<p>Just cause USC is expensive and even though my EFC is 0000 just wondering about any scholarships for transfer students ... 4.0 GPA Cali CC Transfer student Fall 2013 admit</p>
<p>It might be a bit late to apply for outside scholarships for THIS fall… Most scholarship deadlines range from November to March preceding the Fall entry.</p>
<p>USC does offer transfer scholarships for which you are considered by submitting your application for admission - I do not know when notifications arrive for those.</p>
<p>Sources for outside scholarships are generally the transfer center at your community college (though as I said, those deadlines have likely passed for THIS fall) and scholarship websites such as FastWeb.</p>
<p>As a returning student next year, you will be eligible to apply for continuing student scholarships for Fall 2014 - see GeorgiaGirl’s thread about continuing student scholarship opportunities.</p>
<p>^ thank you … I had another question I just got my Award but … it says my efc is 3500 when Fafsa says its 0000 also when they asked me to explain my mothers benefits and expense page she had more expenses than earning and had to explain how she makes ends meet. Is that normal to have an EFC of 3500 when fafsa and what I reported clearly shows she cannot contribute … household is 4 but I don’t live with my mother, I live alone since 16 … Just wondering … not really disappointed with the award but confused why efc is 3500 and if that effects the award at all …</p>
<p>Also Cost Estimated Cost of Attendance isn’t what I actually pay correct ? as long as my F/A covers my tuition of ~42k I’m good right ?</p>
<p>My most oft-repeated quote:
USC uses the CSS/Profile, which considers assets the FAFSA does not, to calculate USC-determined need and to distribute USC grants so your expected contribution may differ from your FAFSA EFC (and by “differ,” I mean it will probably be more).</p>
<p>USC also assumes a student summer earnings contribution, which is very likely the $3,500 you mention as your EFC. USC expects that you will work full-time through the summer and contribute all of your earnings to your education.</p>
<p>When reported income cannot cover basic expenses and yet those basic expenses are being met, a budget sheet is requested to determine if there is another source of income not reported such as gifts or support from family/friends. Any such income is considered as untaxed income in financial aid calculations. If, for example, a family reported income of $25,000/year but clearly was meeting expenses totaling $35,000/year you must show from where the other $10,000 came.</p>
<p>The amount you will have to pay USC will be your billed expenses: tuition, fees, insurance (unless waived), orientation, etc. If you live in USC housing, room/board will be billed to your account as well. If you live in off campus, non-USC housing you will not be billed by USC for those expenses. Books MAY be charged you your USC account if purchased at the bookstore, but there are many online used book sources that can save you 40% to 50% of your textbook costs. The amounts listed as personal expenses and transportation (and room/board if you live in non-USC housing) are estimates and each student will find they vary based on the individual’s thriftiness (or lack thereof).</p>
<p>Damn your so helpful =D haha … so if my grants and aid with out loans is about 47,846 (Pell Grant, Cal Grant, University Grant, and FSEOG) … is that considered a full ride ? because I don’t plan on paying for room and board and tuition is about ~44k ? I don’t wanna take out loans lol if possible …</p>
<p>Thanks 
Hmm… living in a tent? Staying with a different friend every night?? Living in your car??? Sleeping bag in the shadow of Tommy Trojan???</p>
<p>Hopefully that means you will be living with relatives or friends and commuting. Be sure to budget $830 for on-campus parking or $500 for the USC parking center (per year). Parking will be a USC-billed expense.</p>
<p>Yes, with an award of $47,846 the bulk of your billed costs will be covered. Things do add up to a distressing degree, so the tuition, fees, lab/class fees, insurance (try to get it waived with your private insurance, if any), parking, orientation fees, etc. may add up to a bit more (<$1,000 most likely) than your award, but be sure to sign up for the monthly payment plan so you don’t have to pay it all at once. If you ARE awarded an outside scholarship, be sure to request either that it be applied to subsidized loans (even if you are not taking the loans) or a cost of attendance increase for a one-time computer purchase which will avoid having your USC grant reduced by the amount of your scholarship.</p>
<p>By the way, you don’t mention work/study - if work/study is offered, I recommend you accept it. The earnings will not count against you in future financial aid calculations and , though you must apply for and interview for the jobs, the majority of on-campus jobs are reserved for work/study applicants and it is a bit easier to find work with a work/study award.</p>
<p>LOL no I lived with a friend since 16 for 5 years rent free and I have various places to stay around 15 min of USC relatives and friends. Ummm what do you mean by payment plan ? Doesn’t everything you listed get fall into my award and if I do have to pay 1000 dollars more can’t I just pay a lump sum at one time? OH nice way to cheat the system with the loan thing lol. So all loans are from outside right ? not directly with USC so they won’t know if I am getting a loan or not correct ?? Wow if this was reddit i would upvote you to oblivion!</p>
