<p>Changed my housing plans from off campus to on campus. My efc is zero. How will this affect my financial aid? Will I see more university grant to cover housing expenses?</p>
<p>USC gave me 38k in grants and about 11k in loans for a total of 49k in financial aid.</p>
<p>I'm wondering why i'm expected to pay 10k out of pocket and take out 11k in loans a year with an efc of zero?
Could it be because of housing plans?</p>
<p>I don’t think they will increase your aid if you change it from off campus to on campus because the rates are about the same. </p>
<p>It says so here:</p>
<p>[USC</a> Financial Aid - Applying & Receiving Financial Aid - Special Circumstances - Factors We Will Consider](<a href=“http://www.usc.edu/admission/fa/applying_receiving/special/housing.html]USC”>http://www.usc.edu/admission/fa/applying_receiving/special/housing.html)</p>
<p>" Your eligibility for aid will not change if your living arrangements change from “USC housing” to “non-USC housing, but not with parent or relative.” </p>
<p>If your housing plans change from “living with parents or relatives” to “living in USC housing” or “non-USC housing but not with a parent or relative,” your eligibility for aid may increase."</p>
<p>USC uses CSS Profile to determine your aid, which factors in your family’s assets, while FAFSA does not. So if you own a house… etc, they will take consideration of that.
Regarding loans, I think most students will have that in their package because loans are considered a form of financial aid too… just not free money like grants. Did they give you work study?</p>
<p>casey - we have a family friend who has an efc of zero and every school she applied to left her with about 10K to pay after grants, scholarships, loans so you are not alone. It seems to be a tough year for fin aid all over.</p>
<p>thanks! appreciate the responses. Yes I received work study as part of the package, 2750 per year. I reckon i’m going to have to work, do work study, and intern on top of a full schedule. If not my first year, definitely by my second year. I want to take advantage of the amazing internships if i’m going to be forking out this kind of cash!</p>