@tomhobbes you’re right but the professionals are out for the weekend!! lol this is a mess
@njk1999 out of curiosity I looked up the COA for Michigan OOS at that’s $59,700/yr for lower division ($45,410/yr is tuition) and $62,900/yr for upper division (from UM financial aid website).
Alabama lists $47,300/yr for OOS. This is what you’ve shared: Alabama is giving you free tuition (value of $27,750/yr as long as you keep 3.5 gpa) because of your GPA and test scores, leaving you with room and board to negotiate.
You mentioned receiving a scholarship from Michigan…unless it is a guaranteed amount of $48,000/yr (keeping in mind when you get to upper division, tuition increases) I would seriously think about the financial viability of this choice.
@njk1999 yeah, the professionals are out for the weekend, so you might as well talk to us random people, but you should send both schools emails with as detailed a description as possible so you can talk to them on Monday and figure things out. Then you can make a decision on Monday if you have to. In general, I just think that they’ll be able to do more to accommodate you than you expect.
@CALSmom They gave me about $51,000 in need based through two different awards. Idk how much that will change per each award because my EFC just changed which scares me.
@njk1999 that’s good! Now just be sure your parents don’t change jobs or get a pay raise, lol!
That evens the financial playing field between both schools. Academically it seems for what you want to major in, both schools will get you that degree.
What should tip the scales is the atmosphere and social life. Do you want to live in a warmer climate, or that does that matter? Do you see yourself fitting in the sororities in one school more than the other?
I hear of so many kids that pick the prestigious school or the school everyone thinks a bright kid should attend but then they’re not happy there and end up transferring.
Only you know deep down inside which school will make your undergrad experience the one you envision.
@CALSmom yeah i’m worried about that considering my father had 0 work last year and a lot more this year, meaning the EFC change will be deeper as the years go by. I think that’s what it’s going to come down to.
Ok that’s a game changer. For the 2017-2018 school year, FAFSA used parents’ 2015 taxes.
For the 2018-2019 school year FAFSA will use 2016 taxes. So I’m scratching my head because you mentioned your dad had no work for 2016 which should bode well for need based aid for your sophomore year. Either way, Michigan’s offer is need-based aid which is dependent on your parents income, whereas Alabama’s guaranteed tuition aid is dependent on your own merit.
That makes Alabama more financially attractive/stable because it’s based on YOUR merit! You can’t control what your parents are going to make in any given year.
njk1999. You really need to call both offices on Monday and get your costs figured out!
Sorry, to clarify I meant he had no work 2015 but had more 2016! I was thinking about it in terms of FAFSA. @CALSmom this is great to know.
@rjkofnovi i’m from illinois 
sorry if i didn’t make that clear!
You did. I just forgot. I changed the above comment after I realized I made the mistake.
@njk1999 ok that makes sense.
However I’m still wondering why they changed your EFC since FAFSA EFC for the 2017-2018 school year should be based on your parents’ 2015 taxes that were filed. What your dad made in income for 2016 should not affect the EFC for the 2017-2018 school year
See if you can get a detailed explanation as to how they adjusted your parents EFC. I’m assuming this change in EFC is coming from Michigan’s financial aid office?
It’s actually 3.0 GPA to keep the scholarship at UA which is a big advantage when you are taking some of the rigorous majors.
Absolutely correct, this is excellent advice. I would call both universities first thing on Monday to see where you stand. @mom2collegekids might know the best person to contact at UA, other posters here may know more about who to contact at Michigan.
Michigan got back to me with a very hard-to-pass-up award, but it’s a bit too late I think
njk1999, it is not too late. Contact Michigan’s office of admissions first thing in the morning, tell them that you just received their revised award, and you should be ok.
@njk1999 did Alabama increase their award? Which one did you choose?
What happened?