<p>I attended a financial aid workshop at College Park on February 1st. I'd like to get an idea of how much financial aid UMD students receive. If you guys don't mind, could the people that got in the past to UMD post how much financial aid they got and how it compares to the family income?</p>
<p>It has been my experience that UMCP is NOT good with financial aid. Unless you can get the Bannaker/Key (which is really hard to get). We have a very low EFC and my d applied to 9 different schools. The only school that offered less aid was Penn State. College Park did not even come close to meeting our EFC, so we are struggling with work study, Stafford subsidized and unsubsidized loans, Perkins loans, etc. I heard on the radio that half of the aid given out to Maryland students is given back because even with the aid, they still can't afford to go in state, and a lot of kids go out of state because it is cheaper. There are a lot of well off people in MD who can pay the full rate no problem but unfortunately, we weren't one of them.
I have heard this from many other people....alot say they got nothing, or couldn't afford to go because the aid was so low. I'm just telling you our experience and maybe you will have more luck. She likes it there so I guess it is worth it.</p>
<p>that really is not a good thing to find out about UMCP. i really want to go there and i was hoping they could give me good aid since my EFC is pretty low I would say, but i guess not. maylandgirl, could you actuall post your efc and the aid umcp gave you?</p>
<p>our efc was 4,000.................CP gave her a 3,000 scholarship. I called them up and asked them what it was......if it was financial aid or a scholarship. That's all it said.... was "scholarship".. They said it was not financial aid, it was a scholarship for being "smart." She is in the scholars program.......next fall i will have 2 in college. When I did the FAFSA it said my efc is 3,000 for each kid. I don't know if that's Pell grant material or not...... needless to say, I am worried.</p>
<p>so the only thing they gave you was this scholarship, no grants/loans/work-study?</p>
<p>yes- subsidized stafford loans, unsub. stafford loans, perkins loan......there is also a parent plus loan you can get, and work study. Bottom line- look at any monies a school may give you that you do NOT have to pay back- whether it is financial aid or scholarship money. The rest is just different forms of loans. Even if your efc is only 2,000 , that doesn't mean that is all you will pay. Schools don't have to meet your need. (most don't). Our packages were all over the board. Even if an OOS school takes 10 or 15 grand right off the top, it still may be cheaper to go in state. It can be very daunting.........good luck everyone... I also read that Maryland will give more aid this year, but who knows.</p>
<p>Most schools I applied to meet all aid, but that's because I applied to primarily privates. Private schools with huge sticker prices will be impossible/stupid for most middle to upper middle class families but are the best deal for lower income students. For me, Maryland is the cheapest...but for most lower income students it's not. My dad was very low income when he attended Maryland, recieved no finaid besides a work study job. He ended up having to commute.</p>