I got into my dream school SMU and o just recently saw my financial aid information and I’am bummed. I’m a transfer student who really just finished one class on the degree audit so it will take me years still. I was offered a grant of 18k with housing BUT I just discovered I’m not required housing so last minute change I don’t need housing which will more than likely reduce my grant 
. SMU is 55,974 with everything but room and board (which I’ve decided not to do). My parents don’t really make much unfortunately around 80k. My parents say they are ok with it but I could not imagine doing that to them I think it’s unrealistic I will be into heavy deb right off the bat and will continue with debt. It just breaks my heart that I could see myself there they have amazing engineering programs that they will plug me in quick and the small classes which is great for me since I have ADHD and I like that students can connect with the professors. I’m heartbroken if I continue another year at CC I will only be able to take two classes since everything is full now and I won’t be plugged into the engineering classes. Is SMU worth it? Is this very unrealistic financially?
Unfortunately, many schools still see transfer students as cash cows and don’t give them as much aid.
Did you apply anywhere else? Is it too late to apply to a school where you qualify for in-state tuition?
No school is worth taking more than the standard federal direct student loan. It would also be nice if your transfer school accepted more than one of your community college classes.
I’d ditch the idea of SMU. Look at your in-state options.
My classes have transferred nicely BUT according to my degree plan I’ve only knocked out English I still have lots of courses left that are over a four year period to complete. I’ve applied to one public school that surprisingly denied me with a 3.5 lol( that’s if I change my degree they’ll accept me) I really don’t like any of the in state public schools the classes are HUGE and I can’t do that. I was offered loans just not enough unfortunately. Baylor has accepted me but sent me no aid information and the engineering programs are not as great
As much as in state public schools are an option non of them have felt like home they’ve felt very overwhelming and the class sizes again are HUGE it’s really hard for my ADHD to go through that. I especially would like something closer to home the last time I moved I went through some emotional and mental difficulties.
SMU may provide some help through the engineering school. They are usually merit based, but you might reach out to them and see if they can help. That letter came a few weeks after the university merit letter last year.
So if you don’t have any engineering degree plan courses, I assume that means you don’t have physics, chemistry, and calculus yet? Does your community college offer those? I think maybe staying at community college where the classes are cheap for another year or two might make sense.
Work and save money over the summers, keep in touch with SMU to make sure your future CC classes will be accepted, look for more scholarships, and transfer when you have fewer semesters left to go.