<p>Hello. I am completely new to this so be nice, please. :) I never went to college (community no degree) and my husband went to JR college with AA. </p>
<p>My son is a senior with 3.2 unweighted GPA (honors classes) and 1190 SAT (Math and Reading). He is applying to 1 school only. UMass Amherst as it's the only one in state that has his major as a BS (Turf Management at the Stockbridge School of Agriculture). </p>
<p>We have extenuating circumstances work/financially (husband has congenitally, degenerative heart defect). My husband can work part time and has a medical pension from his federal job (he's only 46). His condition is such that heart transplant is likely. Our EFC is automatic zero.</p>
<p>What is the likelihood of getting full need met without loans? My son will be the first in our family to go to college and only the 2nd of my parents grandchildren (out of 13). He's hopeful and excited. I'm just trying to get a realistic picture. </p>
<p>I've filled out the Net cost calculator but it still says 10k (only asks for EFC not if it's automatic zero). We couldn't possibly do 10k a year (40k in total). I've only paid 6k for my car. And that took me 3 years to pay off. I expect he will do work study. He works now and pays for his own car, insurance, phone and other things. Is saving a little bit to help him with day to day living when he's there (his income/assets won't count in FAFSA). </p>
<p>Thoughts from others in the know or in similar circumstances......What is likely the cost for him to go?</p>
<p>He’ll probably have to take loans at max for $5500 the first year, $6500 the second and $7500 the following two. He’ll will most likely have to work two jobs in the summer to come up with the difference…I think he might want to look at some other schools as well, maybe community college for the first two years but if he can get a degree from Stockbridge for $40K, I’d make it work somehow. Has he not saved anything from the past four summers that he could work? Kids that age in our area are paid very well for summer jobs…I know one 15 year old making $20/hr mowing lawns and raking,etc. If he can make it through the first two years, the $2500 for the second two should be gravy. </p>
<p>FWIW, anyone who could get a four year degree for $28K in loans is doing very well. That is an easy figure to pay off once he gets working full time after graduation.</p>
<p>I am sorry to hear that your family is going thru this.</p>
<p>i highly doubt that your son would get full need met and without loans.</p>
<p>Even if it indicates EFC 0 (and not automatic) it makes no difference. You don’t get more aid for being auto 0. Zero is zero.</p>
<p>It’s a public univ and it doesn’t meet need. </p>
<p>Your son may need to start a CC and then transfer as a junior. In the meantime, he’d have to work summers and save towards any gaps. </p>
<p>Just because other schools don’t have his major, doesn’t mean that he can’t start elsewhere, do his Gen Ed req’ts and then transfer later to work on his major. He needs to look up the course req’ts of his major, and then head to a local CC and see if he can two years there and transfer. CCs usually have transfer agreements that allow this all to work out.</p>
<p>During the time at a CC, if it’s possible for him to bank some of his Pell Grant and some sub-loans, then he could use that towards the last two years.</p>
<p>Going away to college is a luxury, and tax-payers generally do not fully fund without loans. It’s not unusual for a state school to expect its students (or students’ families) to fund the R&B part. </p>
<p>Can you copy/paste the NPC results? I’m guessing that the results are showing some aid and Direct Loans for him, and maybe the uncovered costs as a Plus Loan for the parents?</p>
<p>Mom2 is absolutely right. Getting a full ride, meaning entire COA (cost of attendance) covered is rare unless you are commuting t school. No school I know of guarantees to meet full need as defined by FAFSA EFC. Even the most generous schools will require a student contribution and there will be self help in the package. There are the very rare full ride packages that are scholarships, but very difficult to get and one has to usually be a top student, with top test scores, the absolute best of the admission’s pool to get those rare birds. Or an athletic scholarship. </p>
<p>Even ROTC awards and the most generous awards do not cover room and board, and other expenses. Full tuition is about as far at it goes and maybe a book stipend.</p>
<p>The automatic zero EFC gives your son the full PELL grant of about and access to $5500 in loans freshman year, Any more than that has to come from the school’s stash or merit awards or any other funds you can find. That’s the budget. It’s likely enough for him to commute to a local school. I know our state schools pretty much guarantee to meet full tuiton and fees need, but anything else. like living expense, supplies, transportation and of course room and board is on the family. </p>
