finnancial aid+rich & cheap dad= im screwed.

<p>so lets say my dad makes alot of money. ALOT. he wants me to go to a Cal state school, however NU is my top choice. He makes 300,000+ and still made me apply to finnancial aid "just to see" go figure. anyways, the "estimated contribution" is ofcourse OVER NU's total tuition, which means i will get nothing. He already declared me as a dependent, and refuses to take out loans. H E L P! he tells me im more likely to get accepted because the "school wants my money". is that even true?</p>

<p>Is it not need blind?</p>

<p>Did you apply to any of the UC schools? Maybe it's because he thinks some of them are better schools....which maybe a few are?</p>

<p>As far as the "school wants my money" --- I don't think so. As far as I can remember my daughter did not have to disclose financial information until after she was accepted. We could have sent in the CSS but did not until after the acceptance. We probably won't get much aid if any but my daughter did get an academic award up front for some of the cost.</p>

<p>Your father is not obligated to foot the bill to whatever school you want especially if he thinks a California school might be a better choice for you. I do agree with you that perhaps he might want to support your first choice school...but he doesn't have to.</p>

<p>I hope you applied to some schools he is willing to foot the bill for. Otherwise you may have to go on to a CC for a semester or two.
I would not agree with the above poster that the CA schools are better, particularly in light of CA's major budget problems but if that is what he will pay for, that is what he will pay for.
Please do NOT take out major loans to go to NEU.<br>
And by the way, even if your father had not declared you as a dependent, you would be a dependent in the eyes of the financial aid world. Their rules are different and separate from the IRS.</p>

<p>Obviously I did not intend to make a a general statement that California schools are all better than Northeastern. Northeastern is a wonderful school and I am excited that my daughter has been accepted into the Honors program with some academic money. The bottom line cost, however, will definitely be an enormous factor in her final decision. While we will probably not qualify for much or any financial aid we are most certainly not in the $300k income range!!! I thought that there must be more to it and perhaps the poster had been accepted to a school at the caliber of UC Berkeley which is an amazing school. If I lived in California and my child could choose between UC Berkeley (at in-state rates) or Northeastern I would more than "encourage" my child to stay in California.</p>

<p>i did apply to more out of state public schools, but no cal state/US because im first year transfer with around 30 units, so for cal state/UC's you need 60 units. however, NU is really my first choice.</p>