<p>Hi again!
Thanks vballmom for backing me up with more solid facts. Our house is about 50 years old also so you’re quite astute about the housing market here.</p>
<p>Just wanted to update everyone on my financial aid on USC and yes they accepted my appeal and granted me an extra $10k in university grants which I just wanted to share with everyone to provide hope for financial appeals. It really is true that if you really want financial aid, all you have to do is keep on appealing and contacting the financial aid office.</p>
<p>With the extra $10k, it brings down my parent’s EFC to $35k, a much more affordable price than before, and means I will be signing a subsidized loan of $3.5k a year and then cosigning a loans for my junior and senior years.</p>
<p>By the way total grants at the moment is $14k per year and I’m hoping to continue applying to scholarships and hopefully receiving them to continue reducing my costs as well as cutting down a lot on living expenses.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the advice, I think I’m about to sign my SIR/debt now.</p>
<p>You are absolutely NOT right that "it really is true that if your really want financial aid, all you have to do is keep on appealing and contacting the financial aid office’> You are very lucky it worked out. Most of the time it does not, and if it does, it comes down to more loans. Money is very tight and getting additional grants is tough, especially in that amount. You are to be congratulated for such a coup. </p>
<p>I always tell folks that appealing the aid is something one should do if there is any question of its appropriateness, but not to hinge ones hopes on the appeal working and start making alternate, affordable plans.</p>
<p>Because your parents are making a high salary and housing seems to be rising in value, they will be able to borrow, cosign and even help you pay or pay for loans for you the last two years when you say they will no longer pay. Kids from truly needy families would not have that option.</p>
<p>* It really is true that if you really want financial aid, all you have to do is keep on appealing and contacting the financial aid office.</p>
<p>*</p>
<p>As Cpt says…the above is SO NOT TRUE. Most appeals end up either rejected or only getting a small increase. About 50% of students are appealing aid. Do you really think that they are all getting what they want by just asking.</p>
<p>You’re very lucky to have gotten what you got.</p>
<p>I just think we all doubt that the secret to FA success is simple persistence. If so, everyone would ask 10 times.</p>
<p>CoIlegeMinded - paying for your junior and senior years.
With your CS major you are likely to find part-time (programming work) and summer internship that will help pay your college. Most companies (including ours) pay undergrad CS students (with some programming skill) on the average ~$25/hrs for intern/part-time.<br>
Since you are in silicon valley, you can probably stay at home in summer and target those 3 month for pay-intern.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>That’s a very good point, DadWith2Sons. A 10-week internship at $25/hour is $10,000. That’s a significant contribution to college expenses. Of course, there will be transportation costs and clothing expenses. My son’s college has a page on their career website with photos of acceptable business casual clothing, very useful 
</p>
<p>Silicon Valley companies are known for treating their interns very well. The key is to get good grades during the 1st and 2nd years of college in order to land a plum internship.</p>