<p>I am a freshman at nyu this year and I have no idea how to go about the financial aid process.
Last year I filed my FAFSA but I ended up getting just a small loan. Maybe because I filed a little late? This year my family is paying the full tuition, but since the tuition is ridiculous and my younger sister will be attending college in a few years, I feel so stressed out. Especially because my family's income falls under those who are too affluent to be considered in need of financial aid but are too poor to actually pay the tuition. ugh!</p>
<p>I've tried researching various scholarships and grants but I'm having trouble just pinpointing the ones that fit me, or just where to start in general. In the case of nyu, could I get more financial aid if I submitted my fafsa/fa application early?</p>
<p>I just want to lessen this financial burden on my family.</p>
No, that’s because a freshman can only borrow $5.5K. As a soph you get another $1K for a total of $6.5K. You won’t get anything by submitting earlier. NYU told you what you would be expected to pay when you got your FA offer. If it IS too expensive to continue there you’ll need to transfer - not what you wanted to hear but them’s the facts.</p>
<p>NYU does not guarantee to meet financial need even if you do qualify to get it. What is your FAFSA EFC? That is usually the LEAST you are expected to pay. Generally, your best financial aid/merit package is freshman year. You can start looking around and asking if there are any merit grants out there for upperclassman. Hard to get, but if you have been doing well, it is possible. </p>
<p>If you have zero demonstrated need, then you are NOT going to get anything from NYU other than merit awards which are highly competitive and not at all guaranteed, and loans.</p>
<p>NYU is not going to fix your financial aid and give you more. They are notorious for not giving aid. A lot of students get in, but then they realize they don’t have the income to pay NYU’s outrageous fees. I know you don’t want to hear it, but, you need to change schools and go to one that your parents can afford.</p>
<p>Not only is NYU bad with aid, it’s merit scholarships are awarded to incoming frosh and are usually always “need based.”</p>
<p>For a continuing student who applies for aid and then declares that there will be 2 in college, I don’t see NYU giving more money. Does anyone know of any cases where NYU has given “new aid” to continuing students?</p>
<p>"Does anyone know of any cases where NYU has given “new aid” to continuing students? "</p>
<p>Yes, I do know of such cases. Those whose financial situations changed have gotten aid or increased aid from NYU. I also know of some kids who did get merit awards in later years due to excellent performance. I believe they were departmental awards. Not huge amounts, but yes, NYU does have some such awards, and they have increased financial aid due to circumstances.</p>
<p>But, they do not guarantee to meet need, and the % of upperclassmen getting ne aid or awards is certainly a lot less than that of undergrads. As with almost all schools, your best shot is your first one. The OP does not appear to qualify for financial aid, and if that is the case, no school is going to give out aid when the formulas do not come out with a need number. Merit aid depends upon the individual situation. My son did get a one time merit grant in college, but it was a highly competitve situation and not something I would recommend anyone counting upon. It was not only merit and effort, but luck as only a handful of those awards were given. it was also not any huge amount, though I am grateful for it. The NYU awards that I know about were not that large either Like just a couple thousand or even less than a thousand. So I wouldn’t hold my breath for anything close to a full tution type thing or even in the $10K range.</p>