Financial aid for housing options

<p>Hello!</p>

<p>For us transfer students, or for any students I guess, does the housing option (off campus or on campus) affect financial aid dramatically? Do we receive more money if we select "on campus?" I originally selected off campus but I'm considering on campus housing now, and I'm not sure whether I should go through the trouble of contacting the UCs about changing the option on my financial aid.</p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

<p>Yes living on campus offers more aid</p>

<p>@sonic23 - You are correct.</p>

<p>But according to financial aid reps for a few UC’s if you are a transfer and you are planning on moving on campus even if you selected “On Campus” housing on the FAFSA you will need to submit a Cost of Attendance Revision form.</p>

<p>It’s stupid idk why they do it but I guess it’s just what they do.</p>

<p>(Reps I asked from financial aid offices are from: UCLA, UCSD, and UCB)</p>

<p>The difference is about $3,000 per year.</p>

<p>Some May award you more UC Grant and others may just let you take out more in loans.</p>

<p>UCLA will make that difference in Grant not loans. however even with the extra 3k, the cost of the dorms is expensive</p>

<p>how likely are transfers to get on campus housing for their senior year? I know most don’t like it, but I think I will enjoy the convince it brings.</p>

<p>@angelsfan92 - I believe if you are a continuing student and want on campus housing you are guaranteed it if you meet all the deadlines</p>

<p>@Matt4200 I sure hope so! One of the pros for me if I attend UCLA is the food haha. </p>

<p>I’m in the same situation! I’ve heard from old threads the different is 2-3k (like @Matt4200 mentioned) more in aid, so instead of 12k for classic residence halls w/ triple occupancy, it’d be 9-10k for 3 quarters or so</p>

<p>Thanks everyone! I don’t know if $3k difference of the original on campus housing costs are better than off campus yet… LA seems like such an expensive place to live.</p>

<p>I’ve lived in LA most of my life. It bus VERY expensive to live here. If I wasn’t old-ish, I’d live on campus myself to save money. But I’m too old for all that :-)</p>

<p>@2016Candles - If you get an apartment with roommates (4) it’s about $1600 a month for a good 2 bedroom in LA that’s about $400 a month each plus $100 for utilities and TV/Internet so $500 a month is kind of reasonable.</p>

<p>Lol but if you want ur own apartment then yeah it’s expensive.</p>

<p>I have 3 friends who go to UCLA and do that. </p>

<p>@Matt4200 $1600 is on the low side for a decent apartment in a decent area. You may get lucky and stumble on a cool 2bd for $1600, but realistically $2000 is more accurate. Splitting it 4 ways it’s still only $500, but that’s if you find 3 other people you’re good sharing space and finances with. </p>

<p>That’s the beauty on on campus housing- even if your roommates don’t pay, you can still stay. If your roommates flake off campus, they’ll put all you guys out. IJS</p>

<p>@2016Candles - You’re right lol</p>

<p>But I’d like to think that anyone who can get into UCLA has the ability to be financially responsible enough to pay their portion of the rent. </p>

<p>And you can search for roommates specific to your campus using Uloop or a number of other sites.</p>

<p>Hmm yeah it seems like most people are doubling rooms… I’m just a little wary about doing that because I had to switch roommates during my 1st year at SB because I just kept getting stuck with people who I didn’t mesh well with. But I guess I’ll keep weighing my options, thanks for the general prices and stuff!</p>

<p>One more question though: do our Bruin cards give us free bus rides?</p>