<p>I was just wondering how much does it usually cover. I'm middle class (both my parents are teachers) , and I'm out of state. Also, I have a 3.8 now unweighted ( it will hopefully go up to a 3.9 by the end of the semester), 1950 SAT, I'm in many clubs/ extracurricular, activities (3 honor societies) I'm a vice president in a leadership club, I did a course last summer that was a Governor's Honor Program thing, I have many volunteer hours, I will take 7-9 AP classes by my senior year, and I'm a very good essay writer.
I can 'chance back' if anybody wants me too!(:</p>
<p>Oh, I’m interested in getting into the school of cinematic arts for a major in film studies and a minor in screenwriting.</p>
<p>Need-based financial aid is not based on major, GPA, test scores or extracurriculars. Nor is your state of residence a factor - USC is a private university, so all domestic students have their need calculated using the same formula. Need-based financial aid is based upon the information in the CSS/Profile and FAFSA. </p>
<p>“Middle class” is a vague term that has been defined on this forum as anything from $50,000/year to over $250,000/year. In reality, the average middle income of families in the United States is approximately $45,000. Families at that income level ($45,000/year) and with typical assets (under $50,000) receive significant financial aid. Higher incomes receive less aid.</p>
<p>You can use the Net Price Calculator: [USC</a> Financial Aid - Planning for USC](<a href=“http://www.usc.edu/admission/fa/applying_receiving/undergraduates1/netpricecalculator.html]USC”>http://www.usc.edu/admission/fa/applying_receiving/undergraduates1/netpricecalculator.html) to get a rough estimate of the amount of aid you may receive. </p>
<p>If what you are really asking is your chance of admission, please see this thread: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-southern-california/1558825-what-my-chances-usc-final-answer.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-southern-california/1558825-what-my-chances-usc-final-answer.html</a> for complete information.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>Kriskristi,</p>
<p>I have an alternate view:</p>
<p>Do NOT assume the online calculator is accurate. We’re middle class and used the calculator plugging in income and assets as required and were shown a figure twice the actual award we received. A number of other students and parents have posted on the CC FA thread similar experiences including those from lower income families. In fact, two different FA administrators on campus (on two different visits) told us the online calculator was not accurate but the government requires every college to have one. At SCA parent receptions that question still comes up a lot. </p>
<p>We’re still “all in” for my child’s education, but a number of students who were accepted to the film school posted on the SCA admits forum (Facebook) that they had to decline their offers because the financial aid package is heavily weighted towards parent and student loans. All of those students came from households that made significantly less than we do.</p>
<p>Just wanted you to be forewarned. My advice is to assume you’ll get no financial aid - or very little - and then whatever you do get will seem like bonus money.</p>
<p>Apply. Don’t worry about this part yet. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by sending in your application. You’ll know in the spring if you a: got into your dream school and b: can afford it. </p>
<p>Good luck. SCA is a fabulous school and my child is really, really happy there.</p>
<p>Once again:
If your income is in the $45,000/year range, you have provided useful information. If your income is well above that figure, your information is not useful. When it is not specified, those reading cannot make any use of the information.</p>
<p>Also, Parent Plus loans are NOT included in USC need-based financial aid packages. They are offered to assist in meeting the family’s expected contribution. Student Stafford loans of $5,500 freshman year, $6,500 sophomore year and $7,500 each junior and senior year ARE included in a need-based package.</p>
<p>Once again: “Meets 100% of need” is calculated by USC’s internal formula which is not the same as FAFSA nor does it match the internal calculator which has FA admits is inaccurate at ALL income levels.</p>
<p>While Parent Plus loans are not included in USC financial aid packages - it is significant that when a student logs on to their portal the “balance” after student loans, grants and work study are deducted shows two choices - pay cash, or Parent Plus loans. It’s stated right on the portal. There’s even an estimator to help students and parents figure out what the monthly payments will be (also inaccurate) based on how they allocate the money (between cash and loans).</p>
<p>So let’s be frank. Families with low income levels and low assets this past year were getting hit with pretty healthy parent contribution figures and many students had to opt for other alternatives (including Community College or those with better offers). I had a loooong talk with a counselor about it on campus this past month. And even the financial aid thread on THIS board is filled with stories of students who were unprepared for the reality and had to decline or withdraw. </p>
<p>Even the daily Trojan had a story in which students complained about lower income classmates who couldn’t continue in subsequent years due to low financial aid coupled with high loans that couldn’t be carried by the parents. Or whose parents didn’t qualify because of credit issues.</p>
<p>I just want the student to have realistic expectations about how this process works. Significant is in the eye of the beholder. There are a lot of students who get the USC merit awards and find that even at - say half tuition - the reduction against a $60,000 starting figure is still, often unattainable. Which is why I suspect the yield against offers is so low.</p>
<p>For many families SCA is worth the sacrifice families have to make in order to manage tuition and or loans. For others - it just isn’t remotely feasible.</p>
<p>^^ sure, you should not be estimating from FAFSA for ANY CSS profile+ school (must fill out CSS and school calculates need any way they want). For many many families, their EFC will be significantly different based on FAFSA than on CSS, which takes many more assets into consideration. Unless you have virtually no CSS additional assets, you should never rely on FAFSA information at a CSS school. That is like estimating your taxes based on the wrong tax bracket and then being surprised later on that you owe significant amounts of money. </p>
<p>This isn’t new and getting vastly different financial aid packages from schools isn’t new. It is a huge reason kids apply to 10+ schools and probably should. </p>
<p>Every family should decide on a range of schools they can afford and those they think they may get enough aid from to make reasonable (by estimating with calculators)— realizing that these later schools may disappoint you with their packages making them unaffordable.</p>
<p>In addition, what they determine is affordable could be vastly different than you based on your spending habits, where you live (cost of living), debt load, comfort level, and whether you are willing to change all these things. You definitely shouldn’t expect college costs not to impact your lifestyle greatly unless you have saved for the entire cost or already go without most things.</p>