The amount shown for grants includes estimates for Pell, Cal Grant and university grant combined. Don’t expect extra, but they amounts in your actual package will likely be slightly different.
The UCs expect students to take out their student loan and to contribute several thousand of work earnings which you do in the summer on your own, and do during the school year through work/study or a job you get (you likely will not be able to make more than 600 to 1,000 per semester.) So the student portion is usually 8 or 9 thousand per year. This is for every student that is getting aid. You won’t be unique, and this is extremely generous, most states don’t give this much money.
In addition your own family efc is 2,697 and that is what your parents are expected to contribute. So yes the total cost to you based on COA is 12k per year. You can see right off the bat, if you didn’t need to spend for ‘other expenses’ it reduces to 9 thousand right away. But it is not reasonable to think you won’t need to spend a little and have something in your pocket.
Some of student portion will be in the form of a loan, about 5 or 6 k. If your family can’t pay their 3k, then they can apply for a federal Parent Plus loan. If they get denied you yourself will be allowed to take out an additional 4k in student loan. Your parents do not have to take a private loan if they prefer to take a parent plus loan and they qualify.
Now the way it will work (I hope I am calculating without error) is that your fixed costs will be charged upfront by semester.
tuition+fees+room+board/2 = 15,281
less grant/2 = 11,480
less student loan, usually 5,500/2 = 2,750
amount due at semester start = 1,051
You will also need some funds for books at the beginning of the semester when classes start, estimated at 1,391/2 = 696. You should try to buy used and/or rent textbooks to reduce your cost.
amount due 1,051
books 696
funds needed right away = 1,747
Now you need some money during the semester for spending on personal items you might need and transportation. This is where a job comes in, something around 10 to 15 hours a week. They estimate other expense as 2,904/2 = 1,452
1,747 ===>get from your family or your summer job, you will need it right away
1,452 ===>what you earn during school will go here and that is your spending money
3,199 ====> this plus your student loan is your total cost estimate per semester
So if any costs reduce, the amount you need reduces, like books, other expense. And later you can try to get a cheaper place if possible off campus. Your food costs can decrease once your make your food at your apartment and you go off meal plan, or just use the off-campus meal plan.
Now this starts again the next semester, when 1.051 is due before class begins and you need an estimated 696 for books when class starts = 1,747.
So doesn’t this seem feasible?