University of Miami Transfer FASFA and Housing

Paying for College
1

<p>So recently i was admitted to UM. </p>

<p>I plan to pay my enrollment deposit on the 30th of this month. </p>

<p>I submitted my fasfa about two weeks ago. So do the financial aid office create my package before i pay my enrollment deposit or afterwards?</p>

<p>Also i read in my acceptance package that transfer are placed on a waiting list. I fear that when i pay my enrollment deposit on the 30th i may not get on-campus housing.</p>

<p>Has any had any experience or stories of this? Please feel free to share.</p>

2

<p>You need to talk to whoever is a liason for transfer students and get some information. Like a lot of information. UMiami does not guarantee or meet 100% of need from what I understand, and I also think that a PROFILE is necessary. So you had better speak to financial aid about what forms you still need to submit. </p>

<p>It is a very expensive school, if it is the one I am thinking about, but either way, transfers do not tend to get full need met, so you really need to sit down and figure out how much you are going to need from the school to make this happen. Also, you will need some money to get started because, if you should get aid money in excess of your college bills, you likely won’t get it for a while into the semester. You also have to figure out the situation for on campus housing. Many schools do not guarantee housing for transfers and if you don’t get a spot, you have to find a place to live on your own. Is this UMiami in FLorida?</p>

3

<p>Yes, University of Miami in Florida.</p>

4

<p>Call the school and see if there is someone there who deals with transfer issues. It’s tough being a transfer because at most schools the attention is all on the incoming freshmen. You need to get some very specific information, beginning with what you still need to submit to financial aid, and what the school is going to give you in their aid package. This is a very expensive private school that does not guarantee to meet financial aid ,and does not for all of their students. </p>

<p>SOmetimes with living situations at colleges, rooms do not open up until the last minute and maybe not at all. Some colleges do have some provisions for such situations, such as triple rooms, barrack type rooms, hotel or temp housing. Whether they provide these options to transfers is a question, even if they do have them. </p>

<p>The most important thing right now is to make sure your financial aid package is enough to make this possible.</p>

5

<p>I did a quick look at UMiami info, and it appears that you are on track for applying for fin aid, that FAFSA is all that is needed. I would have guessed otherwise. Do let the financial aid office know of any special circumstances. And do find some contact there that can help you out as a transfer. Good luck.</p>

6

<p>Did you try the net price calculator on the school’s website? If not, do so.</p>

<p>If the aid isn’t enough, then don’t waste a deposit.</p>

7

<p>Thanks a lot! I just called the office there and they said they haven’t received my fasfa in their system yet. </p>

<p>I received the confirmation that my fasfa was processed successfully a few days after submitting it through the financial aid website. So there were no errors, and they should be receiving it soon. </p>

<p>i received the confirmation on March 13th. so its only been about 2 days not counting the weekend.</p>

<p>So i will give them until Thursday before i call to check again. </p>

<p>I do hope i receive on-campus housing. It would be a extra hassle to find off-campus housing…although it does bring some advantages in the long run :wink: but i would rather be on campus…at least for my first year.</p>

<p>On a Side Note: I wanted to go to University of Miami since being a junior in high school, but was differed to a two year college after graduating. On Monday i was accepted. so just goes to show you NEVER give up on your goals. </p>

<p>Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success.
Dale Carnegie</p>

8

<p>"Did you try the net price calculator on the school’s website? If not, do so.</p>

<p>If the aid isn’t enough, then don’t waste a deposit."</p>

<p>Exactly. That is why i am trying to wait for my financial aid package before i submit my enrollment deposit. </p>

<p>Even if my financial aid covers MAJORITY of the cost and i have to take out SMALL student loans i will do so. At this point i am hoping for the best aid. </p>

<p>Right now my mother makes about $14,000 with 3 younger siblings, divorced, with no child support. So of course my EFC is 000000. Hopefully that helps.</p>

9

<p>*Even if my financial aid covers MAJORITY of the cost and i have to take out SMALL student loans i will do so. At this point i am hoping for the best aid. </p>

<p>Right now my mother makes about $14,000 with 3 younger siblings, divorced, with no child support. So of course my EFC is 000000. Hopefully that helps.*</p>

<p>That won’t work. Your aid pkg will already include the max federal student loans in it. If there are any uncovered costs, you won’t be able to borrow more. Your mom won’t qualify to co-sign additional loans for you. </p>

