Hello! So I am a very low income student and I am the first in my family to go to college. I’ve made the terrible mistake of listening to some adults and I am now an incoming freshman at csulb. It is a nice school and the environment is friendly, the only thing is that rooming plus the meal plan is just too much money for me. Now I want to transfer to csula, where it’s closer to home. Additionally, they offered me a better financial aid package, covering nearly all of my expenses. The only thing is I am not sure if it’s possible to transfer to a CC then csula, or if my financial aid would be the same or reduced. I’m just completely lost. I try doing research but there is not much I could find on these types of transfers. The only thing I know is that it would be too much of a hassle for me to try and commute to csulb during the second year and it would probably get in the way of my studies, which really troubles me. I am incredibly anxious and If there is anyone who has knowledge of what would happen to my financial aid if I transfer or about this type of transfer at all, please let me know.
If CSULB is unaffordable, then I would not consider attending.
You have several options:
- Call CSULA and see if you can still accept their admission for Fall 2017
- Take a Gap year, work to raise some money and then reapply as a Freshman for Fall 2018.
- Start a community college this Fall but it will take you around 2 years (60 semester units) before you can transfer.
Regarding financial aid, if you start as a Freshman next year, you should be eligible for the same FA as offered this year unless your family income changes.
As a transfer, you are still eligible for the same Federal aid and Cal Grants given to you as a Freshman applicant. CA is very generous to in-state students.
The best thing you can do is find out which options are available: CSULA now, CSULA next Fall or CC now. Make an appointment with the financial aid office to go over what you will be offered depending upon which option you choose.
You might want to check out this link: http://www.calstatela.edu/univ/stuaffrs/ubp
Hello Gumbymom, thank you!
Right now my application for CSULA was withdrawn since I have attended CSULBs orientation and I have already applied for classes.
I think it may be too late to drop everything and go to a cc.
If anything my choice would be to go to CSULA as a freshman but I think I would need to wait until next year. But I would be ok with going to a cc then CSULA.
And how would I be able to take a Gap year? Would FAFSA and the cal grant still apply to me afterwards?
I just feel like it’s too late to drop everything since most orientations for ccs have already started and I would have to drop rooming and board and classes at CSULB which may be impossible.
I’m just incredibly worried since I do not want to get into a lot of debt since I really have no way of paying it back.
That is why I thought I might have to transfer to a cc then csula since csula doesn’t accept undregrad admissions.
But do you think it is possible I could take a Gap year and maintain my financial aid and Cal grant I had obtained as a freshman?
If you take a Gap year and draw no financial aid, you then reapply to CSULA as a Freshman and file the new FASFA for FA again but it will be based on your parents/your income from 2016 not 2015. If there is a increase in income, then the amount of FA could be affected and you may not get the same FA package but you would still be eligible for 4 full years of FA.
You have to fill out the FASFA every year if you need FA anyways.
So if you have no way of paying back the debt from CSULB after you graduate, how are paying the difference at CSULB now?
You would need around 2 years at a CC to transfer to CSULA so the least expensive option is to withdraw from CSULB unless you have put down a significant amount towards housing and start at a CC. It may be a little late to start a CC for Fall but you can try. If not take a semester gap, work and then start in the Spring and also take classes during the Summer to catch up.
To transfer to a CSU, you need to be at Junior level standing with 60 semester/90 quarter units completed by Spring prior to transfer.
Ok so, I’m not completely sure how my difference was payed. I’m just extremely confused in general and the people around me don’t have very useful tips or explanations. So I applied for FAFSA and the Cal grant but I have not accepted any grants or awards with csulb, yet I know I’d have to owe around 3k for each semester ( but its labeled " future payment") . 6k each year is just way too much for me since my family income comes out to 0 ( we live on social security), yet, if i didn’t have to room and board it would all be covered . The thing is is that I’d rather not worry on the commute and money but on my studies ( unless you have another opinion on this, I’d like to hear it). I don’t think I’ve drawn out any financial aid, since I haven’t payed for anything yet unless they did it automatically somehow.
Who would I have to contact in order to affirm that I want to take a Gap year?
And if this makes it easier, is there any way I could send you a picture of my financial aid package or what I owe? I tried talking to those at csulb but they were no help whatsoever and in the end I was still confused.
Thank you again for the help!
You can PM me your package or post the information on this thread. Just hide any confidential information.
How did you pay your enrollment fee? Did you pay a housing deposit?
I remember some things were waived and it didn’t ask for an enrollment fee, maybe because of my income. I payed my housing the housing application, but i don’t think i ever made a real deposit for housing ( like the most i payed was around $200) .
All it says is that in the future, I must owe around 3k ( which will be doubled next semester),
How do I PM you?
