Need some help meeting the cost of tuition+attendence.

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pittsburgh
1

<p>I got my financial aid letter:
College Work Study: 2500
Sub Stafford: 3500
Unsub Stafford: 200
PHEAA Grant Fall: 1675
PHEAA Grant Spring: 1675
Fed SEO Grant: 800
Pell Grant: 5500
Perkins Loan: 2000</p>

<p>Total 19700</p>

<p>Stats:
Age 17, wont be 18 until november.
Parents = bankrupt.</p>

<p>Costs:
CBA Tuition: 14900
Housing: 6000
Meal Plans: 4000
Pitt Misc Costs: 1000
Estimated total 26000.</p>

<p>what other costs are there besides books? On average, how much do students spend on books per semester? I also need to factor in personal costs.</p>

<p>I still need about 6000 more, what can I do?
My parents are bankrupt, is there anway to apply for more stafford loans? Are the stafford unsubsidized and subsidized the same thing? Or does each one have a separate limit?</p>

<p>For college work study, do I get paid as I go, OR is my total earning income that I can make 2500?</p>

<p>Keep in mind parents = bankrupt, and I won't be 18 until November.</p>

2

<p>My daughter got a scholarship for part, but there is no way we can pay the rest with $0 EFC. I’ve been helping her fill out every scholarship we can find to try to pay for it. You may have to try a cheaper place.</p>

3

<p>I highly doubt that another place is a valid option, I’m already 650 dollars in on my investment for a Pitt education.</p>

4

<p>I think you are missing a 0 at the end of the Unsub Stafford.
With the current FA package you currently have $7500 per year in loans. How much more debt did you want? You can have your parents apply for a Parent Plus loan. If (when) they are turned down then you can borrow another $4000 on your Stafford loan. Work during the Summer and try to come up with another $2K.</p>

<p>Free advice (and worth every penny you paid for it): Do not incur $50,000+ dollars (not counting interest) worth of debt to go to Pitt. There are less expensive alternatives that will get you to where you want to be.</p>

5

<p>You should post on the Financial Aid board. I am sure your questions about the loans etc. will be answered there.</p>

<p>I am assuming your parents filed for bankruptcy, it might be difficult to secure a loan because of the bankruptcy.</p>

<p>Can you go to community college for a couple of years and then transfer to Pitt for the last two?</p>

6

<p>tubguy, were you accepted anywhere else? Do you have any cheaper options?</p>

7

<p>I got accepted to Ship, and I could always apply to a local community college (HACC), but I’ve already spent 700 on pitt (student deposit and housing deposit)…</p>

8

<p>$700 is nothing compared to the amount you will eventually pay for college.</p>

9

<p>^^^ That is correct. Don’t let the $700 cause you to spend thousands you don’t have. If you tell Pitt you have to withdraw for financial reasons, I bet you’d get your money back.</p>

<p>Look, it’s a shame that your parents had to declare bankruptcy. These are hard times. Lots of people are suffering. But you have to figure out a way to get an education without saddling yourself with debt that will affect the rest of your life negatively. I had to attend a local college and commute. My family couldn’t even afford to send me away to state U. I had to make the best of it.</p>

10

<p>The housing deposit is refundable but if you explained your situation perhaps Pitt will refund the enrollment deposit too!</p>

11

<p>See if Pitt’s Office of Financial Aid can do anything further.</p>

<p>Research and apply any scholarship you might qualify for.</p>

<p>Can you make $6,000 in summer / part-time jobs? During the school year, there are lots of places to work part-time in Oakland. For work-study, look for something that is more study than work :-).</p>