I’m a transfer student looking into options to pay for a UC. I remember hearing about the MCS last year, but thought it was being removed this year to substitute fees being frozen. On the Cal Grant Website, it seems like it is still an option. However, it is not very clear how much I could expect in aid.
Any help is much appreciated!
See this page for a visual of estimated aid packages and the calculators for each campus
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/paying-for-uc/how-aid-works/estimate-your-aid/index.html
Thank you @BrownParent ! I’ve run NPCs on all campuses I’ve applied. Only UCB mentioned something about MCS.
MCS is just the baseline minimum promise of some aid. Individual aid packages depend on your family income specifics.
@luckie1367 - You can find information on the MCS here - http://www.csac.ca.gov/mcs.asp
Do you know if it is part of the package offered at time of acceptance? I think last year it was awarded in September, which is way to late to make a decision.
Um, you should make your decision based on the package your get at time of admission. The MCS average award is only 1,100 and max 1,700–most student will already get more than that from the university award and calgrant, if eligible for calgrant. How would that small amount would make the difference in attending or not?
My parents have given me a set that they can do for the next two years. I live near by one UC, so the COA would be the lowest, but I can room at another UC if I can keep it under their amount. So, a 1k swing could make a difference in my decision.
The MCS amount available is supposed to increase (by percentage) each year, but the number applying for the MCS also affects the amount dispersed. The parent board for my S’s college discussed it last fall - the maximum one student received was $300 and several others received $150. Enough to cover some books.
Thanks @MLM , if its only 300 max, it will not influence my decision.