Award Description Offered Accepted
Federal Pell Grant $5920 0
Fed. Edu. Opp. Grant $300 0
State University Grant $5742 0
Federal Work Study $2800 0
Direct Sub. Loan $3500 0
Direct unsun. Loan $2000 0
Total: $20,262
And then on my page it says I owe $3,401 in the future.
And then on my summary is says
Estimated FA budget $24364
Family contribution $0
Estimated need $24364
Total Aid $20, 262
CSULB estimates that your cost of attendance is $24364/year.
You have been given $20,262 in financial aid which includes grants (free money) + Work study (you earn while working on campus) and student loans ($3500 subsidized- Federal pays interest while in school) and unsubsidized loans (interest accumulates upon taking funds).
Your real costs could be much lower than what CSULB is estimating.
Your tuition costs are $6798/year.
Your room/board (depending upon room type/meal plan) is $12644
Books are estimated at $1948
Travel is estimated at $1454
Misc is estimated at $1520
You have to pay for tuition which is $6798. Room/board costs looks like a double with a higher meal plan. If you get a triple and a smaller meal plan, you could reduce your costs by $1500/year.
Books can be rented through Amazon prime and the most my son’s paid for books during the school year was $500/semester or $1000, so $948 less than estimated.
If you are not commuting, then travel expenses will be less. Do you have a car to bring to campus, then you would need a parking permit and gas expenses?
Miscellaneous costs can also be reduced. If you work during the summer and earn some money so you could make up to $3000 over the summer but you can reduce some of your cost by that amount depending upon how much are willing to spend on room/board/books/travel and misc…
To me it looks doable if you are willing to take out the student loans each year and be frugal with your other costs.
So i’m rooming double with the smallest meal plan possible. I don’t think I can really afford a car or the insurance that is needed with it…I could try to triple dorm and I am planning to look for the cheapest books and supplies. Yet, I feels as if it would still add up over the years and if I want to go back to school for my masters it would be a bit difficult if I suck my FA dry… Honestly, I’m not sure what’s the smartest choice here. I will try to go to a CSULB advisor and financial aid advisor soon. Tiil then do you have any advice or thoughts onto what I should do? Do you think it would be best to go to a cheaper school a bit later, csula, ( If I go in i would be undecided since I’m not completely sure what I want to do) which is closer to home and I won’t have to buy any types of meal plans. Or do you think CSULB may be worth the cost? Also I already signed up for classes, so if I do decided to take a Gap year, would it be too late? Again, Thank you so much.
It is never too late to change your mind especially if you feel the burden of having to pay back student loans after you graduate. You would still be eligible for FA at the community college along with 2 years at a 4 year college when you transfer or taking a Gap year, working and then reapplying to CSULA.
This is a personal decision and if you plan to go to graduate school, it is always best to keep your Undergrad costs at a minimum.
There are several paths you can take to get to the same end goal, but you need to decide which is best. What is your intended major at CSULB? Does CSULA offer the same major?
Right now I’m undecided. I’m really not sure what I want to do yet. But yes, the burden of student loans really scares me especially since I’m new to college life and I feel like I could easily get sucked in and stuck in debt. I also have no real source to lean on or go to if I do get stuck in debt…
I think taking to the financial aid advisor at CSULB could help you with your decision. I would also see if you can go to your local CC and meet with an FA advisor there to figure out your options. Best of luck.
You still have time to cancel your registration at CSULB if you decide that you cannot afford it this year. But make certain that you do cancel everything - class registrations, housing, meal plan, etc. - so that you don’t end up getting billed for anything. The FA advisor and admissions office should be able to tell you how to start that process if you need to.
Alright! I’ll try my best to meet with an FA advisor. Thank you!
Don’t forget about the health insurance fees!
I note that $2000 of your loan package is possibly a direct unsubsidized loan? If so that would need to be paid back… which would bring your true aid package to 18,000 plus. With regard to community college… this could be a very good option for you especially since you’re not sure what you want to major in… And you could live at home. It’s not too late to register. I agree with the other moms that it would be a smart idea to meet with the counselor at your community college. You will likely have to take a math or English placement test.… So The sooner you look into it the better. I agree also that whether you go to community college or take a gap year you will still move forward with your financial aid. Next year’s aid will be based on the 2016 FAFSA which you can file as early as October/ November to see what you will be eligible for in 2018-2019 year. If you truly want to go to csula in the long run it would be better to go the community college route as most of those classes will easily transfer.
Also… you can go online and send a copy of your current FAFSA to the local community college now. There’s also a phone number on the website if you’d rather phone and request them to send it. It only takes a day or two for them to receive it. That would be the most helpful thing to do as the financial aid counselor at the community college will need that to best help you. if you need help with figuring out how to do that I’m sure we can send you a link.
@“aunt bea” the CSU’s do not require you to buy Health insurance like the UC’s and the Health clinics on campus charge a nominal fee if you use their services.
Thanks @Gumbymom! I wondered about that!