<p>I recently got into Cal, and I'm wondering if this is a goof financial aid package for me.</p>
<p>My EFC is around 19k</p>
<p>FED.DIR.LOAN-SUB1 FL $3500
FED.DIR.LOAN-UNSUB1 FL $2000
WORK STUDY ELIGIBILITY $2500
FED.PARENT LOAN PLUS1 $17000
FEDERAL PERKINS LOAN FL $1100
BERKELEY UG SCHOLARSHIP $930</p>
<p>Seems like a lot, any help?</p>
<p>It’s not a lot, at least not a lot of grant/scholarship (free) money. </p>
<p>They’re offering you $6600 in student loans (that’s a lot for freshman year). Offering to let you work during the school year. Telling you that your parents can take out an 8.5% PLUS loan for 17K if they want. And they’re coughing up $930 in free money.</p>
<p>COA is around $27K, I think. The other 26K is up to you and your parents. Subtract the 6.6K student loans, and you’re still 20K short. Work 3K during the year, and you’re still 17K short.</p>
<p>That’s why they put the 17K PLUS loan in there-- in case your parents want to take out a loan for the rest.</p>
<p>This isn’t a generous offer. But if your parents can cover the missing 17K, it’s doable.</p>
<p>Do you think it’s worth it to call them up and see if I can get a better offer? I think 17k per year is already a lot for my parents to pay.</p>
<p>I think it’s a very long shot. UC’s aren’t known for budging much on their aid packages. If you could argue special circumstances, that your FAFSA EFC didn’t reflect recent loss of income, for example, you’d have a better chance. But it’s very unlikely that they’ll change it much, if at all.</p>
<p>I’d look at other options, unless your parents can swing the 17K.</p>
<p>Yeah, UC Berkeley gave me the best deal. (which was probably not good to begin win) Other UC’s like UCLA expected me to pay PLUS loans at 20k. I never got into a private college that I applied to (other than UOP), so UC Berkeley is probably the last option I have.</p>
<p>I guess it’s worth a try.</p>
<p>It sounds like there’s not much difference between the Cal and UCLA offers if it’s just Plus Loans. Those are just offered in case your parent’s can’t afford their EFC. Many do not take schools up on this offer.</p>
<p>As Sblake points out, the only money you’re being given by Cal is $930. Has UCLA offered any grants? For $930, I would choose the one you really like.</p>
<p>UCLA offered me nothing whatsoever. (I didn’t even see work-study on their offer) So if most don’t take this offer, what do they usually do?</p>