<p>The aid that you received was probably all need-based. Because they probably consider need when selecting applicants for merit scholarships. Anything significantly over 14k is an overhaul because that remaining 6k is what your family is expected to pay.</p>
<p>The way everyone should look at EFC is that it is the LEAST amount you PAY and still get financial aid from the government and school. That’s the way it works, whether it’s fair, crazy, and undoable. If your EFC is $6K then you have to get merit money that exceeds the COA-EFC in your case, $14K before the school or the federal government will give you money. There is a lot of unfairness, the way this works, since those who have NO Need get to use all the merit money, BF money, and put it towards the EFC whereas you cannot since it goes towards your financial aid FIRST, but them’s the rules.</p>
<p>mikemac: EXACTLY!</p>
<p>You are right to be angry because this system can seen arbitrary and unfair. And especially in your case where you’re told you’re an adult one minute, but not the next. It is outrageous.</p>
<p>For a long time, I was totally confused figuring out how financial aid works because it seems so unfair that it just couldn’t be right. That’s why my id is “sofrustrating.” BUT, as many people here have explained very well, it is what it is. It’s the best system that everyone has come up with so far that’s the most fair for the most people. </p>
<p>I got screwed too.</p>
<p>OP, I agree with you it doesn’t seem right that the extra scholarship you worked so hard to get just “poofed” disappeared but it is the way the system works. The bad part is that you probably figured that the financial gap you were facing could be filled in by this and future scholarships and now you realize you have to come up with the money in a different way. I wish I was a magician and could say “abra cadabra” and the money would be there for you so you could get the education you want. Unfortunately you will have to figure out a different way to do this. Good luck.</p>
<p>OP,
You are in a rough situation, no doubt about it. However, the way financial aid for college works in the U.S., a young adult is considered a member of his family until age 24, until married, or unless a member of the military. The fact that your family has a different philosophy really doesn’t matter. Otherwise, every 18 year old would be eligible for financial aid–and our system as it is right now cannot afford or support that.</p>
<p>Right now you do have choices–you just might not like them.You can appeal to your university to see if they might be able to help you out some–but realize financial aid budgets are stretched because there are so many students in need. You–or your family–can make up the difference. Your–or your family–can borrow the money. You can continue at community college while you work and save up the money. You can defer your attendance while your work and save up money. You can join the military.</p>
<p>You are an adult. You are being faced with your first adult decision.</p>
<p>The financial aid policies are often confusing and like life are unfair. My dd lost her subsidized loans because I got a lump sum disability payment last year that was one time and used to cover medical expenses. They still dinged us and now she can’t get ay subsidized monies. We sat down as a family and talked through what she could do instead. Maybe you could sit down with your parents explain the inner workings of financial aid and tell them the situation you are in? If you approach it like a problem that needs to be solved in an adult and respectful way they may just listen and may offer suggestions or even some help.</p>
<p>The problem with the current system is that the student loses any incentive to earn outside scholarships. Say he wins a $3000 scholarship but then his college takes $3000 out of his college aid package. Where does that leave him? In the end why waste the time and effort to earn outside merit-based scholarships. While I don’t agree with everything the OP said, there is a error with the system here. The incentives just don’t work out.</p>
<p>A college education is a commodity like anything else. It is no different than a car or an expensive pair of sneakers - if your family cannot or chooses not to buy it for you, you must save for it, find an alternative, or go without.</p>
<p>I think the OP deserves some slack. It is a tough situation. By the way, if the OP had complained that her dad wasn’t willing to pay anything, an entirely different group of posters would be criticizing her.</p>
<p>Hunt: THANK YOU!</p>
<p>Sorry, but I lost the ability to give her slack around the 10th time she bit someone’s head off who was trying to help her.</p>
<p>@GertrudeMcFuzz:</p>
<p>Haha, I didn’t “bite someone’s head off.” Your refusal to reinstate your “ability to give [me] slack” is misplaced.</p>
<p>I did not read all of the messages so I am sorry if this has been pointed out, but I wanted to point out that the OP states that she is receiving Florida Bright Futures. This is a lottery funded scholarship fund that is not based on need. Therefore, she is receiving the benefit of funds raised by the people of Florida. In addition, she has the benefit of attending a university in the Florida state university system- among the cheapest in America. </p>
<p>I am wondering why the OP feels that it is “ridiculous” that she should pay 6,000.00 for her education. In that case, is it ridiculous that I want a new car but the darned dealer expects me to pay thousands? The nerve!</p>
<p>@InvolvedmomFL:</p>
<p>Actually, I just checked my online account and they took away my Bright Futures, too. So looks like I just got screwed out of another $3K.</p>
<p>They just took it away for no reason??? I thought they had already deducted the money due to your outside scholarship. Which, btw, is unfortunate that you earned this scholarship and are being penalized. However, it is your parents’ responsibility. </p>
<p>I know you are not going to like this- but long ago I was a student at the University of Miami and my parents had no money. It was not an option to ask them for money because they didn’t have it. I took out loans and this enabled me to graduate and earn far more than I would have without a degree. Loans may be a necessary evil in order for you to accomplish your goal.</p>
<p>@InvolvedmomFL:</p>
<p>Yes, they took it away for no reason. The $3K in Bright Futures has been on my account for months. It was just taken away today. The $2.3K they deducted before was a $2,000 Freshman Residential Grant and a $300 reduction in the Need Based Grant.</p>
<p>I was offered some unsubsidized loans, but I declined them months ago because at the time, I did not need them. My parents will not cosign on any private loans.</p>
<p>I’m calling the financial aid office first thing tomorrow morning to ask what the heck happened.</p>
<p>Are you now saying they have deducted $5000 in aid from your account? Agreed…call them and find out what happened to your Bright Futures at least. The person who answers the phone might not be able to help you. If they waffle, ask to speak to a higher up.</p>
<p>Do you still have a subsidized Direct Loan of $3500? </p>
<p>Usually when a student receives outside scholarships, the self help portions are reduced first (loans, then work study). </p>
<p>In any event, you are still able to get a Direct Loan for $5500 assuming that amount doesn’t take your total aid over the cost of attendance.</p>
<p>Good luck…and let us know what they say.</p>
<p>If you dad believes you to be an adult at 18 and refuses to contribute financially, does that mean he is willing to forgo taking the tax deduction for you being a student?</p>
<p>My father refused to pay anything. My mother couldn’t - didn’t work for 20 years, then was working two jobs just to make ends meet. I desperately wanted to be the first in my family to go to college. I earned a substantial merit scholarship, lived at home (paying rent because my mom needed the money), worked nearly full-time, took out student loans to buy a car and cover gaps, and somehow made ends meet. My high school was fortunate to have substantial scholarship monies to award to seniors from local organizations - but they told me flat out I wouldn’t get any, as it would be deducted from my scholarship. I also couldn’t do work study - that would have been deducted from my scholarship. And I’m thankful for what I did get. No one owed me an education. I gladly donate to my alma mater to pay it forward. I wish I could have lived on campus and worked fewer hours, but earning the degree was what mattered.</p>
<p>My daughter has earned a substantial merit scholarship, and DH and I are gladly paying the remainder. SOMEONE has to pay money - otherwise how do the professors and staff get paid, buildings get maintained, and so on? While I agree it’s unfortunate the school won’t allow you to stack all the aid you have been awarded, this is reality. Figure out a way to get the money, or figure out an alternative. As some other posters said, your life will not end if you don’t earn a degree by age 24.</p>
<p>That seems very strange. Please do call.</p>