<p>My situation:</p>
<p>I got into some great schools, but two schools I really like, and would really like to go to one of the two. USC I though I would get a Trustee Scholarship ($34k a year), but it was downgraded ($17k a year), meaning they use a bit of loans and a university scholarship ($2.5k, and about $3.4k in loans, with a $1.3k in grant a year). I have about $24k left to pay. </p>
<p>For Stanford, I'm not sure what I'll get, but I'm sure it'll be better. I hear they don't go above around $2-2.5k in loans a year, and give huge grants/university scholarships. However, my EFC is still about $26k a year, and I hope that Stanford is even more generous than USC was (they both cost about $49k a year).</p>
<p>Here's the problem. My mom feels she can contribute about $15k a year (my dad made some pretty poor financial decisions and that's what causes a gap of about $11k a year).</p>
<p>I feel like I'm very close to being able to afford this education without astronomical loans. I know I'm getting a national achievement scholarship ($2.5 k) for one year, and have a shot at two other scholarships which may or may not total to between $1 and $3.5k. How should I combine loans, to make ends meet? Is the remaining $11k doable? Could I try to negotiate a few thousand more in aid?</p>