<p>I really want to know if I will be able to attend USC now...I never thought of any of this when I applied because I just wanted to focus on getting in first.</p>
<p>I'm a transfer student that's recently been accepted. Because of my major, I will be at USC for four years. My father is the sole breadwinner in my family, and makes really, really good money. Because of this, my FAFSA says that the EFC is around 23k. This would be all fine and dandy but my father has worked up quite a debt. I do not qualify for CalGrant or Pell Grants, and do not qualify for scholarships this year (I will work my hardest this year to qualify for one of the major-related USC scholarships next year). From what I've researched, credit card debt will not help me in appealing for a better financial aid package. So what do I do? The package hasn't come yet but I am fearing for the worst. I know that as much as I tell the financial aid office that I am not my father and shouldn't be punished for his mistakes, that won't do me any good because most colleges see credit card debt as a "by choice" debt.</p>
<p>Is there any way I can appeal? I've looked into everything from becoming legally emancipated (won't work) to getting married (might work). USC is the only school I applied to, and the only school I want to go to. I would do everything in my power to make this work. I've applied for scholarships, but many of them I don't qualify for because of my father's income! </p>
<p>Am I basically screwed or is there hope? I would do anything legal to go to school here. I worked way too hard to have it slip away now. I can't bear the idea of staying another year in the town I live in, not working towards doing what I want to do.</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Getting married at this point will not have any impact on your 2011-2012 financial aid package. For future years if you get married this year in order to qualify for financial aid, USC will ask for a financial statement showing your income and expenses. If your expenses are more than your income, they will require information showing where the extra money came from (such as from your parent) and consider that a resource in financial aid. In addition, any money your spouse earns and/or receives from their parent will also be considered a resource available to you. You may find that you significantly complicate your life and receive no more financial aid (and PS - if you marry solely to receive financial aid from USC it would be fraud).</p></li>
<li><p>You are correct, debt (other than debt held against assets, such as home mortgages) is not a factor in financial aid calculations</p></li>
<li><p>This is VERY important: USC only uses the FAFSA EFC to distribute Federal financial aid such as Stafford loans and Pell grant - it is NOT used to distribute USC grants. They use the information from the CSS/Profile, which considers assets the FAFSA does not such as home equity, to distribute USC grants and most students find they are expected to contribute more than their FAFSA EFC at USC.</p></li>
<li><p>Another issue: if you received financial aid in your first one or two years at your community college, you may reach some of the maximums in terms of loan totals before you complete 4 years at USC - be sure to discuss with USC financial aid what your aid will look like in your 3rd and 4th year at USC - which may be your 5th and/or 6th year of receiving aid.</p></li>
<li><p>Of course you can appeal - the worst they can do is say “no,” but credit card debt in particular is one that universities do not consider in calculations.</p></li>
<li><p>Please read the first two pages here: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-southern-california/839970-faq-usc-financial-aid-2010-a.html?highlight=faq+financial+aid+2010[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-southern-california/839970-faq-usc-financial-aid-2010-a.html?highlight=faq+financial+aid+2010</a></p></li>
</ul>
<p>There are a few things you can do to try to reduce costs in future years - such as becoming an RA - there is a thread you can search for that lists a bunch of ideas, but if it turns out you will finish with $100,000 in debt that is honestly too much for a field where employment is not a sure thing. Right now wait to see how the package turns out and then contact USC financial aid to discuss it. Have a backup plan ready in case USC doesn’t work out.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>I’m basically screwed then.</p>
<p>My dad’s debts are so high that if the federal government caps my loan amount and I have to resort to PLUS or private loans, he won’t be able to cosign them. I don’t have wealthy family members (or family members) that will step forward for me. My parents have taken out a second mortgage and barely have paid anything on their home. I have more in my combined savings accounts then they do (not that it’s much. Around 4 grand) and they’re absolutely unable to afford this. I also have a sister in community college right now. We’ve never applied for financial aid before this. </p>
<p>I really need USC to come through for me on this one. It really looks like there is nothing I can do. I will be working full time soon, but I am well aware that this will not be nearly enough. I’m just extremely angry right now. I shouldn’t be punished for my dad’s stupid mistakes, and shouldn’t that be the bottom line? I am not my dad! </p>
<p>I’ve worked too hard for this. Seeing it snatched away because of cost would absolutely kill me.</p>
<p>OK.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>YOU CAN APPEAL YOUR FINANCIAL AID DECISION. Write them a very detailed, specific letter. Include any and all financial documents you can. (But, wait until they give your their package decision in a few weeks.) My dad lost his job when I was a junior and, when my mom and I appealed the Financial Aid office, they accepted the appeal and increased my grants that year by about $10,000 and also increased my federal loans. (My dad also accrued a lot of debt, so try not to let your parent’s financial issue get you down; USC recognizes this!)</p></li>
<li><p>You’re lucky because UNDERGRADUATES GET NEED-BASED GRANTS! I just got back into USC for grad school and was so upset to hear grad students don’t get these same grants. They are financially determined FREE MONEY from USC’s endowment fund; I was lucky enough to get generous grants from USC and only emerged with about $50,000 in debt. (Which, although high, isn’t terrible compared to what my friends left the school with.)</p></li>
<li><p>You can also begin applying for outside scholarships right now – and USC still has some scholarships with deadlines in May. (If you’re Latino, for example, the Latino Alumni Association gives out great scholarships…) Do some research on it and I’m sure you’ll find something here and there.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Basically – don’t worry until you get your actual package. Then, write the best damn appeal letter of your life. When kids reject their offer to attend USC, more money comes and you can get reevaluated for grants and loans.</p>
<p>I do want to second alamemom’s note about high debt offset by a program that won’t guarantee you a job. At the very least, if you do end up going, try to minor in and/or pick up an EC in a semi-related field that can bolster your resume when you graduate. Trust me – having just screenwriting classes there won’t help you get that first entry-level job and will make paying those loans back 6 months after you graduate really hard. I just barely make enough to pay the $300+ a month loan payments on top of my rent and bills with my screenwriting degree. (EX: Do social networking/PR/inline marketing for a student organization you’re interested in, run for student government, write for the paper, work for TrojanVision, work for JEP or ReadersPlus tutoring elementary students in the area, etc etc etc. Minor in a subject with 20-24 units that you’re interested in. Small unit minors include design, music industry, marketing, advertising, polisci, etc…)</p>