<p>Basically, this college process for me has turned into a fiasco. I was accepted and was planning to attend Bowling Green, then after 3 months of thinking this, my mom decides that it's all of a sudden too expensive. BG's something like $23,700 a year (tuition + room and board), but I got a $3,600 scholarship from them that brings it down to just above $20,000. My mom is basing all of her concerns off of that number, not even taking financial aid into account, which we only submitted today. I don't want to budge, I want to go to BG, and I don't even have any other options to begin with, so I'm asking anyone that might know, how much financial aid should I expect?</p>
<p>For one, my mom signed up for FAFSA.com as opposed to FAFSA.ed.gov, and they required her to pay $80. So basically, she got scammed. Is it still a legit site though in that they'll send my form to BGSU?</p>
<p>Basically some important things that help determine financial aid:</p>
<ul>
<li>I come from a single parent family (mom)</li>
<li>She makes less than $40,000 a year (maybe even less than $30,000)</li>
<li>BGSU is an out of state school</li>
<li>My grades were pretty poor in high school (2.0 GPA if I'm lucky)</li>
<li>My test scores were decent-ish (26 ACT, 1030 SAT)</li>
</ul>
<p>Also, do I 100% definitely need a co-signer for my loans?</p>
<p>Any help would be appreciated, I'd love to get a rough estimate. Thanks.</p>
<p>First of all...why are you filing your financial aid applications so late? </p>
<p>If you are applying for need based aid, your GPA and SAT scores (which by the way are not all that terrific) will not matter. Not knowing the specifics, it would seem like you would qualify for some federally funded financial aid, but it's not going to cover the cost of attending BGSU as an out of state student.</p>
<p>You say that BGSU already gave you a $3600 scholarship. You need to understand that this will lower your financial need by $3600. </p>
<p>In terms of any other money...BGSU is a state school in Ohio. Their first responsibility is to provide financial aid (their money...not federal money) to students from Ohio whose families pay taxes in Ohio. Other than federal aid (which is not going to cover the cost of attendance at BGSU as an out of state student), it doesn't seem likely that you will get additional funding...especially since most schools award their financial aid for the upcoming year prior to May 1 so that students can have this info when making their decisions.</p>
<p>I'm sorry if I'm sounding pretty dismal, but these are my opinions. </p>
<p>Did you discuss the finances of attending an out of state university with your family before you applied? What plan did you and your family have for financing your education?</p>
<p>Go to FinAid</a>! Financial Aid, College Scholarships and Student Loans and run all of the calculators for FAFSA estimates, and all of the calculators for just how long it would take you to pay off student loans that could be as much as 20k per year for four years which totals out at 80k!</p>
<p>Since you are looking at an out of state school, there is no guarantee that they will meet your full need based on the FAFSA calculations. Even if you were in-state for them, they might not meet your full need.</p>
<p>I am not at all familiar with FAFSA.com. I suggest that you call the university on Monday and ask the financial aid office about the status of your paperwork.</p>
<p>Pennsylvania has a good public university system, and has good community colleges. You may want to look closer to home for a college that you can afford.</p>
<p>"Other than federal aid (which is not going to cover the cost of attendance at BGSU as an out of state student), it doesn't seem likely that you will get additional funding...especially since most schools award their financial aid for the upcoming year prior to May 1 so that students can have this info when making their decisions."</p>
<p>How much federal aid can you expect? I have no idea. What is your EFC? </p>
<p>Perhaps Swimcatsmom will see this thread. She has the maximum Pell Grant at her fingertips...But it's not more than $5000 I don't think (I don't think it's that high...but I don't really know the number). You would likely get a subsidized Stafford Loan for about $3000...and maybe you would qualify for a Perkins Loan as well. </p>
<p>You will be eligible for a stafford loan in the amount of $3500 for freshman year and you might be eligible for a small pell grant, depending on your EFC. That is all -- federal money is very limited and is generally enough to pay for you to attend community college.</p>
<p>I don't see how you can pay for BGU with so little financial aid if you mom makes so little money -- and private loans are not the best idea (if you can even qualify -- you will need a credit worthy co-signer).</p>
<p>thumper1 -- my guess is that, by now, all perkins loans have been granted (they go fast!). Maximum pell grant is ~$4600, however when I run the numbers on the calculator (single mom, one son in college, no assets, income of $40,000, no income or assets for the student) I come up with an EFC of $3500 -- and for that, the pell grant is around $1100.</p>
<p>pokerprodigy -- for accurate info on federal money, you will have to tell us your EFC.</p>
<p>I have no idea how to get to it...my mom has all of the tax information. I have the password for the FAFSA form, but I can't get into the form itself and look at it.</p>
<p>Cost for attending BGU: 23,300 for tuition/room and board
additional costs: personal items, books, transportation, etc: $3000+
total cost for attendance: $26,300</p>
<p>You got a grant for $3600 -- bringing the cost down to $22700.</p>
<p>if you got some work--study for ~$2500, then it brings the cost down to $20,100.</p>
<p>If you work during the summer and earn and save $3000 to pay for school, that brings the cost down to $17,100.</p>
<p>If you get a small pell grant (let's just say you get $1500) that brings the cost down to $15600.</p>
<p>That means that you would need to borrow $15,600 per year (more, actually -- since costs are likely to rise) which means that after 4 years you will owe $62,400. That is a huge debt to be carrying!</p>
