<p>My son is accepted and planning on attending a major out of state university. We had hoped that a credit appeal would be granted for the Parent Plus loan, it was not, now we are approx $8 shy on his tuition which is due for this semester. He was not eligible for University scholarships because of his ACT testing scores which did not arrive until late that included the writing portion. He received other financial aid and one private scholarship. The school says Perkins funds are exhausted. The amount that he is short, is basically the out of state student surcharge. He is an honor student with high test scores and GPA. Is there any way to appeal for more help, a waiver of out of state surcharges, etc. He is depressed now at the thought of this dream getting away from him. Thanks!</p>
<p>PPutnam, I am sorry tht this has happened with your son. Hopefully, Kelsmom can come up with some ideas, but I want you to know that when a student goes to an OOS school, that student is often last to receive the “goodies” unless it is a student the school truly wants. A reason a lot of state schools try to get OOS students is to get that extra OOS premium, for the money, so getting them to waive that fee is not easy. My son goes to an OOS public and it’s costing us double what in state would have cost. </p>
<p>If you were rejected by PLUS, your son is eligible to get $4K more in Direct loans which comes to $2K more per term. I know you and your son are upset, very depressed now, but I’ve found with my kids and their peers, that a little time brings some maturity and perspective. My son put his nose up to the idea of commuting ot a local school to which he got a full tuition award. Now he sees that a lot of people he knows did just that, they are thriving and enjoying their lives. It’s been tough socially for him at the school he chose, and some things did not go well there, and the money is very tight as it is right up to the max of what he can uncomfortably pay. Some things went wrong, he had to take out some loans, and paying them back is a bear. A whole new appreciation for things he would not have considered at age 18, now that he is 20.</p>
<p>What school is this? What are his test scores?</p>
<p>Have you appealed the scholarship process since his ACT with Writing was late? I would contact the Director of Scholarships for this. </p>
<p>Also, if all else fails, ask if he can delay enrollment for a year and then get that bigger scholarship.</p>
<p>Frankly, since your portion is $16k per year and was needed to be borrowed, the school may not have been affordable for you. You would have ended up with over $60k in debt…that’s a lot of debt!</p>
<p>You are short $8,000 for the Fall semester . . . in other words, $16,000 for the year? That’s a significant amount, and there’s no reason for the school to waive those additional charges. Why should they? And a Perkins loan, even if it were available, would not cover that significant a shortfall.</p>
<p>You can certainly pursue an appeal, but I wouldn’t count on it being successful. That leaves your son two options: (1) attend an affordable in-state school or (2) take a gap year and apply to a different range of schools where he’d be assured of getting the merit or need-based aid that he needs.</p>
<p>You now know that a PLUS loan is not an option, so you can focus on schools that (a) meet full need, (b) offer [guaranteed</a> full tuition or full ride scholarships](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-8.html#post16145676]guaranteed”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-8.html#post16145676), or (c) offer [competitive</a> full tuition or full ride scholarships](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1461983-competitive-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html]competitive”>Competitive Full Tuition / Full Ride Scholarships - Financial Aid and Scholarships - College Confidential Forums). But be cautious with group (c), and limit applications to those schools where your son’s stat’s are significantly above the norm for that school - he won’t qualify for those large awards unless he’s really an exceptional candidate for the school.</p>
<p>Be aware also that the very generous merit awards that are available to freshman applicants at many schools are generally not available to transfer students, so doing a year at a local community college while pursuing other applications could end up backfiring on your son. He really needs to decide: attend school this coming year and stay in-state, or take a year off to pursue out-of state options for the following year. It’s even possible that the out-of-state school he was planning to attend would be able to offer him a more generous award (and that Perkins loan!) if he waits a year and reapplies, and all his scores, etc. are submitted on time.</p>
<p>^^multiply that $16k (and growing) by 4 = $64k…is the OOS really worth all of that debt (assuming that you could find it)?</p>
<p>Or, since finances are an issue for your family, would your son consider changing his plans and doing his first two years at a local community college? With the money you will save, you can put it towards his last two years at a 4 year school he would like to attend. His bachelors degree will still be from a school he likes and can afford that way.</p>
<p>With the money you will save, you can put it towards his last two years at a 4 year school he would like to attend</p>
<p>Since it sounds like she was trying to borrow all of her share, she wouldn’t be saving anything to put towards those last two years. However, if she were contributing several thousand each year out of her income, then yes, that money could be put towards the last two years.</p>
<p>This school isn’t affordable. The school isn’t likely going to waive the OOS portion and may not be legally permitted to do so (state schools in my state are prohibited from doing so). </p>
<p>Unless the OP can get the school’s scholarship director to reconsider the late ACT score for merit consideration, this isn’t going to work.</p>