FURIOUS Over Crappy FA >:(

Paying for College
101

Ah, OP, welcome to adulthood! I do feel for you, actually - the way financial aid works is a lot to take in and I’m sure it comes as a rude surprise when what you wanted so badly to be the truth (that the aid package was all grants) wasn’t the reality. And I know it’s no fun as a kid when you see other kids around you talking excitedly about where they got accepted and where they’re going while you’re trying to cope with the disappointment of a major misunderstanding.

Maybe BC will work out, but maybe if it’s really that big a stretch financially for your family and you have your eyes on med school - maybe it’s for the best if it doesn’t work out at BC and you go to UMass Amherst (as many have pointed out, a fine school!) After all, do you know what they call a person who went to undergrad at UMass Amherst before successfully completing med school? Right. “Doctor” - just like they call the person who spent more than their family could afford to go to BC for undergrad. Good luck, OP, wherever you go I’m sure you’ll be fine.

102

I know OP has cooled down a bit. But.

"Why do all that effort if I’m going to UMass in the end? " College is not the “end.” You’ll have an opportunity to shine there and go on to a good life. It will be what you make it.

“It doesn’t seem fair to have them kill themselves to pay a price they shouldn’t be paying.”. That. You’re not in a position, academically or financially, to call the perfect shots. Most kids aren’t.

But I’m still confused with all the different numbers thrown out. If OP would list what BC offered, line by line, we could show him how to view it, doable or not. It’s confusing how he refers back and forth to fafsa efc and the NPC, then throws in other colleges.

To be mature, you have to understand we all get sticker shock. We want our kids to learn how to move forward. That’s what brings life success. That balance.

103

The last thing you want is starting out at BC and then if it becomes increasingly unaffordable, having to leave.

Did you get scholarships from the UMass schools? You must have if your FAFSA EFC is $7k and the net price $5k, they usually don’t meet need and EFC is too high for Pell. Those are probably only offered to incoming freshman students and not available to transfers so please keep that in mind as well.

104

Why don’t you ask BU and HC to relook at the financial aid packages they offered you. Perhaps they will come through with more.

105

BU doesn’t meet need so likely won’t. HC might want to reassess based on bc 's offer, since they meet need.

106

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All colleges expect some student work contribution


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Yes, and most expect the student to “self help” thru small loans and WS. After all, the student will be benefiting from the education for a lifetime.

Most schools really do NOT want to pay for: travel, textbooks, health insurance, food, cell phone, toothpaste, shampoo, clothes, misc personal expenses, Friday night pizza & movies with pals.

The loans and WS are essentially the amounts that cover those costs.

One could argue that the parents’ EFC is to go towards Direct Costs, altho it’s not really billed like that.

107

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I am trying to get what is mine, and what I deserve

The school should honor whoever they accept, and give them money to go to their school.

total of 7 AP classes in high school, while keeping up with volunteering and a job. I do several other ECs. Why do all that effort if I’m going to UMass in the end? Many others who slacked their way through high school are going to UMass. They didn’t do half the things I did or study as much as I did, so I certainly shouldn’t be grouped together with these people.


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You think you are too good for UMass-Amherst but you are in plenty of like company. You aren’t going to be in remedial classes like lower performing kids, you will be in more challenging classes. And you will have tough enough competition you may have a hard time keeping a med school worthy gpa. I suggest you don’t max your family out financially if you have a really affordable option this good. You will need 6 to 8k just for med school tests and applications. Who is going to come up with that Sr year plus your family contribution? Eyes on the prize and all.

27% Score of 30 - 36
3.78 Avg GPA
54% GPA of 3.75+


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@mg29409

Frankly, I think BC is doable if the student is thrifty and mom gets a job (which it sounds like is something the family is considering). Between mom’s job and/or student working summers, this is really doable. The school doesn’t owe you anything. And they don’t “honor” their acceptees by giving them money to attend.

However, as a mom of kids who had stats much higher than this student, and they went to a flagship that is ranked below UMass, the attitude of “I shouldn’t be grouped together with these people” is extremely offensive.

As noted above, UMass (and other very good schools) has a large group of high stats students that are found in the more difficult majors. Who cares what the slackers are doing in the easier majors? They’re across campus and they’re NOT in your classes…at least not for long.

