The dorms are closed over winter break. Apartments remain open over winter break.</p>
<p>Non-USC-owned/operated housing options are open for all breaks.</p>
<p>No, Berkeley with massive loans would not be a better option than the standard Stafford loan load you have been offered at USC.</p>
<p>Oh for heavens sake. You started this thread because your family can’t afford to pay $5000, and now you are asking about a school that will cost you $32,000 a year? Really? </p>
<p>USC is an excellent school. From your OP to this thread, you can NOT afford Berkeley. Sorry, but if you can’t afford $5000 at a school that meets full need, how in the world would you pay $32,000 at Berkeley…where you ARE being expected to pay quite a bit more than that.</p>
<p>Go to USC…or go someplace in your home state.</p>
<p>I was just wondering if the prestige of the program would be worth it, that’s all. I know USC is a great engineering school, but Berkeley is the best, along with Stanford for Civil and Environmental Engineering. No need to heavens sake and “really?” me @thumper1 that was unnecessary. Thank you everyone else for your replies.</p>
<p>No it is not worth it. Not in any way. Sorry but it is really hard to understand how teenagers seem to have no concept of money or debt. It isn’t play money. Your loan repayment would be 1,500 a month for 10 years and you would have paid 48,000 is interest. But don’t worry, no one will lend you that.</p>
<p>As far as USC, I slightly see if different from previous layout just in that they included Work Study as if you have that up front, but you don’t. You early that over the semester. so just to recap.</p>
<p>you have to come up with billable expenses upfront of 61,681 (48347+13334) So for the first semester 30,840 + 350 orientation fee = 31,190</p>
<p>Aid per semester
- Grant aid $26,088
- Loans $2750
- Parent contribution $1,000
= $29,838</p>
<p>difference 1st semester = 1351 2nd semester 1001 <<–that’s what you have to pay the school</p>
<p>Now you have to buy/rent books upfront, so 500 to 750. You have to come up with that and some pocket money right away. But you will have W/S of 1,250 each semester for personal expenses and to save for an airplane ticket. </p>
<p>Now you see how summer earnings are make or break as it is just within reach. If you must, your parent can apply for a parent plus loan for the shortfall if they really can’t scrape it up for you (if they are denied, you can get an extra 4,000 loan for the year yourself). That way you can make the first year work.</p>
<p>For future years:</p>
<p>Get cheaper housing and you can reduce that 5,500 mandatory meal plan too. I’m not sure about sophmore year but Jr year you could get an internship jr year that will allow you to put some money in the bank for possible expenses with getting a job and moving and setting up your first apartment, or to pay a bit of any extra loan you have to take.</p>
<p>Bottom line, you can make this work. Any outside scholarship will defray these small costs. I don’t think you should write USC and I can’t see them giving anything else to you.</p>
<p>Please…explain to me how you can’t afford to pay $5000 next year to attend USC but you are inquiring about spending $32,000 to attend Berkeley. Do you up understand that this makes NO sense.</p>
<p>If you are really contemplating spending that kind of money to attend Berkeley, please do NOT waste time writing a financial aid appeal letter to USC for less than $5000.</p>
<p>@BrownParent Question about work study… are you given the money you work for, or is it automatically put towards your tuition, etc.?</p>