<p>I just checked my aid package online and I got the Dean’s Scholarship for 18,000. This is the only real “aid” I will be getting as I’m considered an international student and thus I’m not eligible for any FAFSA money. How much does the tuition, room, board, etc. come out to be? If I can’t afford it with the current scholarship they gave me, are there any other options available to me so I can attend the school and be able to pay? Any help is appreciated.</p>
<p>polo, congratulations on your scholarship. The total cost(with room and board, expenses, and tuition), comes out to be about 38 thousand dollars a year. You would be paying roughly 20K with your scholarship. There are a few options to make this work. </p>
<ol>
<li><p>get a job in D.C - probably a must if you dont have a work study. Luckily its a big city, so you should be able to find a job. </p></li>
<li><p>Student loans(not federally subsidized). Many banks offer low interest student loans. Check out fidelity and Merril lynch. Im sure they have low interest student loans. </p></li>
<li><p>summer job/paid internship - in the summer you should have a lot of time, this is a great way to earn a lot of money. </p></li>
<li><p>AP Credit - Unfortunately, American caps at 30 hours, but this is still a year less of paying tuition. </p></li>
<li><p>talk to the school - if you explain your situation and prove your inability to pay, they may raise your scholarship if you are that dedicated to go to American. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>I would say to all of you that before forking over large sums of money, think about grad school. Law schools these days are not exactly cheap.</p>
<p>You're going to have to take out private loans, which with the federal student loan rate hikes for next year aren't so bad. Federal staffords will be locked in at 6.8 and Plus loans will be at 8.5. You can get private loans for about prime plus 0 to prime plus 2, which is 7.5 to 9.5 percent.</p>
<p>Hmm...at 20,000, American is basically going to cost the same as UC Irvine or UC San Diego. If I'm going to have to take out those massive loans, might as well go there.</p>
<p>UC San Diego has an out of state tuition cost of 25K. With all expenses it can come up to 39K. With the 18K scholarship at American, tuition only costs about $10K and total expenses would be around 22K. 39-22 is 17K more a year. Maybe I'm totally missing something, but how are the UC schools cheaper?</p>
<p>Even though I am considered an international because of my visa, I qualify for in-state fees because I've lived in California for many years. Thus, the UC's cost about the same as American.</p>
<p>according the materials I received from american... it is going to cost 43 K to attend next year... which kind of stinks... I got about 10K less at american than I did at my other schools.. and all of my aid was need based. I'm really liking american more and more so I might try an appeal.</p>