<p>I think you need to rethink your plans -- you mom is right, the school is too expensive for you.</p>
<p>That's pretty ridiculous if you ask me...beyond ridiculous. It's a little unfair to be screwed over like that. Why should I re-think my plans? You don't send me out there to visit the place, send in the deposit, then all of a sudden decide it's too expensive. Screw that. I'm screwed out of college because of that stunt being pulled.</p>
<p>No one, in your words, has screwed you over. Perhaps your mother is less knowledgable about financial aid, but that doesn't mean she screwed you over. If you just sent in your FAFSA and used the wrong site that's a pretty good indication of that. Frankly I think YOU should have been responsible enough to make sure those things were done on time and in the right place. </p>
<p>To place all the blame on her at this point in time is ridiculous. </p>
<p>If you want a college education, it starts with doing your homework about affordability and understanding the process.</p>
<p>How are you being screwed over? Are you talking about your mother's advice not to attend? I think that she didn't understand the financial aid process -- and it is clear that you didn't, either. </p>
<p>It is unfortunate -- but I think it is incredibly short-sighted to try and borrow that kind of money to attend school at BGU. There must be more feasbile options locally.</p>
<p>BGU is too expensive -- there is no doubt about that.</p>
<p>Yeah, it's my fault that I was led to believe that I was going there and was getting ready to sign up for orientation and entrance exams, only to have it pulled out from under me. Yep, my fault, I'm screwing myself over.</p>
<p>Poker...have you discussed finances with your mom? What amount DOES she feel she can contribute to your college education? </p>
<p>If her income is $30,000 per year, her take home pay is somewhere between $15,000 and $20,000. Are you expecting that she will give ALL of her take home pay to finance your college education? </p>
<p>And again I ask...if finances are an issue...WHY did it take you so long to file for financial aid? If you had done this in a timely fashion, you would already HAVE a financial aid award from BGSU. </p>
<p>If you really want to have an estimate of your financial aid, call BGSU. Their financial aid office should be able to discuss this with you.</p>
<p>You are not getting screwed. You are not the only student who has wanted to attend an out of state school but did not receive financial aid to support this. OOS tuition is much more expensive than instate tuition.</p>
<p>Again I ask...how did you think your college education was going to be funded????</p>
<p>Wow, you are being very immature with your statements. It is time to grow up. </p>
<p>No one screwed you. Your mother should have thought the financing through, but you are supposedly an adult now and should have done the research yourself. Plenty of other kids here did. If anything you screwed yourself by not taking responsibility for the process. It is your education. You only applied to one school? With those poor grades and test scores? And an OOS public at that?</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Why did you wait until the end of April to file for FA? Should have been February. </p></li>
<li><p>Where did you expect $20,000 to come from?</p></li>
</ul>
<p>A bit of research on your part would have told you that 1) if you don't file for FA you won't get any, 2) the longer you wait the less FA is available, 3) most schools do not meet 100% of need, and 4) an OOS public is even less likely to meet need. </p>
<p>Yes you are in a tough spot, but it is as much your responsibility as anyone.</p>
<p>Poker, you already GOT $3600 of aid from your school. The max federal aid you are likely to receive isn't going to cover $20,000. That's all I'm saying. I would really suggest you call BGSU and see what they have to say.</p>
<p>Call BGSU yourself and inquire about finaid prospects at this late date. They are the ones with the answers. AND talk to your mom about what she can contribute to help you. </p>
<p>By the way...there are ALWAYS options. Community colleges enroll students up until the day classes start. It's an affordable way to BEGIN...if the finances don't come through for you at BGSU. It's something to consider.</p>
<p>"I guess I'll just hold out and hope you have no idea what you're talking about."</p>
<p>Isn't just ignorantly hoping things will work out what got you in this situation in the first place?</p>
<p>No one on this board has any control over the process -- we just have the knowledge of how it all works. Call FAFSA and find out how to access your EFC, call BGSU and ask when you will recieve your financial aid award letter and what options are open to you.</p>
<p>POker- with a HS GPA of around 2.0 and an SAT of 1030 you are not likely to qualify for merit aid any where. They do not see you as a good investment of their merit monies.</p>
<p>SO, show them, show every one you have grown up and are ready to be responsible. Go to your local community college and earn a 4.0, then apply to transfer after two years, your HS info will not be considered. This is your best opportunity to prove yourself to the colleges, to your mom and to yourself.</p>
<p>I would not advise most 4.0 kids who come on the board to take on $60-80,000 for a dream school, let alone some one who has not yet shown their academic maturity.</p>
<p>Your comments about being screwed are not uncommon on this board from people in the middle of an ugly reality check.</p>
<p>it is time to "man up", take responsibilty for your actions- why only 1 school; why OOS, state schools generally have a large loan component and are not known for providing much aid to OOS students; why did you not get the FAFSA info at your HS and provide your mom with the correct site and timeline; why have you not been on CC much earlier learning the possibilities.</p>
<p>That all being said, many of us have made mistakes with our first child's college app process, some people take a year off and start fresh.</p>
<p>You can save a lot of money and really prove something to every one by doing the community college> transfer track.</p>