Financial aid OOS situation.

<p>I applied EA to LSA and my financial situation is in tethers...I'm confident that my family falls below the poverty line. What type of financial aid should I be expecting as an OOS applicant? At other schools, I'm one of those students that wouldn't have to take out loans or expect family contribution, or even individual contribution. Yeah, that's my financial situation...Please help!</p>

<p>Just clarifying, I don’t think I’m pro enough to get anything substantial in merit aid…</p>

<p>

I’m not a FA expert, but I’m sure you’ll have to contribute, even if you get a full ride from Harvard, which pretty much covers everything if ur family makes <60,000(?)</p>

<p>You wont get much from michigan, at least not the amount you’re thinking of.</p>

<p>Aight I understand.</p>

<p>But with my situation, what will I do about Michigan…? Since I’m oos I’ll have to take out loans then, regardless of my status? And yes, I am <60,000 wiht a family of 4.</p>

<p>

I am not sure what this means? Are you saying that you are so poor that you don’t need to take out ANY loans (Stafford…ect) at other colleges? I’ve never heard of that unless the difference is made up in merit aid, but your 2nd post suggest that you are not expecting anything substantial in that area. Even the poorest students with a 0 EFC are usually expected to max out their Stafford loans. And how do you know what other schools FA packages are going to be? You can’t file your FAFSA until Jan1st and then you have to wait for the individual schools to get back to you with EACH of their FA packages.</p>

<p>UM is very clear that they do NOT attempt to meet 100% of the demonstrated need of OOS students. I would not expect much need based aid.</p>

<p>Well, that statement is based off what I read. Discard it.</p>

<p>And that’s quite discouraging to hear…very discouraging actually.</p>

<p>use a fee waiver to apply if u haven’t yet, and then worry about the money later on when you get accepted.</p>

<p>UM gives OOS kids the middle finger</p>

<p>

I’m sorry. However you do need to be realistic about college finances. UM is the most expensive public university in the country and you are applying OOS. I’d make sure that you also apply to your own state university(s) as they are generally much more affordable for in-state students.</p>

<p>BTW - if you haven’t done so yet you might want to check out the following forum. Lots of good advice / information for paying for college.
Good Luck.
[Financial</a> Aid & Scholarships - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/]Financial”>Financial Aid and Scholarships - College Confidential Forums)</p>

<p>OP, you also need to run an accurate calculation using precise facts over at the college board’s calculator and/or finaid.org to determine what your family’s EFC (Expected Family Contribution) is. You really can’t assume anything and people are often surprised when it’s too late.
Once you know you’re “Zero EFC” you might also want to start applying to schools that “meet 100% of demonstrated need” such as Northwestern, Rice, etc. etc. UMich is not one of those.
Last year, however, there was a least one student on this thread with a “Zero EFC” (that means that your calculated family income is at a level where your family is not expected to contribute – that doesn’t ACTUALLY mean anyone else makes up the difference, and usually YOU would still be expected to work in summers, take work study, and take the max gov’t loans avail) - who truly did receive a need-based package, including grants, to cover about 90% of the cost – and was from out of state. So it’s always worth taking a shot, which you have, but it’s a long shot.</p>