<p>So I'm trying to head to UC Santa Cruz, but I'm having trouble with the financial part. The Cal Grant and UCSC Grant in my financial aid package should cover over half the cost. There's also work-study in my package, and I'm okay with taking out loans. I've received about $500 in scholarships so far, but I won't know if I've received any more until June 1st (senior awards night).</p>
<p>Things are looking alright, but here's the thing: the parent loan option is about $6k. My parents do NOT want to take out a loan. They've only ever taken out one car loan (years ago, it's paid off now) and money for the house (still being paid off). My dad is completely against taking out loans. He said that it's fine if I want to take out loans, but he doesn't want to take any. Now, my parents can probably pay some of that out of pocket, but not all of it.</p>
<p>How can I help them out? Will the school let me take out a loan separate from my financial aid package to cover my parents' share? My dad said he called the financial aid office and they said that I can't take out a loan to cover that. But that can't be true, can it? If my parents refuse to pay a certain amount, can't I take out a loan myself?</p>
<p>If you completed a FAFSA, you are eligible for a Stafford loan. I believe the max for a freshman is $5500. That about covers that $6000. </p>
<p>Find out how much your parents ARE willing to pay for you. Only take a loan for the amount they will not pay.</p>
<p>Taking out loans is the expectation. I hope you at least understand that, while I’m sure parents can be more difficult to convince.</p>
<p>You will not be able to get a university education in this country, for the most part, without taking out loans. Your loans are fairly low and will have fairly generous interest rates. You might want to have your parents talk with an FA counselor at your college to make them understand these things which they likely won’t take your word for.</p>
<p>$6K is pretty low for loans for a college education - your parents are lucky. I understand their loan-aversiveness but seriously, that’s a good deal.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, do you already have Stafford loans in your financial aid package? As was already mentioned, you can borrow up to $5,500 for your first year, which will just about cover the $6,000 (the $500 scholarship should cover the rest). If your parents can pay some of that $6,000 out of pocket then that’s even better. But the issue is first whether you already have Stafford loans in your package.</p>
<p>If you already have the max in Stafford loans in your package, find out what your parents are willing to pay, and then find out if they’re willing to co-sign a private student loan that you take out in your name from a bank.</p>
<p>In my package, there’s a Federal Perkins Loan for $1,299, Federal Direct Subsidized Loan for $3,500, and Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan for $2,000.</p>
<p>OP…so you have a $6000 balance after taking those loans? Then the only options would be parent contribution, job contribution from YOU, or loans. You will not be able to take loans without a co-signer. Do you have one?</p>
<p>$6000 is not a huge cost for college. Can your parents afford to pay half of that? Perhaps you could get a job (or two) during the summer and pay that other half.</p>
<p>At the rate that you’re going, you’re going to have about $30k in loans (Stafford and Perkins) by the time you graduate. That is more than enough for any undergrad.</p>
<p>I would have a talk with my parents. I don’t understand why they think it’s ok for you to have $30k in debt PLUS the amount that they are supposed to pay (about $24k total for 4 years + $30k = $74k), but they aren’t supposed to have any debt? That doesn’t make sense. Saddling a young person with $74k in debt is the equivalent of ruining their life.</p>
<p>Ask them if how much they can outright contribute and then ask them to borrow the rest…which only may be a few thousand a year.</p>
<p>thumper1, the parent loan option in my package is about 6k, and I’m pretty sure that they can pay at least half of that. I’m also waiting to see what scholarships I will receive in June (because I applied for a lot of local scholarships!), but I don’t want to try to predict the future on those. There’s already work-study in my package. It’s a small amount, but the school allows students to earn more than the original offer.</p>
