<p>I am a rising senior from a family that is slightly above the middle class (based on my guestimation) but I am wondering if I have a chance of getting money from the FAFSA or grants or scholarships. The school is my first choice and if given a good FA package I would most definitely go here. My parents say we won't get a lot of money from the FAFSA, but there is still a chance at scholarships/grants. My dad works off commission and my mom does not work, and I have other sibilings going to college within the next few years, if that raises my chances of getting money.
My info:
3.2 GPA
27 ACT
Numerous clubs and extra curriculars that I have been involved in for a while.</p>
<p>All in all I am just wondering if the school gives good grants to those families who are may not receive a lot from the FAFSA or if I would be eligible for scholarships. If you would care to share any experiences with the financial aid and your story that would be appreciated.
Thanks!</p>
<p>I would urge you and your parents to get educated on the college financial aid process. Some of what you and your parents are assuming above isn’t jiving with what I’ve learned from going through the process this past year. Syracuse over the past few years has emphasized grant aid over scholarship aid. According to college info sites SU granted 95% of requested need for Fall 2014. </p>
<p>You can go onto any university website and use their cost calculator. I found that reading a couple good books on financial aid was extremely useful and well worth the trouble and will make you a much wiser consumer. An early fall sit down with your high school college counselor might be well worth it also. If you and your parents determine your estimated FAFSA EFC you can do the estimated affordability math yourself with reasonable accuracy, though individual results will vary. I realize that just because FAFSA says your EFC is $x doesn’t really mean you and your parents can afford $x, but I think you need to know these things so you know how wide to cast your net in terms of what universities you apply to.</p>
<p>FAFSA can state your family contribution, but private colleges can determine for themselves what they think you can afford. Often varies widely from your FAFSA EFC. There is another form called the CSS Profile that one must pay the College Board in order to fill out that asks much more probing questions than FAFSA about your finances. I swear that the CSS asks the same question repeatedly with different phrasing trying to catch you in a lie!! I am almost positive that Syracuse used the CSS.</p>
<p>MADad,I concur with your comments: the SU financial aid people told me back in April that they use CSS Profile to determine grant aid and FAFSA to determine eligibility for student loans. They also said that in the vast majority of cases the numbers for the two will be similar. I agree with you the CSS Profile goes fishing for other sources of money that the FAFSA doesn’t ask about.</p>
<p>Syracuse had given us $7000 in need-based aid for my incoming freshman S in April, then they took it away in June when all of our CSS and IDOC information was finally checked into their system. I would say we are above middle class in income but this year with two kids in college we were clearly “on the fence” for need-based aid. Ultimately the CSS consideration of real estate values (we live in expensive greater boston town and own a small seasonal property) led Syracuse to cancel the grant money. S was granted work study. So we are paying the full freight.
:(</p>
<p>Having vacation property probably hurt your chances of need-based aid. If your main home is paid off, that can hurt you as well–schools expect you to borrow against your paid-off home!! In the bizarro world of financial aid, having a mortgage (and debt) is actually to your advantage.</p>