<p>Do talk to the counselor at his high school and ask if there are any good deals out there that kids with his numbers can get. Some local schools give nice tuition scholarships which can then bring down the cost so that maybe living at school is possible.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your thoughts and advice. I agree that the number would be ok and we would have to work it out. Around here, they don’t hire until 16. He’s been working and saving (paid for drivers ed, bought a car, paid insurance for the year in full up front, pays his cell phone up front and all of his incidentals). He works during shop weeks as well (co-op tech school). His father and I will do whatever it takes to get him there and he will work hard as well. I’ll have to wait and see what the package is. The college website does say that they have some students that get full need met so I wasn’t sure. Our monthly budget is maxed but we’ll figure it out. Thanks for the help.</p>
<p>What the school is giving you as an estimate is the tuition, books and some, it appears. Your son will likely get offered some student loans, and work study. Also, he might find job opportunites there. None of my kids got work study, but they all worked in college. </p>
<p>Do also look into some back up commuter schools in case this does not work out. </p>
<p>I will. But I know his learning style and I know he needs to be there. Know what I mean? Some kids are disciplined and others…welll…I went to college, commuting, and working and…anyway…I want him to go away. I do feel like it’s a luxury and one I want him to have so we’ll work it out. I’ll take a look at that link but Arkansas is too far away. </p>
<p>And one more tid bit that I feel like people should know…my husband worked 2 and 3 jobs all of his life with this heart problem and it’s killing him that he can’t now. Currently he can’t carry grocery bags in the house and feels awful when he has to sit in the car while I’m doing and what people must think…he looks like nothing is wrong with him. Pacemaker and open heart surgeries and leaky valves and end stage heart failure don’t show on the outside. This struggle is so difficult for him. Thank you for not judging us.</p>
<p>Does your son’s employer offer scholarships? McDonald’s, Wendy’s, some grocery chains do. Are there any local scholarships your school guidance counselor can recommend? Many of these are only $1000, but get 10 of them and you are a long way towards meeting need for the first year. Elks club, Rotary, VFW local groups usually have scholarships. </p>
<p>Thank you…I’m starting the list now and he’s finishing his essay this weekend. He works for a landscape company so I don’t think so. His school may have some…his tech teacher is an alum at Stockbridge. I’m researching everything now. Thank you. </p>
<p>Absolutely. But those kids didn’t have an EFC 0. If someone had an EFC of $25k and they were given a student loan, there need would be met, right? It’s not hard to meet need when someone has a high EFC. And kids from $100k households are going to have $25k EFCs. </p>
<p>It is very hard for 90% or more of colleges to “meet need” for 0 EFCs. Few schools can hand over $100k for one student to go thru 4 years of college.</p>
<p>Kmac, your son should apply to his first choices and see what pans out. Absolutely. Until the school hands out the package, you don’t know what it will cost. But look for some alternatives in case it does not. If UMAmherst does not give enough to make it doable, your son should have some affordable alternatives. They won’t be as ideal as the first choice, but they are alternatives. There are kids desperate to get into a single school for any number of reasons, and some won’t get accepted, or it’s not affordable if they get in. They have to go to Plan B or sit the year out or go to an open enrollment school. Options are fewer when you are getting into this late. Get some Plan Be schools on the list, the ones that might be affordable. Other ways he can get the courses he wants. More than one way to do most things.</p>
<p>Thank you. I understand the need situations. Makes sense. Also, I don’t think he’s late…he’s a senior and applying regular admission due in Jan. If he doesn’t get in I’m not sure what he’ll do. Stockbridge has a 2 year option which I guess is easier to get into then the 4 but he could still be there and then transfer in. I’ll keep you posted. If he gets in and it’s $10k a year for 4 years, we’ll make it work.</p>
<p>I think what cpt means is that it’s Nov and it doesn’t sound like he’s identified affordable alternatives in case his first choice doesn’t work out. </p>
<p>Along with applying to UM-A, he needs to apply to a UM that he could commute to for a year or two, where he would do his Gen Ed/Core. Or, apply to a local CC. </p>
<p>Keep in mind that kids OFTEN change their majors anyway, so picking ONE unaffordable school based on a major that could change may not be wise. If your son doesn’t get a scholarship to UM-A, then it would be more cost effective for him to commute to a cheaper school for the first 1-2 years, do his Gen Ed/Core, and then if he’s STILL SURE of his major, then transfer to UM-A. That could save you $20k.</p>
