Financial Aid?

Paying for College
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<p>Hey there! I'm going to be attending Auburn University in the fall and the pressure of money is really starting to stress me out, even though my parents don't seem too bothered by it. I'm an out of state student and unfortunately my stats weren't high enough to get merit based aid. So right now, I'm looking at approximately $23k a year. (I know this doesn't include housing, I'm living off campus and in the grand scheme of things, I'm paying practically nothing for housing.) I got offered a little over $11K in Pell Grants and other federal loans, which does help, but not as much as I'd like. I know that a friend of mine contacted the financial aid office at the school he plans to attend in the fall and they were able to help him out and provide him with a little extra money. </p>

<p>I was wondering if anyone knows if Auburn does that?</p>

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<p>Auburn isn’t going to give you any money. They give fed aid and merit scholarships.</p>

<p>What do you mean by: “my parents don’t seem bothered by [the cost]”? How are the costs getting covered? It’s not unusual for low-income parents to (wrongly) think that borrowing a lot for college is ok because they (wrongly) think their child is going to soon be earning big bucks to pay the loans off. Big mistake. </p>

<p>It doesn’t sound like Auburn is affordable to you. You’re a Pell student, which means you’re low income. Borrowing to pay for an OOS public is a very bad idea…you’ll end up with too much debt.</p>

<p>What is your major and how much do you think you’ll be earning when you graduate?</p>

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<p>How much is your housing…and food money? Going to Auburn as an OOS student is likely going to cost you at least $32k per year…bare bones. You’ve been given $5500 in Pell and $5500 in student loans. Where’s the rest coming from???</p>

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<p>And…you’re black and hispanic…right?</p>

<p>What was your final Math + CR from your best sitting? It looks like you should have qualified for some merit .</p>

<p>Do you qualify for Bright Futures? If so, then you definitely should go to a Florida public.</p>

<p>It doesn’t sound like you applied to the right schools out of state.</p>

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<p>mom2collegekids - The OP stated:

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<p>At the moment, his housing (and food) costs are less of an issue than his parents’ ability to pay - as you’ve already pointed out. If they can’t contribute, it doesn’t matter if his off-campus housing is a free room with a relative or a suite at the Hilton!</p>

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<p>I know that he said that he’s paying practically nothing for housing, but he’s comparing the price to tuition. “in the grand scheme of things, I’m paying practically nothing for housing.” His rent may be $400 a month, plus misc costs…Plus food. While $400 a month may seem like “cheap rent” or “practically nothing”, over a 12 month period, it’s still about $5k…plus misc, plus food. </p>

<p>I was just pointing out that his cost isn’t $23k for tuition. His cost to attend AU as an OOS student with no merit will be at least $32k per year. He has fees, books, transportation costs (will he be driving to classes?), rent, utilities, food, and entertainment costs. </p>

<p>I realize that if tuition alone isn’t affordable, then it doesn’t matter in the long run how much his R&B is. However, I don’t want him to just dismiss the costs as if they’re nothing…they won’t be. I live in Auburn’s state. I know how much housing (on and off campus) at AU is. While off-campus housing can be “cheap”, it’s not “cheap” when you don’t have the money to pay for it. </p>

<p>When kids say something is “cheap” or “practically nothing” when it comes to college costs, I often take that with a “grain of salt” because even something that is cheap isn’t affordable if you don’t have the money. </p>

<p>He’s a Pell kid, his parents are going to do one of the following…</p>

<p>1) foolishly borrow the money (and will they qualify for all 4 years??) with the idea that somehow they’ll be able to pay it all back.</p>

<p>2) foolishly co-sign the money (again, will they qualify) with the (crazy) idea that their college grad son will make so much money that he’ll easily pay it all back.</p>

<p>3) foolishly take out Plus loans with the “family agreement” that their son will make the payments after he has his big college-grad job.</p>

