The top three schools I am considering are SDSU, CPP, and UCR. SDSU and UCR have a normal preliminary aid which meets my need as my EFC is zero. But I cannot figure out how to figure out how the aid package at CPP works. They only have given me an estimate of state aid, which would be cal grant or State U grant, and nothing else, not even loan. I tried to email them but they were not helpful except things I already knew. Now it is getting closer to the deadline on May 1 for SDSU I am starting to panic. What should I do?
If there are different deadlines, you can accept one now, and then change your mind later to accept one with a later deadline. However, the first place will keep your deposit, so keep that expense in mind.
@“aunt bea” am i correct in that the Calgrant would pay tuition at the Cal States, but that aid at the UCs could be higher and include possible money for other costs…for. $0 EFC student?
None of the Cal States or UC’s are meet need schools. If you plan to live on-campus then there could be a gap between your Federal Pell grant and Cal grant aid so loans may be required for the Cal states. For the UC’s, there is usually a smaller gap to pay since they do offer the Blue and Gold Scholarship which could cover most of your costs.
If your finances are straight forward, CPP and SDSU will have similar aid packages.
CPP is a CSU but the OP is asking about why they didn’t receive a loan or federal aid from that school. OP needs to CALL CPP Financial Aid and find out if his/her federal aid is ineligible at CPP. (That doesn’t make sense given his/her other aid at the other schools.)
@thumper1 It really depends on the type of CalGrant that the student was given in Freshman year.
**Cal Grant A **
@ CSU’s $5742 annually
@ UC’s $12,570 annually
Covers only tuition and fees.
CalGrant B
adds another $1672 to cover additional fees and books at both the CSU’s and the UC’s.
$1672 + $5742 for CSU’s=$7414
$1672 + $12,570 for UC’s = $14,242.
If the student is eligible for, and receives a State University grant, depending on the CSU or UC, that additional SUG funding can be used for housing and board. Blue and Gold covers more costs for students, who are in lower and middle-income working families, typically aren’t at $0 EFC, but are those “middle and lower income” families who the UC’s and CSU’s were built for, but wouldn’t otherwise attend because of the costs.
@tcchoi, sorry to add this but, did you get a chance to visit CPP? You do realize that the campus empties in the afternoon and weekends? SDSU and UCR are a bit more residential than CPP if that’s what you were looking for?
@"aunt bea"I do but the reason I am considering CPP is its food science program that I am interested in, which only Davis and SLO are the other schools that have this program.
So I think I will try to get more info from CPP and my back up will be UCR. I considered SDSU because it is a good school but on second thought I just don’t want to stay in San Diego.