Financial Aid help please :)

Paying for College
1

So I’m getting ready to transfer and I was wondering if someone could break down financial aid for me . Loans I would need to take out?
I am eligible for alot of financial aid since my mom only makes 24000 a year in a house hold of 4
will financial aid and any loans I may need to take out be enough?
I live in LA but would like to study in SDSU
If not would it be more convinient to transfer to a school in LA?

2

Do you qualify for a Cal Grant? Have you done what’s necessary to get one?

If so, then the Cal Grant will cover your tuition.
You’ll also get a Pell Grant for about $5700 if your EFC is 0
You’ll also get a loan for $7500
You might get work study, but if you don’t, find a part time job
Also get a full time in the summer and save your earnings.

If you can find inexpensive housing, then SDSU might be affordable.

3

For low income instaters you can usually get your tuition and fees covered at a Cal State.

At a UC you would usually get tuition and fees and everything else covered after a student loan and some student contribution from work/study and maybe summer earnings.

SDSU
In-state: $6,976

Room and Board $15,533
Books and Supplies $1,804

Other Expenses $2,846

estimated expense 20,183

========================
total needed 27,159

So for SDSU you might be short books, room, board, transportation and personal expenses… So if you take your loan 7,500 you will have to figure out how to come up with the rest. SDSU has department and other scholarships to apply for separately so be sure to look those up.

Sources of aid

Cal Grant or university grant 6,976
Pell Grant 5,770

Loan 7,500

total aid 20,246

I suggest you look for cheaper housing off campus where you can cook and find something liss combined than on-campus of 15,533. If your mom wants to take a Parent Plus loan for the difference she can, but I don’t see how she will pay it. If your parent is denied the Plus loan then you are eligible to take 12,500, so 5,000 extra in your own student loan. This will make higher loan payment when you graduate.

4

@susanaiturbe where if you went to a UC your aid would look more like it will cover your costs, not like an ‘away’ CS where you may be short about 7,000 per year:

Cal Grant or university grant 13,557
Pell Grant 5,770
SEOG 500
University Grant 5,173
work/study 2,500

Loan 5,500

total aid 33,000

Total cost 33,000 *

5

@BrownParent @mom2coIIegekids
Well reasons why SDSU was important to me was the fact that it offers NROTC. I want to make a career out of being a marine officer. No I wouldnt want my mom to take any loans out. So are you saying SDSU might be too expensive versus a UC ?
I live in Los Angeles
I have
CSU LA
CSU LB
CSU Dominguez Hills
USC
UC LA
CSU Northridge
close by to which I could commute to since theyre close to me

I really wouldnt want to work a part time
Ive been working since I was 16
and for now just want to enjoy the last two years of college
Im a transfer btw
Would transfering somewhere far be too much? or should I just stay local?
its been my dream to attend san diego state but that dream might be too expensive and its starting to get very depressing and causing me anxiety that I wont be able to pay for school

6

I think I already explained it quite clearly if you will read my post again.

7

You do not have to work any if you decide instead to a) just pay the expenses from your own or family earnings or savings, b) borrow it if you have any borrowing capacity (a poor choice imo.), c) reduce non-direct expenses like housing and food and personal expenses to save a couple thousand a year, like eat beans. It is smarter to work 12 hours or so a week on campus doing student job stuff that will give you a bit of pocket money. Student jobs are often flexible, give you exposure to college departments and people and often you can get something you want from it, be it an extra meal in dining services or a research job with a professor. Unless you are inline for some really great outside or inside scholarships you really are not going to have a choice about it if you want to get away from living at home.

I am very surprised at your naiviety, considering you have been in school for 2 years and work. Have your consulted a transfer advisor at your college?

8

You can enjoy college and still work a bit. No one is suggesting working 25 hours a week. If you work 8-10 hours a week, you’ll have money for emergencies and still have plenty of time to enjoy college.

I was in a sorority in college and always worked at least 10 hours a week…usually 16…so still got to enjoy college.

9

I agree you can work some hours and still enjoy college.

You need to try to keep your out of pocket costs low and ease up as much as possible on school loans. Depending on your major, it may take a while to pay those back.

You need to work if you are taking out student loans. Period.