My Parents Can't Qualify.. what to do?

<p>U of Il is no better and there are other schools doing the same thing. A pet peeve of mine as I believe that an affordable state school education should be available for all, and this is not the case in a number of states. It’s a danged disgrace when top privates are more affordable after financial aid awards than the state universities. Shame on those states. </p>

<p>Many families who say they won’t qualify for PLUS will. Many are surprised and take it; others realize they can’t afford to take the loan and what they are really saying is that they cannot afford to borrow. Also parents who don’t qualify for some temporary issue can get a qualified co signer. The affordability issue is a whole other story.</p>

<p>GTU meets 100% of need. so they are considered one of the more generous schools being need blind in admissions and meeting 100% of need as they define it. Their definition may not be real generous among that rare category of schools, but they can be generous. I know kids who have gotten their very best package from GTU. I believe they do recognize sibling K-12 private school payments in their PROFILE which can really make the difference in some family’s numbers and eligibility for aid.</p>

<p>I’m not dissing it by saying it’s a huge public univeristy- that’s simply what it is. I would be attending the honors college, an my tuition is paid for based on merit. I would have a problem attending that school. It’s just not my first choice, and I want to explore any options I may have with GU first. And state education isn’t necessarily affordable for all- especially when very little to no fin aid is offered.</p>

<p>I meant I would not have a problem attending it. And at UA, I’m approved for some small loan and then my parents and I can make up most of the gap, so there’s a viable option for next year for me.</p>

<p>* I would be attending the honors college, an my tuition is paid for based on merit. I would have a problem attending that school.*</p>

<p>Is this at UArizona or UAlabama? </p>

<p>And do you still have the scholarship? Wouldn’t you have to have already accepted it?</p>

<p>It’s Arizona. And I’ve talked to their fin aid office, and have it figured out.</p>

<p>Could you borrow money from your parents? I don’t mean that suggestion to sound silly but is that a possiblity? If I read your situation correctly you got close to $40,000 in grants from Georgetown.</p>

<p>If the $40k in grants from GU is all “need based” then his parents don’t seem to have a good income/assets…unless GU made some kind of mistake in their calculations. And, if GU did make some kind of mistake, then chances are they will catch it at some point (maybe next year) and aid will significantly be reduced.</p>

<p>GU doesn’t give “super aid”…I wonder what the student’s FAFSA EFC was.</p>

<p>OP, what do you want to study? I’m very familiar with both those schools. I want you to consider a few other things:</p>

<p>1- Will you need additional winter clothes if you go to Georgetown?
2- Will you need a car at Arizona? You won’t at Georgetown so that would be a huge savings.</p>

<p>^^^</p>

<p>Good points…</p>

<p>Another consideration… It’s an extra expense to go to college across the country. Airfare, airport shuttles, baggage fees can add a couple thousand a year to college costs. And, if your parents fly out for move in day, Parents Weekend, move out day, or anything like that, that can mean another thousand or two for airfare, hotel, car rental, etc.</p>

<p>Actually, mom2college, I didn’t include airfare because Southwest flies from Phoenix to BWI and has great rates. It’s actually cheaper than a lot of other locations that are closer but not located on a major hub. </p>

<p>I do think Parents’ Weekend and helping the student move in may be out of the question if $ is an issue but a student would have few problems moving around DC and getting himself settled in. It’s a very liveable city with good transportation and a large population of internationals, non-locals and tourists so everyone is used to giving directions to newcomers.</p>