<p>I will most likely live on campus (apartments/moving is out of the question since La Jolla is the most expensive housing market in the US..) and hold a job while going to school.</p>
<p>The cost of dorming/tuition/books/etc per year is more than what my family earns in a year (only have one parent and a sibling going to CC). I submitted my FAFSA with an EFC of 0, but have not gotten any offers from schools. The only grant or scholarship I have gotten is the mandatory Cal Grant package B. I've also written countless scholarship essays/hours and hours of signing up for scholarships, but have not gotten any.</p>
<p>Any advice? I'm thinking of just going to CC for two years and transferring...</p>
<p>(EDIT: Also, if you are living on campus, how expensive is food?)</p>
<p>Living off campus is often cheaper than the dorms if you share a room. Dining is a required part of the room cost at about $2800. If your EFC is 0, you will get financial aid. They tell you rather late how much but they will use a combination of grants, loans, and work study to make it possible for you to attend.</p>
<p>Anyone who goes to UCSD mind explaining to me how the food system works? Like… Can you just go to the hall and eat, or do you have a certain limit provided? (Of course you do but…)</p>
<p>dining at UCSD is different in that you pay per item. Whereas at some schools you just swipe one “meal” and then fill up your plate as many times as you want, at UCSD if you buy a sandwich and a drink you only pay the cost of those two items. You have a certain amount of dining dollars on your ID card at the beginning of the year and you basically have to budget so they last the whole year. Aka not too many Ben and Jerrys runs, twice-daily Naked juices, huge trips to Earls/Goodys to stock up on overpriced junk food, etc.</p>