Non-Traditional and FinAid

Paying for College
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<p>Browsed around the forum and didn't see anything too similar to my situation. </p>

<p>So I'm a non traditional (23yo) and it's time to start putting all my transfer app stuff together. This has got me thinking recently about how I'm realistically supposed to afford transferring to a big name school. </p>

<p>I'm applying to schools mostly further away from where I currently live, UCLA, USC, William & Mary, UMich, Rice, BC, NYU, Stanford, and Berkeley (I live closest to Berkeley).</p>

<p>So my question is, how much do schools help out non traditionals? Factoring in room and board (i know that's the most common), food, utilities, it's all going to add up. And what am I supposed to do during summer? I don't live with my parents, so I can't just go home and stay with them during the summer. So do I just get kicked out for summer and then have to figure it out?</p>

<p>The ideal plan is to land a summer internship with summer housing, but in the event that life happens and says, "not so fast--it's not that easy" I want to be prepared. </p>

<p>This journey through getting back to school and doing extremely well has been an amazing experience, I don't want it to come to a sobering hault because I have no where to live during the summer. </p>

<p>I do qualify for finaid and fafsa (as I've used it for the past 2 semesters) but I don't understand how finaid works during the summer.</p>

<p>This has been really stressing me out, please any suggestions, advice, links would be much appreciated. </p>

<p>Thanks,
TeamAmerica</p>

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<p>Colleges don’t help non-traditional students any more than any other for cost. What is your home state? CA? </p>

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<p>Thanks for the response. Right, I’m aware. So what does that mean? Yes, Ca</p>

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<p>Most non traditional students find a job and then eke out the courses they need towards a degree, bit by bit as they can afford them, but the main focus is usually the job because they need the money of living expenses first. Many live with their parents while they are going to school, to defray expenses. Very few students, traditional or non traditional, have the option of going to school full time with their way paid. Those who do tend to have parents who buy this experience for them, and then there are the very, very few who get enough money from the schools, merit awards or other venues that pay their way. </p>

<p>The term “non traditional” is really a misnomer since the average college student, or the majority of college students are in their mid 20s, going to school part time, and working full or part time as they do so. In that sense, you are typical. </p>

<p>Where are you living right now? How are you meeting your living expenses? How are you paying for school? With a zero EFC, you are entitled to $5730 in PELL grants, and for junior and senior years, you can borrow up $12,500. Out of that you have to come up with tuition,fees, books, transportation, living expenses, Unless one of the schools to which you are applying comes up with more than that in financial aid or scholarships, that’s it for you, other than possible state aid. As for where to live in the summer, many students, my son included, found an off campus apartment in the “student ghetto” with a cost less than his university’s housing options, and so he lives there with a roommate. In his case, he could have tried to sublet the place this summer and come home to his parents, working here instead of in the university town. He would certainly be netting more, had he done that, as he is finding out. Even if he only got half his rent covered by sublet, what he could have “mooched” off of us in terms of food, sundries, toiletries, laundry, whatever, plus he would have paid more at a job here. But, in answer to your question about where a student lives during the summer, there tends to be a lot of student sublets advertised, sometimes for a discount since 12 month leases are the norm outside of university housing. You need money to do all of this, enough up front seed money. </p>

<p>So do apply to a bunch of schools, and see what pans out, but make sure you have some local options where you can finish up. The fact of the matter is that even those schools that guarantee to meet full need, out of those listed, I believe USC, Rice, BC and Stanford do, often do not extend that guarantee to transfer students. Scholarships are also fewer for transfers. So being a “non traditional” student is not going to be the issue, so much as being a transfer. But nothing ventured, nothing gained. Good luck.</p>

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<p>When are you transferring? Shouldn’t you be done at the CC now? Depending on where you go, getting an apartment with some other students can be cheaper than living on campus. Then you don’t have to worry about the summer. When I transferred, I had summer between Jr and Sr years, when I took 10 credits worth of classes to make up gen-eds I needed as a transfer. Otherwise, you can probably get a summer job or internship of some kind.</p>

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<p>Did you do what was needed to be done for you to qualify for Cal Grants? </p>

<p>You will have to figure out what you can do for summer. </p>

<p>At your age, they may not want you in the undergrad dorms, so you may be able to get an apt right off campus. You would likely have to work full time in the summer to pay your rent, etc. (Frankly, at your age, you shouldnt want to be in the dorms with a bunch of 18 year olds.).</p>

