<p>I was accepted to USC from another four-year institution in California. I really want to attend the school but I am paying an arm and a leg to attend. My mom was a business owner but just sold her business and moving. So she has no job at all. I appealed my financial aid package, but have little belief it is going to substantially increase (enough for me to be able to attend). Right now, I am tempted to write a few emails to some schools on the east coast that offer financial aid packages in hopes they will accept me and maybe offer good financial aid since I have a solid academic record.</p>
<p>I would also look at some CCs in CA (I assume you are a resident). It’s cheaper, lower travel costs, and if your mom’s financial situation improves you can transfer again at that point.</p>
<p>I think it would be all but impossible to get into a school for fall with a good aid package. Also, you say your mother sold her business. Did this yield a lump sum of money? Have you used some financial aid calculators to see what you’ll qualify for aid wise?</p>
<p>USC meets full financial need. If they are not giving you what you need few schools will. Some might have lower loans and student contribution, but Stanford and Yale are the only schools accepting transfers that tend to give significantly more than other full need met schools.</p>
<p>It’s very late in the year to attempt applying for ideal aid; most schools are gearing up for the next application term. You could be a perfect student and they couldn’t fund you not because you’re not great, but because they just don’t have any more money in the budget left over for students that are attempting to enroll Fall 2009. Money just doesn’t materialize out of the air; by August 2009 for a Sept. 2009 start they have most likely awarded all of their money, or most of it.</p>
<p>If you want to attend school in the fall for cheaper than what USC will cost (and USC is expensive, and while they may meet 100% of full “need”, they are the ones who decide what you “need,” and their idea of “need” could be much more than you can actually afford), then a community college or another public four-year university in California may be your best bet.</p>