You want to be a doctor. Well, guess what? IF you make it to med school, and that’s a BIG IF, your med school classmates will be from schools like UMass, and what will you think then?

And when you’re in med school and when you’re a physician, you’ll be dealing with all walks of life. You won’t be in some Ivory Tower separated from the masses. You’ll be up to your neck dealing with all the ickiness and sadness of life.

The realities of med school hit us in the gut when our son sent us this text: “mom, I’ve had to amputate too many legs today.” :frowning:

108

If OP’s mom gets a job, he will get less aid in future years. And he did say they are struggling to make ends meet as it is. And he is thinking about med school. Given those facts, sounds like UMass is the better option for this OP.

109

I’m curious to know about sibs.

I think OP mentioned that income was about 68K? With one kid, that’s nothing to sneeze at.

110

Ok, OP has tried to own up to the attitude, so let’s move on…

I looked up COA: $68294

$2650 is misc costs and books.

$65,644 direct billing costs
(47,000) grant aid
Leaves you…
18,644 residual costs
($10,000) parent budget
Leaves you…
$8,644 to pay
($3000) Summer earnings
(2400) work study ( or was this part of the $47k?)
Leaves you…
$3244 to borrow. Plus you will need books.

Am I missing something? That’s not bad at all…

111

ˆˆI wonder if OP lives in an area where $3000 in summer earnings is possible? Here in our rural upstate NY area, I’ve never heard of anyone making that kind of money in a summer. I’m very grateful for the FA my kids’ school has given us, but we do have to make up the difference between expected summer earnings and the reality.

112

I think OP thought they could make that mentioned earlier. Even if it is 2, that means 4200 to borrow. A kid has to expected to pay something.

As for the UMASS choices, I presume by $5k, you mean that is all you OR your parents would have to pay? So no loans at all? I’d say that’s better if you want to go to med school, where you wil have to borrow (no FA).

113

@almosttheremulan the OP is an only child

And income is more than that…that figure is after contributing about $14k to a 401k

Yes, if mom gets a job, then grants will go down a bit. However, in the long run, it’s a good idea for mom to work.

If she started working next month or so, she’d only have about half of a year’s income, so next year’s aid wouldn’t go down that much. The last two years would be affected, but they’d still come out ahead. Or she could work/save as much as she can over the next 12 months and then quit.

114

And the mom is not currently working.

115

The next year’s aid (2017-2018) will be based on 2015 income figures, so mom working this year will only make a difference to the extent that mom’s saved income will be a reportable asset.

116

For all those who say that (certain) loans are not “aid”:

^^^
This. The same goes for work-study, which is not subject to certain government taxes that just about every other wage earner is required to pay. These guaranteed federal loans and work-study are not as good as free money, but they are partially subsidized by taxpayers.

117

@almosttheremulan My income is not $68k, its $58k. The cost of attendance is $68k.

118

I wondered about this too. Additionally he will have to apply for work study and find a job with enough hours to earn the $2,400 which may involve working in the cafeteria or other position that OP might decide is beneath him.

119

Okay, so I’m going to lay out everything so we have no confusions here.

First, my family’s annual income is around $58,000. My father works two jobs and my mother is currently unemployed. I am an only child, and there are no complications in terms of financial aid; both my parents are my guardians, they are not divorced. We do not own a business. Our home is worth $162k right now, and we still owe $90k.

Here is the financial aid Boston College gave me. Again, this is my first experience with this sort of thing, so if I didn’t read it correctly after the loans and such, forgive me.

Cost of Attendance: $68,379

Subsidized Direct Loan: $3,500

BC Scholarship/Grant: $47,200

Federal Work Study: $2,400

TOTAL: $53,100

The reason why I was confused was because of the extra finances they put here. The direct loan isn’t an award, and neither is work study. So in reality, I’m paying $58k-$47,200=~$21,000.

I understand what’s being told to me. I’ll make a decision carefully and discuss it with my parents. Again, I don’t have any siblings, so this is our first experience with FA.

120

Good luck. Remember, a lot of great doctors went to UMASS too. Let it sink in a bit before you decide.