<p>I'm not to sure how my comment on how financial aid system can indicate that I'm not aware of life is about making choices. Your right, I did chose to work and the consequence of that is unfortunately not recieving a financial aid package from a school similar to my peers who (by numbers) have relatively the same financial system as me. My intial post was to comment on a structural flaw in determining financial need for students.</p>
<p>Also, why would you think if I live on campus this fall, I won't be in a position to work after school?</p>
<p>Simba,</p>
<p>As for your comment on how my friends' family may have lower assests/larger family, this may be true that he may have a larger family. However, if I am correct, when you file a fafsa, isn't that taken into account along with your assets, thus determining your efc? If you think my intial post was ranting about how they decided to give me less grant for the fun of it, you are mistaken. I was stating a first hand observation I have noticed about the financial aid system.</p>
<p>it is not a structual flaw as the system treats everyone the same. Everyone is asked the same information and based on income and assets, you are given an EFC (it does not take into consideration debt, or what you spend your money on).</p>
<p>You will be able to work after school as most likely there is a work study component in your FA package but the amount of $$ you can earn through work study is capped.</p>
<p>Then some how your friend made a appeal to fin aid official and was able to convince them to give him larger award so that he can sit on his butt, eat cheetos and watch divorce court all day, and become fat.</p>
<p>He also welched on you. He told the school that aMeng is lying and his family has millions of dollars under the mattress.</p>
<p>You may not realize it now, but in few years your work experience - any kid of work experience will help you in your career. Trust me :)</p>
<p>aMeng, you're to be commended for what you are doing. You have made some tough choices and I am sure your family is very proud. I want to echo the advice of the poster who suggested you talk over your situation with your college's financial aid officer. If you can, try to bring some documentation to show what the money was used for (for example, if the household bills were more than your family's income without your contribution). If you approach them with sort of an "I understand this, but I just want to see if anything can be done" attitude, they may be able to make some adjustments (they do get some leeway). Even if they can't help you this time, if you make a good impression, they may remember you as a deserving student the next time something rolls around that they DO have control over.</p>