<p>Alright, information over load! lol, so the college tuition is $6,768 for out of state and parking is free. I’m not sure what classes I’ll exactly be taking, so I’m not sure what fee’s I’m going to need to pay for labs and what not right away.</p>
<p>The housing is $5,715 for fall and spring terms combined without a meal plan. The housing includes pretty much everything, including a gym for me, it has internet and cable for me to, so those two combined are $12,483. I’m getting really confused right now though, where is this $11,00 coming from exactly? Is it because my EFC is 0, that is what I will be getting?</p>
<p>Did you fill out the FAFSA and come up with a zero EFC? Do you qualify for the zero EFC? Your mother’s income has to be under $23K for that to happen. Are you including any child support from your father? You do know that you have to include your mother’s information: I 'm saying this because several times kids thought they could just file as independent and happily came up with a big fat zero but neglected to fill in their custodial parent’s info.</p>
<p>If your mother is trying to make a go of it at under $23K income per year, I think it is pretty clear that she isn’t going to be able to contribute money to your education, even if she wanted to do so By giving you three meals and a cot, she’s providing what she can, and that is worth quite a bit. Look at room and board fees, and also figure out what you need to live on your own, and you’ll see.</p>
<p>With a zero EFC, if indeed you are there, you will get about $5600 for the year in PELL grant. Also you can borrow in your own name $5500 as a freshman. Unless you have some guaranteed state programs, the rest is up to your college in terms of what they will give you. What is the COA of the school? As Mom2collegekids says, there are re danged few schools, even in-state public ones that will charge that little for a sleep away experience. If indeed, you can cover tutiion/fees, room/board with the PELL and Staffords, good for you. Part time work will hopefully cover your transportation costs, books and other expenses (like toiletries, supplies, etc) You are set. </p>
<p>But that means your mother has given you her financial info and signed the FAFSA, can file short form for 2012, and is coming up with under $23K for 2012 AGI right? They do check these things with the IRS retrieval tools, you know. Has your mother filed 2012 taxes, and you are using that info straight from the forms?</p>
<p>*so the college tuition is $6,768 for out of state *</p>
<p>What school is this? Is this a 4 year college? or a CC? </p>
<p>And how much is the meal plan? </p>
<p>You’ll need to allow 800-1000 for books.</p>
<p>Yeah, I’ve used my parents income and have come up with an EFC of 0, our income is less than 20K, we did the IRS check thing it’s all done, at the end the screen said your EFC is 0, and you can receive a pell grant of up to 5500, and some other grant of 5500, but yeah I’ve completely filled out the FAFSA</p>
<p>IT’s a community college, but please dont tell me not to go because of that, because thats what I would be doing in state too. I was worried people would tell me not to go because of that. ):</p>
<p>IF your family EFC is ZERO, and that is using your mother’s income figures for 2012 as she is going to be using on her taxes, and if she can file a short form and if her AGI come out to under $23K, then you are entitled to get $5600 through the PELL grant from the federal government for the school year. Your FAFSA with your mother’s tax return for 2012 will almost certainly be verified with a zero EFC. The money will go to the school, half for the first semester and half for the second. You also can get $5500 in Stafford loans, some of that subsidied. Again, half will go for each semester and it will go to the school. Those will go towards your tution, room/board charges and you have to make up any excess. If the school permits you to dorm there without signing up for a meal plan than you so indicate. </p>
<p>If indeed the numbers are as you have stated them, with a job this summer for some seed money, and part time work once you get there, you can probably make a go of it. BUt that FAFSA has to be filled out with your mother’s info; you need to get a PIN for her, or she has to get it herself, and fill out her part of the form. Did you actually file FAFSA, or are you just going by what info you are getting here?</p>
<p>Well, Toriismiles, then you are set, though your mother will have to sign off on some things so you will need her cooperation. Congrats and well done.</p>
<p>Centennial, where are you getting over $30K in loans a year as an 18 year old freshman? You can get $5500 from Stafford loans, but the rest…are your parents getting you a private loan by being a coapplicant on it? That’s a lot of money in 4 years as the cost only goes higher.</p>
<p>Okay, now when would I start getting the grants?</p>
<p>The Pell Grant and student loan would get sent to the school when you enroll. It will be split into the two semesters.</p>
<p>You won’t get any aid prior to the start of school, so you’ll have to use your own money to buy your books, etc.</p>
<p>You may not get any of the money if you are staying in a dorm or other lodging owned by the school. The money goes to the school, half of it per semester, and the school takes from it the charges for tuition, fees, room and usually board. You have to pay them what 's left in the charges. If you are living off campus and expect to get money back, you have to have some extra to tide you over, because most schools won’t give it to you until nearly midway through the semester, past the final drop date. As Mom2collegekids says, you will have to use your own money to buy books, eat, pay for your other things. The amounts are not enough to pay for those things anyways. It looks like tuition, fees and most of the room charges will be covered, but you will still have to come up with something.</p>
<p>Come up with something-- as in, finding a job to pay for things like gas and food to feed myself? or what? (other than books) I’m not supposed to know this, but my grandparents started me a college trust fund, and my dad did too when I was 12, It’s not going to be thousands and thousands of dollars, but it could be some. My grandparents are fully supportive of me, and I know that they’re going to want to help even if I tell them not to because they practically raised me and have done enough for me.