<p>Use the NPC and find out what aid you might get.</p>

<p>Are you a FL resident? Do you qualify for Bright Futures? </p>

<p>Where else did you apply? did you apply to any affordable schools…like a local public?</p>

10

<p>I tried the NPC using some guessed info. I put in that you’re a FL resident, but not eligible for Bright Futures. Since you’re a transfer, you’re not eligible for the merit choices that I saw. Here is the result of the NPC:</p>

<p>Calculated on March 18, 2013 11:59:02 AM.
Estimated Tuition & Fees $37,836.00
Estimated Room & Board $11,062.00
Estimated Books & Supplies $1,250.00
Estimated Other Expenses $5,306.00
*
Estimated total price of attendance: $55,454.00
*</p>

<p>Not Eligible for a UM Scholarship $0.00
Need-Based Grants $24,244.00
*
Estimated total UM Scholarships and grants: $24,244.00
Not Eligible for a Florida Scholarship $0.00
Florida Resident Access Grant (FRAG) $2,149.00
*
Estimated total Florida Scholarships and grants: $2,149.00
Estimated total financial aid:
(includes both merit and need based aid) $26,393.00
*
Estimated net price:
(Price of attendance minus total financial aid) $29,061.00
Calculated on March 18, 2013 11:59:02 AM.</p>

<p>You’d also get a $7500 fed loan, which would bring the remaining costs down to about $22k. Obviously, that’s still way too high for you…even if you got Bright Futures (probably around $5k or less).</p>

11

<p>I just looked at their website. The COA is higher for next year. It is over $60K.</p>

12

<p>I reside in Washington, D.C. </p>

<p>Thanks for the NPC calculation. I’m going to go over and check it out myself too. </p>

<p>Any chance my financial aid will cover full cost and tuition?</p>

<p>I didn’t realize how everything worked. If this is the case, thats definitely not a good thing.</p>

<p>22k is still way to high.</p>

13

<p>“I just looked at their website. The COA is higher for next year. It is over $60K.”</p>

<p>YIKES!</p>

14

<p>here’s the link…
[University</a> of Miami - Net Price Calculator](<a href=“http://public.cgcent.miami.edu/AttendanceCalculator/Calculator.aspx]University”>http://public.cgcent.miami.edu/AttendanceCalculator/Calculator.aspx)</p>

<p>Since you’re not a Florida resident, you’d need to take out that $2000 Florida access grant. </p>

<p>to be honest with you, since your mom’s income is so low, unless you get accepted to a rare school that gives SUPER aid, you really can’t go far away from home because your aid won’t be adequate AND you won’t have enough aid to cover travel costs ( a biggie for low income kids).</p>

<p>Where else did you apply? Do you qualify for the Wash DC $10k award to go to a state school in a nearby state (not sure how that all works).</p>

15

<p>NPCs are not usually accurate for those schools that do not guarantee to meet full need, that have a lot of merit money, and for transfer students. UMiami fits all three of those categories. At this point the NPC is not going to be helpful to you, especially as a transfer student. All that is important now is what their package is for YOU. That’s why you might want to let them know of any personal situations not reflected on the FAFSA to help your case. </p>

<p>The cost for UM is very high, close to $60k and only about a third of the freshmen get full need met. i did not see fin aid info for transfers, and it probably is not relevant anyways, as at this point really all that matters is what YOU get and if it will be enough for you to go there. That’s why you need to get to know how the university works,particularly right now, the Financial aid department. Most schools are not as generous with transfer students as they are with first year students. There tends to be far fewer merit and need based funds for transfers. Do be aware of that. Getting accepted to a school ia a great achievement, but only the first. Paying for it the next thing that has to be handled, if one did not do so before applying. Applying for financial aid is akin to playing the lottery, and as a transfer the odds can be as bad.</p>

16

<p>@mom2collegekids</p>

<p>i just used the net price calculator. and here is the outcome. </p>

<p>Calculated on March 18, 2013 12:14:01 PM.
Estimated Tuition & Fees $37,836.00
Estimated Room & Board $11,062.00
Estimated Books & Supplies $1,250.00
Estimated Other Expenses $5,306.00</p>

<p>Estimated total price of attendance: $55,454.00</p>

<p>Not Eligible for a UM Scholarship $0.00
Need-Based Grants $24,244.00</p>

<p>Estimated total UM Scholarships and grants: $24,244.00
Estimated total financial aid:
(includes both merit and need based aid) $24,244.00</p>

