<p>My EFC increased about $400 from last year, but my family contribution as outlined in my aid package has increased by about $1300. When I asked about the huge gap, the woman explained that they have limited funds, and that they gave me $400 more in institutional grants this year...the problem is that tuition went up by much more than $400.</p>
<p>Don't they have to increase aid in proportion with COA? If my EFC goes up by $400, then my family contribution should only increase that much. It's not a 100% aid school, but they said last year that my costs should be consistent.</p>
<p>One thing to check is the amount of any Stafford loan that is part of your package. That goes up each year with 3rd and 4th year both at 5500, I believe. That loan and its increase is usually a given in most financial aid packages.</p>
<p>I was a transfer student, so this is only my second year, there. Aid is based on EFC and COA...for them to give me what I got last year when tuition increased fairly substantially is shady.</p>
<p>I know they don't have to meet my full need, but I was assured that future aid packages would only vary as much as my EFC did. If I have to pay an extra $1,000, when my package already gapped by $2,000, I suppose they should expect to hear some complaints.</p>
<p>schools often reduce aid after first year- especially if not a 100% need school
Even IF a 100% need school, they may reconfigure your available assets to make contribution higher & theirs lower.
Sounds like your school is pretty inexpensive, but Florida has some good schools as well- perhaps an instate school would better fit your budget?</p>
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If my EFC goes up by $400, then my family contribution should only increase that much.
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<p>This is not necessarily true as colleges expect students to be active participants in the financing of their education. IF there is a student contribution that is part of the EFC which has now been raised, that is actually quite normal as the college does expect you to work over the summer. Each year you are expected to contribute a little more based on hopefully having more experiences and the potential to earn more money. It is not unusal for the student contribution to do up a few hundred dollars a year even if the parent contribution remains fairly stable.</p>
<p>EK: My school costs about $25,000 a year (including room & board), but I am a senior, now. I couldn't transfer all my credits. Of course, the finanicial aid office realizes this, and I'm sure they're taking advantage of many people in my situation so that they can squeeze us for all we're worth.</p>
<p>Sybbie: 1/3 of my financial aid package is in the form of loans and work study. The government automatically increases the burden on students as years pass by increasing the amount of loans for which they are eligible (which schools automatically include in financial aid packages). EFC includes expected student contribution. I am having great difficulty finding work (going for an interview at 1pm today...first call back of 8 job applications over the course of a month's long search), but I can guarantee any work I find will not yield more than $6.75/hour.</p>
<p>I am very disappointed that my finanicial aid would not increase in step with tuition increases. Otherwise, it's pretty much the same package I received last year. A few hundred dollars is understandable; this is 13 hundred...</p>
<p>In any case, I realize that asking for more is a lost cause, and I appreciate the feedback. I apologize if I sound contrary, but I'm reluctant to just accept the extra debt and I feel that the allocated funds are unjustly inadequate.</p>
<p>I am sorry but $1,300 may seem insurmountable- but there are options
Many people have a work study job during year- this can pay for all books, personal items, entertainment etc.
My D has worked a summer job earning $3,000 to $4,000 a summer- as she still lived at home 96% went toward tuition.
I don't know why you aren't able to find a job that pays more than minimum wage- We live in a city so perhaps that increases job opportunities ( but also people looking)- but also D had always spent her summers working or volunteering through high school, and by the time she entered college, she had a strong resume.
I realize that you can't go back and build skills to make you more employable, but perhpas that advice could help someone else.
A route for work that my nieces found useful was working at a temp agancy. Often they just need someone to fill in,while office staff go on vacation, and it pays well over minimum wage- plus if they like your work, they may ask to hire you either every summer or permanently.</p>
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Sybbie: 1/3 of my financial aid package is in the form of loans and work study. The government automatically increases the burden on students as years pass by increasing the amount of loans for which they are eligible (which schools automatically include in financial aid packages). EFC includes expected student contribution.
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<p>I understand this as my D has a $2700 EFC and her school knows that they have a mandatory sophomore summer where their class is on campus, is doing a study abroad in the fall and has a leave term in the winter (last year she made $4000 over the summer as a camp counselor). However, the expectation is that she will work during the school year to make up her portion so she is on campus now working with career services to get an internship for her off term.</p>
<p>As a rising senior, I would think that you would be able to go to career services at your school and get a summer internship that would hopefully prepare your for the world of work after graduation as I am quite sure you are not going to college so that you could work a $6.75/hr job.</p>
<p>I agree with EK about signing up for a temp agency as some positions do last for weeks at a time and can be a way to get your foot in the door for permanent employment</p>
<p>EK: I am paying the family contribution through unsubsidized stafford loans, so $1300 is not impossible to pay, it simply increases my burden later. I do have work study during the school year, which gives me $1400, but that is part of my aid package.</p>
<p>I just got back from my job interview, which didn't seem very promising. They aren't looking for someone to stay only through August. I can't even get a minimum wage position; earning $4,000 over the summer is impossible.</p>
<p>Sybbie: As I am planning on earning my teacher's certification after I graduate, I won't be earning $6.75 an hour. I appreciate your suggestion of an internship, though, as it would be a productive way to spend a summer without other employment.</p>
<p>I will consider looking up a temp agency, as there are only two months left in the summer, and it seems unlikely that anyone is willing to train me for such a short work period.</p>
<p>I am sorry if it seems like I am making excuses here, but I feel so frustrated. It's not like I haven't filled out 8 job applications.</p>
<p>Thank you guys for responding. I can accept the fact that my loans will be more than I thought they would be. I am fortunate to be able to attend my college at all.</p>
<p>Going to a temp agency won't be that bad and you have more skills than you think (part of the reason for work study) . It is not unusual for them to hire summer help and college students usually fill this void.</p>
<p>I am sure at worse you should be able to do some basic clerical work (filing, data entry, even receeption work, basic typing, spread sheets, etc.) and this will take very little or on the job training. Sign up for as many agencies as possible so you can have your bases covered.</p>
<p>Since you are going to be a teacher, have you considered tutoring. Do some word of mouth with parents in your neighborhood to let them know that you are available. Consider babysitting as some sitters make great money.</p>
<p>My daughter just received her financial aid package for next year as a returning student. College costs are up $2500 -- and her grant was decreased by $9500. </p>
<p>I have an appointment to speak with a FinAid officer next week to see if I can understand what happened . Our income went up by $15K and our home increased in value by $50K. I expected my daughter's grant to stay the same while school costs went up -- a net increase in EFC. I did not expect that she would have to drop out because we don't have an extra $10K lying around the house. </p>
<p>We will appeal, of course, but I anticipate that it won't be enough. So my child is now looking to apply to schools -- in July -- for next Spring.</p>
<p>because tuition is usually due before you begin school & because work study is income that is paid like any other job, I don't think that schools expect you to pay any of it for tuition.
They do however probably expect it to go toward, transportation, books and personal costs</p>
<p>actually... my school doesnt estimate books, transportation, or personal costs into aid packages so the way its listed in your aid package assumes that 100% of it will be used toward tuition/room&board</p>