<p>Hi everybody! I was just accepted to UC Berkeley and am really excited about attending the college this fall. I have already committed and gained an okay financial aid package, yet I know that it is definitely not enough, as I am an out-of-state student. I come from a lower-middle class family who is already struggling to pay for daily expenses, but college will be an enormous hit for us. I don't want to put my family through any more financial hardship, because both my brother and myself will eventually be attending college soon. I have already applied for many scholarships, yet I know that many small ones will not make a huge impact in the long run. Does anybody have any other ideas on how to get money for tuition, because I am trying to avoid any student loans? I appreciate any and all advice. Thank you very much.</p>
<p>The uc’s are struggling for money too. They expect OOS students to pay full fee. “You get what you get and that’s about it”. You can call the FA office and see if you can get more, but most people take out loans.</p>
<p>Congratulations on your acceptance to Cal. Were you also accepted to some other schools which offered you better financial aid?</p>
<p>The UCs don’t offer good aid to OOS students. If your family is already struggling to pay daily expenses, how will you pay over $50,000 per year to attend Cal? You said you were trying to avoid loans, but unless you win the lottery or something equally unlikely, you would have to borrow money. There is no money fairy. </p>
<p>You yourself can borrow $5500 in Direct Loans your freshman year. To get PLUS or private loans for the rest of it you would have to have a qualified and willing (naive) consigner for four years. Then at the end you and your cosigners would have a crushing debt burden. DO NOT even think about doing this. It will ruin your life.</p>
<p>If you have the stats to get into Cal, then you could get huge merit money from schools where you would be in the top of the applicant pool. Do you have any acceptances from affordable schools?</p>