Hello,
I’m currently a freshman at the University of the Pacific but am planning to transfer to USF this coming fall. However, I just received my financial aid and received significantly less than when I initially applied. Initially, I received $25,000 in university grants as a freshman applicant, but this year only received $2800 in university grants. My grades have the same and my family income is actually less. I have plans on filling out an appeal form in hopes that they will revise it.
Anyone have any advice? USF is my top choice and being at UOP (I commute 45 mins everyday and they don’t have my major) is not the ideal college experience I want and it’s taking a toll on me.
Most of the big money is used to attract freshman. You didn’t attend, so the funding was used for another purpose. Transfers, at most universities, get really limited aid. You can try to appeal, but you shouldn’t expect $25K.
USF isn’t going to be affordable. They’re not going to offer you anywhere near what they offered you as an incoming frosh. Transfers rarely get good pkgs. schools give incoming frosh their very best funding pkgs because a top freshman class helps them with ranking.
Don’t cut ties with your current college because likely that is where you’ll need to continue.
What is your major and career goal? Very likely there is a major at your current school that will work well with your desired career path.
Btw…if your financial situation is now worse, how were you going to pay for USF anyway? While their original pkg was decent, it still would have left you with a large chunk to pay.
The others have answered. You got a larger award when you applied as an incoming freshman because that’s where they award the larger money…to incoming freshmen.
You can ask if they have more available for your…but have your plan B ready in case they say no.
USF is expecting you to pay quite a bit of money. The school doesn’t guarantee to meet full need.
If you are commuting to UOP, in CA…than younare a CA resident, correct? There were tons of Cal STates and UCs you could have applied to that would cost FAR less than USF.
The cost of USF is $62,000 a year. Subtracting the money you WANT ($25,000) that leaves a $37,000 balance. If your family can pay $37,000…they can fund any of your instate publics.
My free advice…stay at UOP for one more year…the apply with finances in mind to one of the MANY CA public universities to finish your bachelors.
Of course…I’m really hoping you applied to and got accepted to one of the CA publics to transfer to…already!
What is this special major anyway?
Go to a school that you CAN afford. You are on your own for funding.
You want to go to an expensive private Catholic college that has very limited housing that you can’t afford. Who will pay?
Transfers get squat.
Did you apply anywhere else?
@chrischxn
Are you eligible to receive a Calgrant?
It’s not that we can’t afford it. We could have afforded it last year if I took a loan and they gave me a total financial package of $44,000 while this year I only got $29,000. And yes I would rather go to USF as they have a better program and I want to get out UOP because I have lived here for my entire life. I want the full college experience… not this. @“aunt bea”
@thumper1 I did receive a calgrant. My total financial aid package was $29,000.
Good! Problem solved!
Your parents will be ponying up the rest of the money.
So…what is the problem? If your parents are willing to pay $37,000 or more per year for you to attend USF…tada…you are all set.
But if you qualified for a Calgrant…that means their income is under $80,000 a year…so you are expecting them to give about 1/2 of their take home pay to you for college…can they really do that?