<p>Sorry for so many dumb questions … never did this before and I’m all alone so any help is GREATLY appreciated.</p>
<p>Cheat? alamemom??? Never! I simply know that if you understand the process very well, you know how to best present yourself and your situation :)</p>
<p>Yes, you can pay a lump sum at the outset. If there is any question that you will be able to come up with the entire amount, signing up for the payment plan (the total is divided by 5 and paid over the semester) is a good idea so there is no problem when the payment is due (usually 1 or 2 days before classes begin). You can always just go ahead and pay it all even if you signed up for the payment plan.</p>
<p>USC is a direct lender, so any Stafford loans you have been awarded will go through USC - which is a good thing. They make it very easy and take you through step-by-step. If you are not sure you need a Stafford, you do not have to take it at the outset. You can wait until as late as November to apply for your full-year Stafford. Do not worry about them knowing about your loans - I know from personal experience that if you have requested a scholarship replace your loan and they allow it, they will still allow you to take your full Stafford - a lovely little quirk that those is the know benefit from :)</p>
<p>Well what my award says is</p>
<p>Estimated Cal Grant A $ 9084<br>
Estimated Federal Pell Grant $ 5645<br>
University Grant $32617
Federal SEOG $ 500
Total -------------------- $47846</p>
<p>Federal Work-Study $ 2750</p>
<p>Loans (Don’t Want to Take)
Federal Perkins Loan $2000<br>
Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan $4500<br>
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan $2000</p>
<p>So if i were to take the 2750 from working it wont affect my total grant and aid, while at the same time I don’t HAVE to take out the loans listed correct? And if i were to get outside scholarships that would go into the subsidized stafford loan?</p>
<p>Correct! All you have to do to take the work/study is apply for USC-work/study jobs (go to the job fair the first week of classes) and tell them you have work/study. The prospective employers will want to know the exact amount of your award and will plan your hours accordingly. Work/study is part of your award and will not reduce other parts. You are paid weekly, so you will not receive the work/study funds up-front.</p>
<p>To not take the loans, all you have to do is not apply for them. If you want them later, you will do a master promissory note and request the loan. USC will take you through the rest.</p>
<p>P.S. The Perkins is the best student loan in terms of rates - if you find you need a loan, take the Perkins.</p>
<p>Wow you’ve been so helpful thank you =D</p>
<p>You are welcome! And I just checked - the job fair is traditionally the Friday BEFORE the first week of classes. Arrive with a stack of resumes and look presentable!</p>
<p>[USC</a> Financial Aid - Federal Work-Study & Other Jobs](<a href=“http://www.usc.edu/admission/fa/workstudy/]USC”>http://www.usc.edu/admission/fa/workstudy/)</p>
<p>Haha thanks. Now the only problem is wether I should enrollment deposit early so I can get a good parking (psx hopefully) … I heard parking is like a lottery :(</p>
<p>The lottery is open now and you can sign up for the lottery through June 30. You definitely want to be in the lottery if you want a particular structure, but there should be space in the Parking Center even after June 30th. <a href=“http://transportation.usc.edu/pdf/students-summer-fall-spring.pdf[/url]”>http://transportation.usc.edu/pdf/students-summer-fall-spring.pdf</a></p>
<p>If you like PSX, PSD and PS2 should work for you as well. Other than those, the (much cheaper) Parking Center is just as close as the remaining structures.</p>
<p>I’m a marshal, prospective leventhal student I heard psx was the best being close to the library and marshal</p>
<p>The big transfer scholarship to look for is from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation - something like $30,000 a year. Not sure but look it up.</p>
<p>Beyond that, look for departmental awards in Marshall. I believe it’s the biggest school in the university and should have a ton of awards. Otherwise, the best advice is to work every angle of “what” you are - race/ethnicity, religion, major, hometown/state, etc. and go to the various organizations there. They know how ridiculous college expenses are nowadays and hopefully you can get some money to help cover books - that’ll be a good $200-$300 per semester.</p>
<p>Beyond that, if you’re a transfer then a <em>little</em> debt shouldn’t be too bad. You’re right about not borrowing more than you absolutely need to but this will also depend on how much time you need at USC to finish your degree.</p>
<p>^ agreed It might take me 2 and a half years to graduate because I’m trying to major Accounting at leventhal and maybe minor or double major econ or bus ad</p>
<p>@ alamemom For the insurance … What if I did the waiver for non custodial parent basically saying that I do not know the whereabouts of my dad … and what if I am insured through my dad’s big company plan … just wondering … I shouldn’t waive the insurance and just pay for usc insurance or they might revoke my non custodial waiver correct?? If i do enroll for usc insurance that means I have to insurances ? lmao …</p>