<p>My situation seems very odd. I would appreciate if I could recieve a little help here. I'm from India, and have been in the U.S. since I was 2. My dad, who is the only worker in the family, moved from 20k a year to 65k a year over the course of 1991-2006. I've done ok in high school, nothing great by any means. I got admission to Purdue University, but seeing as I live in Missouri, I am an out of state student. The expected tuition total was 32000. My dad filed the FAFSA form and found out that we were eligible for very little amounts of need based aid, which I think is around less than 5k a year. I doubt I will get many merit based scholarships. The premilinary financial aid estimate (PFAE) said we were expected to pay 13.5k a year in order to attend Purdue. It was said that we could get up to 18k of financial aid a year. We visited Purdue today and talked to the financial advisor also. He said we were only eligible for stafford and parent loans based on the FAFSA. Is this true? I feel as if I won't be able to attend Purdue. My intended major is Chemical Engineering, and I know I would do extremely well if I was given the opportunity to attend. I know for fact that I'm not the only one in this situation, but how do other families with substantially less income and students of my caliber afford a school like Purdue? I thought since we lived in a 250k house, that it wouldn't be that much of a problem to attend; I was very badly mistaken. My question is, is it too early in the financial aid process to base negative assumptions on attendance? My parents said it is possible for us to pay the 13.5k a year if my mom gets a job, which shouldn't be too difficult. I personally have no problem taking loans, but is there any way the financial burden can be met? Please help me out, and thanks in advance.</p>
<p>FAFSA is not judging how much your family has available cash on hand to pay for college, it is more complicated. Think of it as FAFSA tries to estimate how much your family can get into debt to pay for your school. Some schools will use federal methodology which does not count your house as assets, some schools use Institutional methodology which does count your house as a asset your family can borrow against.
You can go to collegeboard.com and look at your school's usual packaging, how it is compare to what is your offer is.
I am not sure what is your question is. How people afford expensive schools when their income high enough to not qualify for need based aid but not enough to pay what school expected? Many students go to public instate schools they can afford.
Those with high stats apply for school in lower tier and receive lots of merit aid.
Some choose to go into lots of debt and borrow to the hilt.
You can go to your community college and transfer later.</p>
<p>Go to community college and transfer in a year or two.</p>
<p>No.. I'm not dumb to go to a community college. I understand some smart, unfortunate but deserving people may go down that route, but I'm not doing that.</p>
<p>Im sorry but you just dissed a whole bunch of people that go to a community college for financial purposes and not because they are DUMB. I was Valedictorian in high school and now I go to a community college because I couldn't afford to pay for the universities that I got into...so does that make me dumb? Sure...it didnt feel great to have to have to attend a jc after I had worked so hard in high school but its a reasonable alternative when your parents are not interested in paying the EFC. Oh and...you should be very greatful that your parents are willing to help you.</p>
<p>Crazy Indian,</p>
<p>Did you apply to any other schools? Are you able to compare offers with other schools, especially in-state? Even if you do not go to a community college, perhaps there is an in-state four year university from which you could transfer after completing your pre-requisites.</p>
<p>I agree rox
Students either get merit or need based aid or they attend a school that fits their budget- pretty much across the board.
The OP says she isnt going going to a community college- yet doesn't have the money for where she does want to go.
Hmm</p>
<p>Have you considered Truman State University in Kirksville? They are an excellent public school in Missouri and your cost of attendance would be much less.</p>