<p>I got a letter in the mail acknowledging that USC got all of my application stuff and it said to start applying for financial aid. I started filling out the CSS but for FAFSA it only lets me choose the 2009-2010 one... is there a certain date that the 2010-2011 FAFSA goes up?</p>
<p>I'm also wondering about the kind of need-based financial aid USC offers... because unless it's spectacular, I don't think I'll be able to afford it. I live with my mother who just finished graduate school and owes a lot in student loans. She keeps begging me to just go to community college. I can barely afford college application/test score fees so I don't know how I would be able to afford USC even if I DID get in.</p>
<p>FAFSA comes out on January 1st. Depending on your family’s income, you’ll most likely get a generous to an ok financial aid package. Apply for scholarships!</p>
<p>Don’t go to a community college! (No offense to community colleges.) Unfortunately, community colleges are becoming overcrowded and they are currently cutting back on classes offered, which are required for transfer students. I have friends that have experienced this. If you’ve worked this hard for these past 4 years and you can’t afford USC because your mother doesn’t want to take out a Parent Loan, try to go to your backup, a private or public school either of which could also give you good scholarships/aid. Remember, USC offers merit scholarships and you can use outside scholarships for your tuition (which is what I’m currently doing).</p>
<p>You should get some financial aid. Pay attention to how you fill out your FAFSA. Last year, someone’s parent did not feel out the FAFSA form correctly and did get not get enough financial aid money from USC. That said, a lot of my daughter’s friend are borrowing loans(not sure how much). So far, the ones that she met at USC are either on merit sholarships or on financial aid, nobody in between.</p>
<p>I highly recommend getting the book “Paying for College Without Going Broke, 2010 Edition” from the Princeton Review series. It takes you line-by-line through all the forms and gives advice about maximizing your award. It is about $14 through Amazon and might be the best $14 you spend in your college preparations.</p>
<p>As mentioned above, you will be doing the 2010-2011 FAFSA, which is available January 1st. The CSS/Profile is also required and it is available now, but it might be best to do them both at the same time. The book I mentioned gives some advice on timing when you submit the forms - right after you pay all your biggest bills and before the next paycheck arrives might be best. Mention to your mom that it is a good idea to get the taxes done in time for the forms, but if that is not possible you can submit the forms using estimates and update after filing. Just don’t miss any deadlines - be sure to file the FAFSA and CSS/Profile before February.</p>
<p>Because the FAFSA and CSS may not reflect all of the finer financial details of your household, I also recommend sending a “Special Circumstances” letter. In this you can list and explain any circumstances specific to your situation. For example, if your mom pays for health insurance for herself and for you, out of pocket, list the cost of the yearly outlay in premiums and what the projected outlay would be for the next year. The student loans your mom has, and when they will require repayment etc, should also be included, as well as any other expenses or circumstances that apply to your family.</p>