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<p>Wow, @mom2collegekids, perhaps my question was not clear, but I do not recall asking for criticism or even an examination of whether or not I chose to apply to the correct out of state school. The fact of the matter is, though, that I will be attending Auburn University in the fall and how I choose to pay for it is not any of your business. Moreover, calling me a “pell kid” is offensive & even referring to me as “low income” is a bit presumptuous, don’t you think? I mean, I could read what you’ve written and decide that you’re probably a upper middle aged, Republican, Caucasian housewife who has little work experience. Regardless of whether I was accurate (although I probably was), it wasn’t my place to do so.</p>

<p>Oh, and it shocks me that in your extensive investigative research you failed to see that I am a girl. Not a boy. Shame. </p>

<p>Regardless, thank you for your many responses. Although a simple “No” would have been enough.</p>

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<p>Whether or not you found Mom2’s post offensive, the bottom line is you are in need of money, alot of money for college or you would not qualify for Pell. That is just a fact. How you choose to pay for what the federal government is not covering or loaning you, is of course, your business but in the interest of others who might also have a gap that is thousands and thousands and thousands did you call Auburn and did they offer to review your financial situation? And do you have a plan B for fall if Auburn falls apart for you are more important questions.</p>

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<p>Since I didn’t know whether you’re a boy or girl, I was using the generic “he”. </p>

<p>And, since you said that you got “a little over $11,000 in Pell Grants and loans,” that indicates a very low EFC…which suggests a low income. It’s not presumptious. Who do you think gets the Pell Grant that you got? How do you think that you qualified? I’m assuming that you/your family filled out FASFA honestly and aren’t hiding a bunch of income, but if they are…well, that’s a whole 'nother issue. </p>

<p>How will you get the rest of the money that you’ll need for tuition, books and housing/food?</p>

<p>Your aid will be divided into 2 semesters, so for Fall you’ll have about $5500 deposited into your account towards tuition and you’ll get a bill for about $7k for the rest of your tuition. And, you’ll also have housing, etc to pay for. Then, a few months later, you’ll have another $7k bill for the second semester (after the rest of your aid is applied).</p>

<p>Since you wondered if Auburn would give you more aid if you asked, it sure sounded like you are short of funds.</p>

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<p>It’s too bad that you found the responses to your question offensive. You asked for advice–you got honest responses: You can’t afford this school. Of course, should you and your parents decide to borrow money (IF they qualify), of course it’s your decision. Just don’t whine about it 4 years from now when you and they are looking at 100K in debt for an undergrad degree. Why is “pell kid” offensive? You, by your own admission, got pell grants. Only certain folks qualify for those. It states a fact. It means that your EFC was likely very low. Nothing to be ashamed of. Good for you that you are on your way to college and are getting some financial aid. But, again, you really can’t afford this school. It will be a struggle from the very beginning, and you might find yourself even having to transfer mid-way should something happen where your parents cant get loans to cover years 2, 3, and 4. Why put yourself and them through that? You’re obviously smart- you’re the one who started this post out of concern for the money. Do what you want to do–it won’t affect a single one of the people here. It’s just that the people on CC know just how risky and foolish it is to set yourself and your parents up for this kind of debt/expense when clearly it is unaffordable. Don’t get sucked into the “everyone else does it” thing, because that’s just not true. It’s almost July–you need to figure this out. Have a sit down with your parents, call Auburn, whatever–but as far as the advice you got here–it was really pretty spot on.</p>

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<p>ndieujuste12 - </p>

<p>(1) - Yes, it is our business since you came on here asking for advice on how to get the money to pay for it!</p>

<p>(2) No, calling you a “Pell kid” and “low income” is not presumptuous - it is a statement of fact. And it is a fact that’s particularly relevant given the topic of this thread. Like it or not, your options are influenced by your circumstances.</p>

