<p>USC is not a FAFSA only school so using your FAFSA EFC will usually give you a faulty idea of USC’s EFC. The CSS profile takes into account almost every possible asset a middle class family might have and thus, usually returns a higher number. Home equity, car value, etc… are all assessed by the CSS. </p>
<p>The fin aid calculator also appears to underestimate the true EFC for some. Not sure why it is so off, but other posters have been unhappily surprised. </p>
<p>Read the many numerous fin aid threads—especially the long, but very useful thread stickied at the top by alamemom.</p>
<p>The financial aid calculator has been off by a lot this year. USC net price calculator gave my D an estimated gift aid in the amount of $34,000. Her gift aid offer was $7666 in grants and her Deans scholarship. That’s over a $16,000 short fall. That would leave us with $42,000 a year in student and personal loans. Our FASFA EFC is $11,599, so don’t count on that number either.</p>
<p>^^Yes, you should not use FAFSA EFC for a CSS profile (plus their own determination) school. Unless your family has absolutely 0 assets outside of current income, it is very likely that relying on the FAFSA number will leave you ill prepared for the reality of fin aid from a CSS profile school.</p>
<p>I haven’t gotten my financial aid info yet, and all these comments are worrying me. I really need good financial aid info to be able to go to USC. Fingers crossed!!!</p>
<p>May I suggest asking this kind of question through the private message system? The internet is public. For their own protection posters should think twice before discussing private financial matters on an open forum, even though monikers are used.</p>
<p>For those of you who already received your financial aid information, are you guys all fall admit or spring admit? I’m a spring admit, so I was wondering if they were notifying fall admits first.</p>
<p>I also got accepted to USC through an appeal. Since some of you were able to see your financial aid, was it because you commited (paid $300,etc.) and then you were able to see your aid? When I go to my Financial Aids tab, it says it is not determined yet, etc.</p>
<p>I got $2,000 for each semester. While my parents can afford to send me to USC, I’m not sure if it’s worth the full tuition - 3 years at Cal Poly, where I’m currently enrolled, is how much it costs to go to USC for one year…</p>
<p>cloud12 - you should be able to view your aid package once it is complete. You do not have to pay the deposit to view it. A few families did not get their aid packages in time to see it before the deadline from what I can tell, but they are very few. Call financial aid office if you haven’t received it as you get close to the deposit deadline.</p>
<p>@MusicDogLove I am also a spring admit and haven’t received any notification on my financial info. So far it seems that only the ones admitted for fall have been notified. When I checked on USConnect it says that they are still trying to figure out my total amount. I think the fall admits are notified sooner because they have a shorter amount of time to make their decision.</p>