<p>I thought that with all costs included AU was around 38K per year, but apparently that isn’t correct? Is there any way around this? I don’t apply for any need-based financial aid, don’t have any grants or scholarships, what am I supposed to do to afford AU? I really want to do, but as many others in my situation, I don’t know what to do…
I’m trying to figure out any kind of solution, taking a year off later on, maybe study abroad would make a semester cost less, maybe the cost will go down if I move to an appartment later on…anything?</p>
<p>Why didn’t you apply for any aid whatsoever?</p>
<p>You don’t have to ask here–all the 2012-2013 costs are right there on the AU website. You can save a bit on housing by requesting a triple. And yes, living off-campus will probably be cheaper (assuming freshman are allowed to–not sure about that). I doubt a semester abroad will cost less–it might even be more. A year off will certainly allow you to save up some money. But none of this will make up the difference between $38K and $53K, if that’s your goal. The only real way “around this” is to select a less costly school or take a gap year and try again next year with an application for financial aid this time (assuming you qualify to receive any).</p>
<p>Tuition is $38,000, but you also have to pay for additional life expenses such as housing, food, travel, books, and personal items.</p>
<p>It’s up to you to manage your budget and decide what you can live without. AU makes it kind of difficult the first year, because freshmen are required to live in dorming and purchase a meal plan from the school. You will have to pay for use of buses, cabs, trains, planes, and the metro sytem. You will have to pay these transportation costs to get around DC and you will have to pay even more to visit home if you live far away. You will have to pay for things you need such as shampoo, make up, tooth paste, hair cuts, and all the things you use now. You will need to buy some stuff for your dormroom.</p>
<p>There are ways to keep the costs lower, but its still pretty overwhelming. </p>
<p>You can buy books used/online, you can keep the things you need to a minimum, shop at inexpensive stores for things such as clothing and dorm room supplies. Try not to need to purchase alot of food in addition to your meal plan, set a limit on how often you will need to use public transportation. </p>
<p>No matter what its still expensive. DC is a city so everything there costs more. Housing, gas, food, etc.</p>
<p>You can work and honestly I suggest getting a job separate from AU rather than work study program because you will have the opportunity make more money that way. Even so, you will have to take out loans if your family is not able to pay out of pocket for the school and you will have to pay off student loans once you graduate from college. The general rule is to not take out more in student loans than you plan to earn as a starting salary.</p>
<p>Btw, I think dorming is around $10,000 a year and the meal plan will at least be around $4000. Usually books are estimated to cost around $1000. And this is PER YEAR. Add up these numbers and multiply them by 4 to get a general idea of your final cost, but it will probably be more because it doesnt include transportation and personal expenses.</p>
<p>Thats at least $212,000
My advise is to apply for individual scholarships and see if there is any possible way the school will accept your FAFSA and CSS profile late, but I think thats very unlikely.</p>
<p>Thank you for the advice! My parents are incredible and insisted I enroll if I want to. I’ll have to work my best to try and save as much money as I can, when I can, and do my best to make it all worth while.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Nina, your parents are incredible.</p>
<p>And–just checking–besides telling us, you also told them you think they’re incredible, right?</p>
<p>I did indeed! I truly couldn’t believe it, I didn’t expect nor really want them to take such a financial “risk”, and when I told my mom I didn’t want to be the source of a financial burden, she insisted and told me not to even think about it. Incredible…</p>
<p>Nina, you do have incredible parents, and if you do enroll at AU, part of paying them back will be you taking advantage of every opportunity that AU offers. AU does offer a lot of opportunities that cannot be had at the average large state school or a more isolated LAC…treat your parents’ generosity as a heartfelt investment in YOU and pay them back with interest!</p>
<p>And have a ball while you are doing it!</p>
<p>Nina,</p>
<p>I wish my parents were like yours. Mine are not very supportive, they think its a huge waste of money. </p>
<p>Be happy, your lucky!!</p>
<p>skatespin - I’m sure my daughter felt the same way about us as you are feeling about your parents when we did not pay for her to attend her first choice school. Instead, she attended her safety school (AU) because she received the Presidential Scholarship. You know what? She is loving AU even though at the time she did not want to attend. So, even if you don’t end up at AU you will probably love where you do attend. Every family has different circumstances. I hope AU increases your merit aid and if they do not - I hope you love and are successful at the school you do attend. </p>
<p>nina - good luck to you at AU. Listen to the other advice and take advantage of all the school has to offer!</p>
<p>Yes, your parents are incredible!</p>
<p>I fully support my D in going to AU, but we cannot pay for it. FinAid for her has been ok, but definitely not enough. She will need a few more scholarships to be able to go. </p>
<p>Congrats and enjoy the experience!</p>
<p>PS - as a freshman, look for the trip to Rome they are offering to study law (yes, I know, sounds weird, but look into it!)</p>
<p>Yes, your parents are incredible! Truly incredible.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1403548-how-write-appeals-letter-financial-aid-my-school.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1403548-how-write-appeals-letter-financial-aid-my-school.html</a></p>
<p>Just FYI, AU estimates that everything along with books and living costs equal $57,039 per year.</p>
<p>Dingbat and bk, look at the dates on Nina’s original post and others. This was a really old discussion. The matter has long been settled.</p>
<p>Nina, </p>
<p>i hope you had a strong finish to your semester. Were you able to work things out for next semester with the financial aid office?</p>