<p>Now, by way of explanation . . . </p>

<p>I understand that what was said might strike you as harsh. It was probably intended to be. Your mistake, though, was in assuming that it was directed at you, personally. It was not. Mom2collegekids, like may of us, is frustrated beyond belief at seeing one student after another blindfold themselves and jump off a cliff into a lifetime of indebtedness. Unnecessary debt. Debt that could have been avoided with proper financial counseling before the student applied to college. The frustration is not with the students, but with the college counselors who should know better and don’t, the parents who should know better and don’t, and with the colleges who sit happily by accepting your applications and your borrowed tuition payments and don’t say a word about the awful mess you’re all going to find yourselves in when you graduate!</p>

<p>So, I’m sorry if you found the comments intrusive . . . but people are posting in this thread because they want to help you. And sometimes that means saying things you don’t want to hear.</p>

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<p>Okay, ladies.</p>

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<p>OP…please remember that your financial planning for college is a four or five year plan…not just this one year. Just be sure that your family will be able to help you with your college costs for all the years you are an undergrad. Some students and families figure out a way to finance that first year…but then do not continue to qualify for loans…or simply run out of cash to help pay for college. Think long term…</p>

<p>The only way to know if auburn will give you more aid is for you to ask them. Really, no one here can give you that answer.</p>

<p>Agreed…have a Plan B in case you realize that the finances are not going to work well. Simply put…you do NOT need the added worry about money.</p>

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<p>It is completely beyond me why anyone would stretch themselves financially to go to a public university in another state. Not that there’s anything at all wrong with public universities (my D is off to one, and in another state, but it’s an affordable one) - but what, in heaven’s name, can Auburn offer you that you can’t get for far less money closer to home? </p>

<p>I realize that pulling out at this late date would be inconvenient, and probably embarrassing. But not nearly as inconvenient and life-destroying as a $100,000 mountain of debt. </p>

<p>For your own sake, please reconsider. If you have to defer college for a year, that’s much less of a problem in the total arc of your life than crushing yourself under unmanageable debt would be. </p>

<p>Whatever you decide, best wishes.</p>

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<p>Another thing that perhaps you need to know is that for almost all colleges the bill arrives and it has to be paid by a certain date and while they may have some sort of grace period you cannot register generally for the next semester until the first semester bill is paid. This is one of the reasons that college and university educations are so difficult for kids on their own or with families that do not have alot of disposable income and why so many kids take more than 4 years to finish. The vast majority, yes majority, of kids cannot travel long distances and to out of state colleges. Your situation is not unique so no one is picking on you as an individual and others, perhaps in your shoes, may read this thread. So please OP do not head off to this college until you know how you are going to finance. Remember, the diploma is from the school you graduate not the school you start. Hopefully you can sort it all out.</p>

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<p>I appreciate all of the answers. But what you all are failing to see is that I asked a simple question. A yes or no question, at that. While some of you are giving me insightful answers, some of you are just being overtly critical. Which I don’t understand - why be critical of someone else’s life decisions?</p>

<p>I know that many kids end up in debt. And whether or not I do is something I’m going to have to live with. My parents aren’t worried about the money because they know they have it. I, however, am much more conservative when it comes to spending money. That’s the only reason I was wondering. My mistake.</p>

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<p>Once again…the only way to know if Auburn will give you additional aid is tomak the financial aid folks at Auburn. MOST schools will on,y reconsider aid if there has been an error, or if there is some special circumstance that was not reflected on your financial aid form such as parent losing their job, high unreimbursed medical expenses, or the like. But do ask…it’s worth the phone call or trip to the school financial aid office to ask.</p>

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<p>Momofthreeboys, most schools,have provisions for a monthly payment plan, often through either TuitionPay, or Tuition Management Services. Some families use this payment method…instead of paying a whole term up front.</p>

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<p>Thank you, thumper1.</p>

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<p>You got your simple yes or no answer in the first sentence of the first response. </p>

<p>It’s “no” - there is no magic money tree at Auburn.</p>