<p>I was accepted into UF for Fall of 2012 and I really want to go there but I don't know if they'll give me enough aid. So far, other than FIU, none of the schools I have applied to have given me enough aid to cover the cost in attendance. What should I do? I don't mind getting a loan, but that doesn't mean I want to graduate owing 50k or whatever. Yes, I've applied to some other scholarships, but those are really competitive since a lot of people apply for them too so I'm not betting on getting those. I've tried looking for some local scholarships (I live in Miami) but many have really specific qualifications that make me ineligible to apply. Any advice? Preferably from students who attend UF or who have friends/relatives that go/went there. I appreciate the help!</p>
<p>Btw, my EFC is about $2000 and my family really can't give more than that, so that's why this is a problem for me.</p>
<p>Did you qualify for Bright Futures? If so, which level?</p>
<p>The FL publics highly rely on BF and fed aid to help fund students. </p>
<p>What did FIU give you? FIU is a good school, so if that’s your affordable choice, you’ll still get a fine education. What is your major?</p>
<p>I qualify for the highest Bright Futures award. For FIU, I have Bright Futures and I also qualify for their Presidential scholarship award. FIU called me and basically told me I could go there for free, and while it’s tempting, I do really want to get away from home for a while and genuinely experience being on my own, meet new people, etc. I’ve lived in Miami for 15 years of my life and a lot of my friends are going to FIU, but I feel like if I stay it wont really be a change.</p>
<p>I’m majoring in Healthcare Administration.</p>
<p>At this point, you just have to “wait and see” what UF gives you. You will get some Pell money, maybe some SEOG, some loans and probably some work-study. Whether that will be enough when added to your parents contribution is still unknown.</p>
<p>How much can you most likely earn and SAVE during the summer to put towards college?</p>
<p>Hopefully what they give me will be a nice amount.</p>
<p>I do have a job, but it doesn’t pay that well (I get about $150 to $200 biweekly) and I do have other expenses, so unfortunately I can’t put it all away, but I do try to take about $25-$50 out of my paycheck every time and I put it in a savings account so that it’ll add up and I’ll at least have something even if it’s not a lot. I might try getting a second job over the summer to see if that helps me out a bit but by then I will have already chosen where I want to go, and ideally, that will be UF.</p>
<p>Between now and the beginning of August, I hope to have saved up at least a $1000. I don’t expect to be making much at my job over the summer.</p>
<p>Anyone else? All help is appreciated!</p>
<p>" I have Bright Futures and I also qualify for their Presidential scholarship award. FIU called me and basically told me I could go there for free, and while it’s tempting, I do really want to get away from home for a while and genuinely experience being on my own, meet new people, etc."</p>
<p>There are 36,000 students at FIU. Don’t you think you’d be meeting a bunch of new people? You’d hardly see your old high school classmates there. 35,000 students didn’t go to your high school.</p>
<p>With a bird in hand, you are in good shape. Hopefully UF gives you enough to make it a go, but be aware what you will be getting there is living expenses from them BF pretty much covers the tuition, does it not? You have PELL as well. You are looking for them to pay your room and board. If it comes through, that is truly a windfall.</p>
<p>Bright Futures does not cover full tuition. I’ve seen that on these boards more and more lately. It isn’t true and hasn’t been in a few years. If you get the highest level of BF and there are no reductions in funding this summer then BF will pay $101 per credit hour. UF charges more than $101 per credit hour.</p>
<p>What % would it cover, about 75%? That’s still pretty good. Your instate tuition is not that ex*****ve. At $6K a year, you can get $4500 covered, and in the OP’s case, PELL should cover the rest. It’s the room and board that is going to be the issue here. Dorm and minimal board will still come to about $13K or so. Can borrow $5500 frpm Staffords, but that still leaves a big unmovable gap there. But really, should tax payers be paying for boarding school for kids? Is that really part of education? Unless there are no commutable options available, I don’t think we should.</p>
<p>the Florida publics seem to have inexpensive room and board. Some don’t even require frosh meal plans. </p>
<p>With 2k EFC from parents, BF, Pell and a student loan and maybe some work-study this student would have nearly all costs covered. She might need a summer job to cover a bit more.</p>
<p>Not sure why “expensive” was asteriked. I must have made a heck of a typo there!</p>
<p>You switched the i and the s ;)</p>
<p>If could have an embarrassed face here, it would be.</p>