<p>If living in an off-campus apt wont work, then you may need to contact a parent, sibling or relative and ask if you can stay over the summer.</p>

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<p>I don’t know if a 23 yo Jr is really called nontraditional. I thought that was used for students who took a 5+ year break before starting school. </p>

<p>Nonetheless, as others say, it isn’t any different for you. There is the COA and there is your financial package. COA doesn’t count summer housing and food. The independent student or the dependent student parent has to cover that. If you have an off campus apartment, rent is usually year round, and you may be able to rent an off campus apartment for the same or less price as a dorm. I know you can at Berkeley. Otherwise you can look for summer sublets. In college areas you can often sublet a furnished place for below market. There is always crashing with friends if you can’t crash with your parents.</p>

<p>If you get in a private school you might find summer work on campus, paid research stipend or even summer aid for school (my daughter got that.) </p>

<p>You will have to apply to see what financial aid you get. I think the UC will meet your need as a transfer.</p>

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<p>At 23 years old, you will still need your parents income and assets to apply for financial aid. while you will be independent at 24, keep in mind many of the schools on your list that use the profile will not make you independent when you turn 24. you will still need your parents income/assets for institutional aid.</p>

<p>No matter what you do, make sure that you have some financially feasible options (right now it seems as you have not done this part)</p>

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<p>However, the UCs are FAFSA-only. And yes, there’s that Blue-Gold thing in CA: <a href=“http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/paying-for-uc/glossary/blue-and-gold/”>http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/paying-for-uc/glossary/blue-and-gold/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>For 2014-15 FAFSA, answering yes means you are independent</p>

<p>Were you born before Jan. 1, 1991?</p>

<p>For 2015-16 FAFSA answering yes means you are independent</p>

<p>Were you born before Jan. 1, 1992?</p>

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<p>You are lucky in that UCs and CSUs offer good in-state financial aid, using FAFSA only. But consider the dependent / independent student status based on your age (you are considered an independent student if you are a military veteran or married).</p>

<p>You can search for the net price calculator on each college’s web site to get a financial aid and net price estimate.</p>

<p>Berkeley and some other schools have low cost student cooperative houses nearby where you can live during the school year and summer. Of course, in other off-campus housing, you can live there in the summer. Due to the smaller student population in the summer, summer housing should not be too difficult to find at many schools where substantial numbers of resident students live off-campus.</p>

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<p>UCB…what does a student have to do to get/preserve Cal grant status? and has this student done that?</p>

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<p><a href=“http://www.calgrants.org/index.cfm?navId=12”>http://www.calgrants.org/index.cfm?navId=12&lt;/a&gt; describes eligibility for Cal Grants.</p>

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<p>I understand my initial post was a bit vague. Allow me to clarify. Quote bubbles aren’t working so I’ll just go in order.</p>

<p>CptHouse: As of right now, my buddy and I rent an apt, and I work ~25 hours/week while in school. I have paid for school through FAFSA. My classes and books are free, and I get a little money for generic living expenses. I’m not sure exactly how EFC works, but as mentioned I was awarded the PELL grants through through FAFSA. A quick search after not being lazy brought up some results on some summer housing so I understand what you’re saying about the sublets and that would ultimately be something I would have to figure out with the school. You’e sentence about meeting full need, are you suggesting USC, Rice, Stanford offer more FinAid than the others? I have friends that went or go to USC and from what I’ve heard, they are VERY generous with helping students afford school. And from what I understand, because of lack of money my parents make, if I were accepted to Stanford they would waive tuition. </p>

<p>Sylvan: I’ll be entering as a transfer in Fall 2015. I work part time, and my buddy and I started a business about a year ago, hence why it’s taking me three years at a CC and not two years, but that’s very common regardless of impacted schedule. Getting an apartment off campus is my plan because as someone else has already mentioned, at 23yo, I have no interest living in a dorm with someone who only graduated HS 4 months ago. And yes, the whole plan is to land a summer internship/job with from on-campus recruiting. My only concern is if I don’t land said internship/job. </p>

<p>mom2kids: I applied for aid through my CC, is that the same process for CalGrants? And as you mentioned, I don’t want to live in dorms with 18yos. My plan is to get an off campus apt. </p>