<p>This sort of thing comes up on CC every now and then. Kids focus on ONE costly school because of a particular major. The kid goes there and then changes his major to one that could be completed at another (cheaper) school. So what was the point? </p>
<p>It literally bankrupted a friend of mine when her daughter did this. The DD was an excellent student and a marvelous person. I can identify fully why her parents wanted her to get what she wanted. She got into some 5-6 year program that would have led to a good paying job had she stuck with it. The problem was that the cost was more than the family could afford by far. It was an OOS public and they gave very little if any aid to her. No merit money either. It’s a highly desired program, so they did not need to “buy” any students for it The line to get in is very long. So the parents went for it, and yes, it might have worked out if DD had stuck to it.</p>
<p>But what you want when you are a teen may not be what you want in a year or so. I have a whole other outlook in borrowing for career plans for a college grad, as do lenders since money does open up for grad school prof school programs for such students. They can borrow more in their own names. Lenders aren’t going to extend that kind of credit to under grads without a parent or other credit worthy cosigner. There is a pragmatic reason for this.</p>
<p>But even kids who get through 2 years of college successfully, and are wanting to zone in on a discipline, I feel deserve more of a financial risk on part of the parent. A kid who does well at community college and has a direction for the Bachelor’s, I"m more inclined to go for it with loan money than some high school kid. And I do believe the stats are on my side . Kids change their minds all over the place about majors and what they want to study those first few years. Better to give it more time at an affordable place while the student shows what s/he 's got in terms of academic muster before going all out in some niche directiom
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<p>I see your points and they are certainly valid. My son is at a tech school and has been in horticulture for 4 years and working in his field for 2. I’m confident that he won’t change his major.</p>
<p>He’s also not choosing this school for any reason at all except that it’s a specialty major and they have it and no one else has it near us at all. It also happens to be the best. Turf Manangement as a Bachelors is not common. Out of the 3k kids at open house there were 3 that ended up in the room for Turf and the other 2 weren’t sure. My son has done this for 4 years already. </p>
<p>If he doesn’t get into the 4 year program, he has the 2 year option there. If he doesn’t get into the 2 year we have community colleges here he could get his gen ed done, I suppose. And he has a golf course job lined up for that option as well. </p>
<p>He’s a quiet, introvert and is looking at NOTHING else about schools at all except his major. </p>
<p>I also understand CPt thoughts about lending and community college. I certainly can appreciate that. </p>
<p>However, I have a different take on community college. Some kids (many actually) will not succeed in that environment. Staying home with other friends who aren’t going to college and being in that environment and community doesn’t exactly foster the college experience. Kids have to be very disciplined and focused. There is a reason that college freshman live in dorms and stay at college. Immersing yourself into the culture that is college and where everyone you are friends with is going to class and studying and balancing jobs/studies/classes is important. Trying to do it at a CC is not the same thing. And not every kid can do it.</p>
<p>I was one of those kids. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to work hard it’s that the picture wasn’t clear for me. I worked full time (salaried assistant manager at 17). I graduated hs a year early to begin my college. But when work calls and I’m the one who is the boss, I have to leave finals and take care of my store. Bills ecru and I had no financial help at all as my parents were completely unable. I’ve seen it with my sister’s kids. CC and never finished. My brother’s daughter went away and graduated. The very first one in the family. So you can appreciate my fear of CC for my son. </p>
<p>If my husband gets his transplant, he will be able to work around the clock and go back to a federal job. I will be able to do the same and my son will be all set. </p>
<p>In the mean time, I was really just curious how often it happens and what the likely financial aid award would be. You have all been kind enough to answer and offer advice and helpful tips. I thank you. </p>
<p>I will come back to this thread when he applies and let you all know if he got in and what the award was. </p>