<p>Estimated net price:
(Price of attendance minus total financial aid) $31,210.00
Calculated on March 18, 2013 12:14:01 PM.</p>

<p>I figured my financial aid would not be enough but i was hoping for the best, and still going to try and find a way to make it work. </p>

<p>As for travel expense, i work as a local intern here in Washington, d.c in a government agency. My job has a office in MIA so i considered transferring there. </p>

<p>But if that falls through i would NEVER be able to come home because of cost of travel. I would have to buy my own travel to get their and any other expenses a long the way.</p>

<p>At this point i am just going to wait for the package from the school and see what i can do with it. </p>

<p>@cptofthehouse</p>

<p>Very true. When i got accepted i didn’t really consider the cost of everything. It was just about the excitement of being accepted…Paying for it seems like the biggest part of the equation now. </p>

<p>Hopefully they have some special programs or financial aid set aside of transfers sense only 550 are accepted anyway out of over 2,700. So…We will see. Like you said, at this point i am hoping for the best package.</p>

17

<p>What is your EFC? That is the least you can expect to pay. Forget the NPC, that is for freshmen and for UM not likely to be that accurate, IMO, and at this point, it doesn’t matter anyways. All that matters now is what financial aid gives YOU. I strongly advise you to send a missive to them with any special circumstances in there. Better they have it all right there when they are deciding your package. Also find out who your Admissions officer is, thank him/her, and ask her to please do what she can to increase the chances of a doable fin aid package for you. Usually Admissions and FIn Aid are two separate offices, but it does not hurt to get a little help from Admission. Clearly they saw good reason to accept you in a very competitive process. As you state, getting n as a transfer is very difficult there. So do, get a line over to the Admissions Officer, and start courting Financial AId.</p>

<p>The rough part is then to come, relocating to a school and getting that degree with good grades. Hopefully you advance to that square.</p>

18

<p>My EFC according to my Student Aid Report is: 000000. </p>

<p>I agree the net price calculator is probably not TOTALLY on point. </p>

<p>So should i call the financial aid office and explain my situation or just write up a email to the office. My fear is they may not even look at it since they are typically busy. But hey, it never hurts to try. So i will give it a shot.</p>

<p>Yes it was very difficult, i honestly did not think i would get accepted since it was so competitive. I believe in myself, but realistically i knew my chances were slim. So i just want to make sure i consider EVERY option and make a way. </p>

<p>Yeah relocating for me will be like going away to college for the first time since i live with a parent still and attend a community college currently. </p>

<p>i am going to call and figure out who my financial aid officer is shortly.</p>

19

<p>Well, you were accepted, which is a great accomplishment. You need to write out a letter, probably snail mail is best, something about a letter these days that is more substantial. Also a brief e-mail saying the letter is coming, but I don’t think I would go into detail by e-mail. Then follow up with a phone call. </p>

<p>I suggest you find out who your ADMISSION"s officer is first and talk to that person, and get some tips from that person on how to approach the financial aid office to maximize chances for the most aid. Send a nice thank you note, and then call and thank that person directly and get the scoop from him/her. Not sure if they will give you a name of the fin aid officer, and writing first, would probably be the way to go. But talk to admissions as you are fully in the door there. They like their admits to be able to attend, and you will have a positive basis to discuss your situation with them. I hate to tell you this, but the fin aid officers often have to have ice in their veins because they deal with limited funds, certain rules and little leeway, so you need to know the best approach. </p>

<p>You know you have PELL, Staffords-up to $10K or so if your parents is denied under PLUS, and whatever you can earn in your job. But with a cost of close to $60K a year, that is barely a drop in the bucket. You still need 75% of the cost coverd, and this is not a school that tends to meet full need as the stats clearly show. As the rare transfer who was accepted, let’s see how this goes. Again, good luck.</p>

20

<p>Just spoke with my advising officer and he told me finding on campus housing is not usually a problem since the transfer class they admit is typically small. He said he would be glad to assist me with housing if i had any issues. So that’s one thing out the way. </p>

<p>Now, on to the next. He mentioned that i should follow up with the Financial aid office in a week or two to check on my package. </p>

<p>But i am going to send a letter to the financial aid office this week! I think that is a good suggestion and will go far. </p>

<p>Thank you guys for all the advice so far. i will try to post any information i have along the way for any future transfers to UM.</p>