<p>Flinty, yes, D applied to the other school as a transfer (rising soph.). Although, we’re very pleased about the UNC acceptance as it has an excellent broadcast journalism program, which is what she wants. So UNC is the overwhelming favorite --especially after the aid package they’ve offered.</p>
<p>EADAD, when do current students usually begin hearing about financial aid? The portal has said in progress for my son for quite some time now. Should I assume that it will be after all incoming freshmen have been notified?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>In the past it’s been April/May time frame. With the disaster it appears they are having with their database/software platform I can only hope it will stay the same.</p>
<p>I would encourage anyone with a HS senior who is still waiting on news from FA in order to make a decision to contact both admissions and FA immediately. This isn’t based on any “inside” info, just gut feeling. From reading between the lines of a few other posts here it appears that the squeaky wheel is getting results…</p>
<p>Just this morning my daughter’s FA award was finally posted. I’m sure it was the result not of my call 2 weeks ago but of the email that admissions sent out 2 days ago, asking if she was still considering UNC and if they could contact FA on her behalf. </p>
<p>So now we have a week to process the fact that UNC is not only truly an option for her but would actually – at least for next year – cost the LEAST of her schools because she got a large grant and work study (her in-state schools did not give her work study because they said they save that for OOS kids!) Does anyone have a sense of how much UNC’s institutional aid can vary from year to year? The fact that its OOS costs are so high makes me a little nervous about the possibility that aid could do down (or costs go up) and we’d be responsible for a lot more than we would be if aid went down or costs went up in-state.</p>
<p>I has been my (limited) experience that they meet your EFC. So assuming all variables reamin the same, the aid should stay the same.</p>
<p>Flinty, congrats on finally hearing something. And, like you, UNC is our least expensive option (I’m still scratching my head on that one). But, also like you, we are nervous about subsequent years. So I’m curious, too, as to how aid packages may fluctuate, especially for OOS students.</p>
<p>UNC-Chapel Hill seems to have very reasonable (read: small) tuition increases - that’s what has kept its prices so low in comparison to everyone else, and they take great pride in being ranked “best value” so I doubt they’d do anything to threaten that.</p>
<p>UNC also “insulates” financial aid recipients from tuition increases by mandating at least a third – but next year they’ve said it will be 50% – of every tuition increase be spent in financial aid.</p>
<p>Unless your financial circumstances change dramatically, it is highly unlikely that your aid package will change much - if anything, it should increase to reflect a small tuition increase.</p>
<p>Thanks, lottastrikes and ThoughtProvoking. I did call F.A. this afternoon and was reassured that the program that is the source of the large grant is one that is not “all or nothing” – if our income should vary, the funds awarded would go up or down but they wouldn’t be removed entirely if income should go up slightly.</p>
<p>Also found out that the work study options are on-campus and students can access an online listing of jobs to apply for. They work as much as it takes to earn the Work Study award amount, so the hours vary depending on the job.</p>
<p>Finally heard back today, and I was actually pleasantly surprised. I received a decent-sized grant, but it’s not enough. I’m not entirely surprised though (FAFSA screwed us over and greatly overestimated how much our family can contribute). So, I will now be attending OU.</p>
<p>I’m just glad that I finally received an answer. Good luck to everyone who decides to go to UNC.</p>
<p>I have never heard of UNC changing aid from year to year to the extent that it could prelude someone from returning…once you are in they are going to do all they can to make sure you graduate.</p>
<p>UNC’s financial aid remains about the same all years as long as income doesn’t change drastically.</p>