<p>i really hope somebody can help me on this. financially, rice isn't offering me enough money to attend. i think the total cost of going to rice is around 39k, and i got a scholarship for 21k (1st 2 years) and 14k (2nd 2 years). my parents make about 90k combined and my efc was 28k, but they only want to pay about 15k. is there any way to convince the financial aid officers to give me the extra 4 or 5k that i will need? i called my financial aid officer, but she said there was little chance I could get more aid, since my merit scholarship would cover all of my financial aid. could anybody give me suggestions on appealing the decision or ideas on what to do next?</p>
<p>i doubt you will get more aid...and u know...its not always about what ur parents want to pay..it is about what they CAN pay...so the college looks at it that way. good luck</p>
<p>$39K - 21K = $18K. You have a VERY generous financial aid package. You can get an oncampus job during the school year, and work during the summer. That should cover the extra. If you get roommates you can live off campus your junior and senior year, (when your F.A. drops) which is cheaper than living oncampus. The cost-of-attendance budget the Rice gives you includes personal expenses ect. Your parents will "save" several thousand dollars a year since you will not be eating at home for 30 weeks, and the shampoo, hot water etc. is included in the "personal expenses" part of the cost-of-attendance budget. HTH's</p>
<p>Is 21k for the two years (i.e., 10.5k a year)?</p>
<p>That seems really generous. I am sure that if you got a summer job you can easily make the rest. I usually make almost that much in a summer and my job is not that good.</p>
<p>no its, 21k for the first, 21k for second, 13.5k for 3rd, and 13.5k for 4th</p>
<p>Your parents will also get a tax credit of $1500 on their taxes with the HOPE credit - so they should be out of pocket less than $15,000 if you work summer and small campus job - plus remind them that they will save several thousand dollars because you will not be eating, etc. at home. You should be celebrating your great F.A. package!</p>
<p>Wow, you must be super good to get those kind scholarships. </p>
<p>So, $21K from Rice + $15K from parents = $36K.</p>
<p>You only need to come up with $3K more to cover the total cost. That amount is relatively easy to come up with. Just work on campus during the school year, and work full time in the summer (maybe as a research assistant or something).</p>
<p>BTW, did you apply ED, ID, or RD?</p>
<p>Rice has been very generous. I got 24k in need based aid... very very happy with it. They matched my EFC almost (1000 bucks more..)</p>
<p>tks for all the help everybody...and goldtx, i applied rd</p>