<p>Nowhere is it written that parents MUST take out loans for their children’s educations. The OP is in California. He/she can live at home, work part time, and commute to one of the CCCs for two years. Then he/she can transfer into the UC or Cal State system. By that point perhaps the parents will see fit to take out some loans, or perhaps their financial picture will have changed and their responsibility as defined by the financial aid office will be easier for them to meet, or perhaps the OP will have enough work experience so that he/she can get an even better part time job and contribute even more to his/her own costs.</p>
<p>Many colleges offer institutional short-term loans or emergency loans. If you could take out some of those from your college, it might meet your gap for this year, and after that you can use your own savings / work income to fill the gap for the remaining two years.</p>
<p>Bedouin…this is not a short term emergency. This is a situation where the family will not pay. I don’t know any school that will grant an EMERGENCY loan under these circumstances. Please let us know which schools will do this.</p>
<p>Calm down, it was just an example of an option. I’m not recommending they be used to solve a chronic problem, but if you can meet the gap except for a little bit left (Through a job, a full unsubsidized Stafford, etc.) that the parents can’t meet, then that is when an institutional loan (not necessarily an emergency loan) could be inappropriate. UNC-Chapel Hill is one that I know that offers institutional loans as part of its policy through endowments, as well as institutional scholarships, grants, and work-study programs. If the OPs school does that too then that would be a way to meet the gap.</p>
<p>^Most schools make emergency loans, but they’re for small amounts and they must be repaid in less than a year. </p>
<p>Small math correction…$24K + $30K = $54K…still a lot of money for an undergrad degree. OP, find out if your school offers a tuition payment plan. They’re normally interest free and would allow your parents to pay their EFC in monthly installments, generally over 9-10 months. Also, look for ways to reduce your COA - triple room, smaller meal plan, used books, etc. If all else fails, take happymom’s suggestion and see if you can start at a CC and perhaps earn merit aid when you transfer.</p>
<p>Does your current FA package include an expectation for you to contribute from summer earnings and/or student savings? If not, then a summer job can go a long way toward meeting the $3000 gap you have ($6000 parent EFC and they will pay half).</p>
<p>I checked online and the Cost of Attendance (CA resident, on-campus housing) for UC Santa Cruz is:</p>
<p>Fees = $12,732
Housing = $14, 172
Transportation = $870
Personal Expenses - $1,524</p>
<p>Total cost of Attendance = $30,702</p>
<p>From what you have said, this is what your FA package has:</p>
<p>$1,299 = Perkins Loan
$3500 = Subsidized Stafford
$2000 = unsubsidized Stafford
$500 = outside scholarship
??? = Cal Grant
??? = UCSC Grant
$6000 = Parent EFC
??? = Work Study</p>
<p>From what you originally posted, your Cal Grant and UCSC Grant cover more than half the cost – do you mean half the cost of the fees or half the cost of attendance?</p>
<p>If it is half the cost of attendance (~$15,500) you should be able to make it work.</p>
<p>$30,702 - $15, 500 (Cal and UCSC grants) = $15202 - $500 (outside scholarship) = $14,702 - $6799 (Perkins and direct loans) = $7903 - $2500 (estimated work-study) = $5403 - $2000 (summer job earnings) = $3403 – if your parents can pay this amount, you can do it without any additional loans.</p>
<p>Yeah, I meant half the cost of attendance. I think I’ll be able to make it work. I’ve been talking to students, graduates, and lots of other people all day. Getting a summer job is definitely a yes. So thank you all so much for your help and things to think about. I really appreciate it!</p>
<p>JulieJuu,</p>
<p>As hsmomstef illustrated, the financial aid package includes costs that you do not have to pay the school up front. Concentrate on what you have to pay up front (some of which you may be able to space out with a monthly payment plan). The work-study is not available up front. That is the max amount that you can earn at an on-campus job that is not guaranteed. So think about using that for transportation expenses and perhaps saving that for 2nd semester books. </p>
<p>The expenses that are directly billable to the school are tution, fees, room and board. Figure out how much you need for that and when it’s due. (This is where a payment plan could help.) Then, you will need additional $ for books for fall semester. </p>
<p>The reason I’m recommending doing it this way is because your parents may be able to contribute a bit more if it’s not up front. Make sure you know what you need up front from them (or per month for a monthly payment plan) and remember to plan for the 2nd semester books.</p>