<p>I just realized, that I have to re-aply for fin aid each year. Is it possible to get less money for remaining 3 years given that I have good grades and my parents did not win a lottery? This is making me anxious! </p>
<p>Also, how come wintersession cost adiitional $500? What if I'm going home for that period?</p>
<p>i don’t know about the re-applying 
i’m also in the same situation with you
but about the wintersession, they’re just estimating the cost IF you’re planning to stay on campus.</p>
<p>My family has the same problem. It becomes one of the reason that I may not be going for the fall semester.</p>
<p>Does it mean that if I don’t stay, I get $500 back?</p>
<p>What do you mean? You are not sure if you will get the same amount of aid?</p>
<p>helen,</p>
<p>Yes, you have reapply for financial aid every year. I think every other college has this same policy. That way, if your family’s financial circumstances change from year to year, it can be reflected in your financial aid package. You could probably expect very similar packages as the one you received this year, unless something in your family changes. Things that can affect your aid include, but are not exclusive to: family member losing a job, family member winning the lottery, younger sibling starting college while you’re also in college, older sibling graduating from college while you’re still in college, etc. I recommend calling the finaid office directly with questions. Get the info from where it originates from, rather than just relying on CC!</p>
<p>As for wintersession, when I was a student, you had to pay a fee (I don’t remember, $100? $200?) if you were going to be on campus. If you didn’t stay on campus, then that fee wasn’t added to your student account bill. I suspect it’ll be a similar policy.</p>
<p>There is no certainty that your financial aid package will remain the same. Every year you submit your CSS Profile and FAFSA. Based on your family’s ability to pay each year your package gets adjusted – for better or worse. Some schools have policy of increasing the loan component every year. Other collgees are sure to be pressed in terms of the performance of their endowments – though abandoning need-blind policies is the last thing they’’ do. Of course, between meeting full-aid as in the boom years and complete abandonment is the highly elastic territory of stretching the definition of need – or in this case tightening it.</p>
<p>But all said and done, don’t we all have to contribute to our own education as much as we can?</p>