By the way I seriously appreciate all of this, I’ve been so stressed about it lately, and this is helping so much! from all of you who have answered!(:</p>
<p>Columbia is giving you and your parents a cosigned loan for over $30K a year??? I thought that was ended after all of the scandals from those things. Are you going to Columbia College or Fu, or to the School of General Studies? </p>
<p>Centennial, very few school meet need even with a zero EFC. They gap. UVA does, as does Columbia and Georgetown, but the list is short Most schools, especially state schools, community colleges and the such give very little money outside of guaranteed government funds which the OP is hoping will cover enough of the cost of the OOS CC she has her eye on. Also, it’s not always easy to find a CC that has housing. </p>
<p>My friends son is going to UWV on PELL, State money (Promise) and some Staffords. A lot of his relatives and friends are doing the same and some are doing so at a CC. I lknow some folks, and some members have posted on this board, distressed because they are accepted at PSU with a zero EFC and the school did not give them one red cent. Just the same PELL and Staffords that this thread’s OP is getting and that does not cover PSU even as an instate. Insult upon injury they want these students to come early for a summer term and pay for that too! The school is giving merit money to entice students to come, but won’t give anything to zero EFC kids and even expect them to pay more!</p>
<p>Yeaa they are but the one requirement is I start paying right away as soon as i start. I’m in the College for Neuroscience. </p>
<p>Well all the oos public schools my family has gone too they payed about the same as the efc maybe a couple hundred up or down. For us to be able to determine the amount of need the asker is getting, we need to know the exact name of the school. If the EFC is 0, then even if she has to pay money, it won’t be 12000, maybe a couple thousand.</p>
<p>Yes, Toriismiles. What you want to do is doable, but you will need some source of seed money either from your grandparents, parents, or that you earn over the summer, as you do need to send a fee most likely for acceptance and to hold your spot; some enrollment deposit, and for the room if you are rooming there. Maybe the school will waive this since you do have a low/zero EFC. But if you have a car, you need to pay for the gas, insurance, upkeep, as you well know. You need to get to the school which will cost, you need things like shampoo, toiletries, school supplies. You need to eat. You need books. And you also may need to pay the school something as the amounts may be a bit short between your PELL and loans. You may also need health insurance which can be very expensive, if you are not covered under either parent. That your grandparents have a nest egg for you will be very useful.</p>
<p>But even if it’s 0, oos is not cheap because of all the personal expenses you will have. It’s easier to live close to home especially with a CC.</p>
<p>Your family has had good luck that way. As I just said, PSU is giving zippo to zero EFC kids. All they get is what PELL and Staffords net them. I’ve seen more gaps than full need met.</p>
<p>On a $30K loan, the payments, even over 10 years are not inconsequental. How are you paying this? Or are your parents paying this as part of their half while you are in school? That’s a lot of debt for a student to take. I am assuming you are taking full Staffords as well. Columbia did not insist that your parents take the PLUS (DIrect Parent Loan)? That’s what families I know did that did not qualify for any aid but couldn’t pay the full amounts. You are accepted ED? I am curious because I know a lot of kids at and are alums of Columbia since I live about 20 minutes from the school.</p>
<p>My parents are paying their half while I’m school and I just pick up after graduation. I have money saved up, about 16,000 from random internships and my job and bday money from 17 years. I’m going to gir minimum payments until after medical school. I’m doing med school in CA so it will be free (if I get in) and after that residency pays 50000/yr and I’ll use that to almost pay off the bill. I was accepted ED and since we can afford it I kinda have to go even though my parents are being unfair for not paying my tuition but paying my brothers tuition. </p>
<p>If you live 20 min away, can you tell me how the area is? Friendly for college students or dangerous?</p>
<p>have see numerous cousins go oof publc schools such as UVA with 0 EFC, and they actually paid nothing.</p>
<p>UVA is a RARE public that meets need for OOS students. At most OOS public universities a 0 EFC student would have to pay a good bit.</p>
<p>cptofthehouse, cool! Thanks! the housing application fee is $75, and my deposit to keep my space is $200, I’m currently working, so it wont be too hard for me to pay for that with what I’ve saved up, (since I rarely, if ever, spend my paychecks on stuff I don’t need to), but the only thing about my car is that I have an Audi, a very old audi at that, one year older than me, and I only have this car because my grandpa owns a car shop that fixes up foreign cars and someone left this car at his lot after he fixed it for them and he fixed it up for next to nothing and I got it, and Audi’s are very expensive cars to fix, SO, I’m not sure what to do about that, but I mean honestly I’m going to start calling places around the college before I leave to see if I can get a job, and my dad would continue keeping me on his health insurance when I leave, toiletries-- I know it sounds bad & that I’m relying on my grandparents, but my grandparents will probably take me to big lots and buy me bulk supplies of shampoo, conditioner, feminine stuff, razors, soaps, & I’m sure toilet paper we’re gonna split between me and the other person i share a bathroom with, but I would buy bulk of that too before seeing as I have stomach problems. I’m kind of rambling now, so I’ll stop lol</p>
<p>You are in a Master program right? Are your classes going to be on the main Columbia University campus or at the Columbia Medical Center? Close but significant distance away. I find the area quite friendly. My son lives in Washington Hts which is not far north, and I go to the Medical Center and the Armory qutie often. Not so often the university area. I don’t find the area dangerous, but it is very mixed in terms of income and types of people, so it pays to be aware and learn where the safety boundaries are. There are actually some expensive and very nice condos and apartments in the area. I’ve spent a lot of years in the student ghettos, some considered not as safe as this one, so I don’t find Morningside Hts or Washington Hts threatening areas at all. Just city. IS the school providing you with housing, or do you have to find your own?</p>