<p>Here is a useful calculator that will help you compare your aid packages, and will help you estimate how long it could be before you get your loans paid off: [FinAid</a> | Calculators | Award Letter Comparison Tool](<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Award Letter Requirements - Finaid)</p>
<p>You need to take a look at what is included in each aid package. Do they have the Stafford Loans already in there? Then you can’t take one out to help meet that 11k. Is there a work-study component of the aid package? Then you can’t use work-study to help meet your 11k, and you probably aren’t going to have enough free time left over to find a second job to help meet the 11k.</p>
<p>How much can your parents come up with each year? Can they afford that EFC of 1.5k? Can they afford a tiny bit more? If they borrow parent loans the first year, will they still have enough credit available to borrow again for each of the remaining years? Tuition and fees will increase about 5% to 7% each year. Will your grant money increase each year, or will your parents be expected to absorb that increase each year? As a rough figure, Case will leave your parents with about 12k in debt. How long will it take them to pay that off if for some reason you can’t?</p>
<p>ucbalumnus has made a good suggestion that you take your questions to the UC transfer sub-forum. Here’s the link: [UC</a> Transfers - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/uc-transfers/]UC”>UC Transfers - College Confidential Forums)</p>
<p>Wishing you all the best.</p>