I did it - sent a rambling letter begging for more $$

Paying for College
1

<p>My daughter fell in love with a school and while we got a good amount of $$ between the school grant, federal $$ and state $$ -- there is still a $16,000 per yr deficit. $10K is allotted to loans and $6K to unaccounted for ... We had an EFC of about $1800. </p>

<p>Because it's a technical school that requires coop as part of the graduation requirement -- she will (hopefully) work and make some $$ in the middle of getting her degree and if all goes well be employable afterward -- so we're likely going to try to make this happen for her one way or the other ... </p>

<p>Of course more $$ can only help so I figured it was worth a shot.</p>

<p>Has anyone else done this yet?</p>

2

<p>I sent letters, just not rambling ones. Good luck!</p>

3

<p>*there is still a $16,000 per yr deficit. $10K is allotted to loans and $6K to unaccounted for … We had an EFC of about $1800. *</p>

<p>Are the loans something like:</p>

<p>5500 Direct/Stafford loans
1000 Perkins loan
3500 Plus loan for parent?</p>

<p>How much can you D earn/save over the summer?</p>

<p>I know that to some, a $6k shortfall doesn’t sound like a lot, but to someone who has a 1800 EFC, that is a lot of money ($500 per month!). </p>

<p>Are your D’s stats in the top 10% of the university? </p>

<p>If the school won’t cover that $6k gap, how will you cover it?</p>

4

<p>the loans are 3500 subsidized, $2000 unsubsidized and $4500 fed perkins
we will scrimp to pay</p>

5

<p>Wow…your D was given $4500 in Perkins loans? I’ve never seen that large of a Perkins loan in one student’s package. I know that those loans can go up to about $5500, but I’ve never seen one kid get that much.</p>

<p>you might consider a Plus loan to help with some of the shortfall and a summer job to cover the rest. there are many other costs associated with having a child go away to college…dorm stuff, help with move in (hotel), parents weekend, etc.</p>

6

<p>is that unusual (i guess yes, if you’ve never seen it) and now I’m worried. Is there a qualification to get it or is it enough that the school set it aside?</p>

7

<p>I would definitely try to get something in writing that the school will do that every year as long as EFC doesn’t go up. </p>

<p>My concern is that they give a lot of Perkins to incoming frosh to help close gaps, but perhaps they won’t do that in future years.</p>

8

<p>

Co-ops in the technical fields can make some pretty serious coin. $20-$25/hour is not unusual, plus many will kick in some for housing expenses etc.</p>

<p>She should be able to save some serious money if she is frugal.</p>

<p>So factor that into your calculations.</p>