Hello! I am almost committed to Tech at the moment. I have been looking at the school for quite a long time, and after being accepted through regular decision, I am extremely excited to attend! As an in-state student, I am receiving free tuition through Zell Miller Scholarship. However, that is the only financial aid I am receiving, totaling about $17,000 annually not considering any loans; my Expected Family Contribution came out to be around $14,000. I know the cost is very little compared to some other people, but I just thought that the amount of aid would be a lot higher since Tech is a public school. So far, some of the other private colleges, such as U Rochester, Northeastern, and CMU (waitlisted though), offered a lot more aid so that the total cost of attendance is very similar to my EFC. Regardless, I am planning to major in CS, so I would be happy to attend Tech.
How much did you receive for financial aid? And how does it compare to other schools? Also, Is there any way to bring down the cost little further?
Thank you!
This may be too late for you, as by now you may have committed to GT or another college.
The way to bring down the cost at GT is co ops. You take five years for a bachelors degree, but can almost work your way through the last year, or maybe more, depending on the jobs you land and how many months you work.
Another way is to cook and live off campus. Campus food is always more than cooking yourself. Trying to work and go to school at the same time is another way. So part time work, while you study.
Keep in mind that Financial aid is recalculated year to year. So if you make good money in a summer job that is subtracted right off your aid at most colleges.
Just like you, my son got a better financial aid package at CMU but was wait listed. However for us, GT is about $20,000 less than CMU. This is because its less expensive to fly to Atlanta than Pittsburgh from Colorado, and other differences in costs between the two colleges. So for us, GT is still less. And we do not expect the CMU aid to be more than one year. We believe year 2. 3 and 4 would be full cash price for us.
Northeastern gives a lot of merit based awards, so if you got that, you get to keep that money no matter how much you make in the summers. AND they are four year awards, not just one year, as the CMU or GT aid. You may have a GPA requirement on merit awards.