<p>BrownParent: Idk, I dropped out of HS at 16, returned at 21, so idk what that makes me. If you don’t mind, can you expand on the COA vs Financial Package? I’ve had friends at both ucs and privates and I’ve heard great things from both as far as financial aid. But this was when they were in the traditional 18-22 yo college age and so they’d return home for summer. I’ve stayed at the Berkeley apts before and they are surprisingly nice, and yes, VERY affordable. I know USC has the Lorenzo, but idk who is able to house there and how people qualify. Given my situation would you say that going OOS would be a poor decision? </p>

<p>Sybbie: My parents are very poor and cannot afford to offer anything up for institutional aid. When you say feasible options, are you referring to less expensive schools, or having money saved away? I haven’t given much thought to the first (unless UCs give me tremendous financial aid) I have don’t the latter.</p>

<p>PurpleTitan: When would I file for FAFSA, after I get accepted? Thanks for the link, I’ve browsed over that before, but will look at in depth when I get home from the gym. </p>

<p>BrownParent: then yes, I would be independent. So is FAFSA the umbrella in which everything else stems from? (cal grants, coa?, blue-gold, etc.) Does FAFSA only apply for UCs/publics? What is the fafsa equivalent for privates?</p>

<p>UCB: I’m pretty sure you’ve responded to other posts of mine, nice to hear from you again. According to brownparent’s fafsa link, I would be independent. I guess my question is the same, what is the fafsa equivalent for privates. Thanks for the link, will look into that in a little bit.</p>

<p>Thank you all for the responses thus far, this is all very helpful. </p>

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<p>HI,</p>

<p>What I am trying to explain to you is that you are considered an independent student for federal aid only, the year that you turn 24. Being independent for federal aid does not automatically make you independent for institutional aid. Also keep in mind the threshold for a 0 EFC is lower as an independent student with no dependents other than a spouse.</p>

<p>For example, you mentioned Stanford. THis is Stanford’s policy for independent students</p>

<p>

</a></p>

<p>USC states the following regarding Independent students</p>

<p>

</a></p>

<p>In answer to some of your other questions:</p>

<p>I would not recommend going to an OOS public school as they will not meet your need and you will forfeit your cal grant $$.</p>

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<p>Most schools other than UCs and CSUs that give good financial aid require FAFSA and another form (usually CSS Profile, although some have their own forms). Those schools tend to calculate their own definition of EFC and need, using the information in those forms.</p>

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<p>FAFSA - qualifies you for federal aid, grants, loans, work study, but all schools want it filled out each year
Cal Grant - state aid for CA colleges only, not sure what steps you need to take for transfers, look at website
CSS Profile - many private schools use this to determine institutional aid (or their own form)
Institutional aid - what the college gives you from it’s own funds</p>

<p>Oh boy, so you are going to have to check the financial aid policy for each school as Sybbie did for you for Stanford and USC. You are independent for the FAFSA form and federal aid (Pell grant plus Loan), but they have their own forms or use CSS Profile form to get additional information to the fafsa and the college will determine aid and what they think you should pay from that. You didn’t say what the deal with your parents is, and if there is any situation to waive the requirement. If so, contact the college. But now if you were going to apply to Stanford or USC they want the parent financials until you are the age specified. It doesn’t mean that your parents have to pay, but that is what the aid is going to be based on. Super low income you might do okay. High income won’t work.</p>

<p>The other thing you asked about was COA, Cost of Attendance. That is an official amount each school sets based on averages and you can get financial aid up to that amount only. For Berkeley it covers tuition, fees, room, board, books, personal expenses and transportation. If you spend less, then you pocket the money if there is any left. If you spend more then you have to come up with extra on your own. Note that there are different costs for on campus or off campus, and you can only get potential aid for the option you select. So Berkeley off campus costs you less and you get less money.
<a href=“Cost - Office of Undergraduate Admissions”>http://admissions.berkeley.edu/costofattendance&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>So the financial aid package from Berkeley will show the COA and how they meet it. It will list fed grant, fed loans, work study, cal grant estimate (getting it depends on you following requirements), and University grant. If it matches the COA then great. But more likely it won’t quite. They will figure some summer earnings or other way for you to contribute 3k-5k most likely.</p>

<p>NYU is almost for sure going to be way expensive, they don’t even ‘meet need’ for freshmen like USC in majority of cases.</p>