USC Financial Aid

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Southern California
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<p>^Really?! I had the completely opposite reaction. I read that post as passive-aggressively hostile. I also noticed that canenable posted just once – but my thought was, that person didn’t have the courage to say what h/she thought without going “incognito” because h/she didn’t want to get flamed. H/she should have known that h/she’d get flamed anyway.</p>

<p>I wish there were more freedom of expression on these USC threads … post any hint of negativity towards anything USC, and get flamed, either directly or indirectly, and almost always by the same person. College applicants, and their parents, are going to experience things differently. At all schools. I like reading about all of the experiences and opinions, not just the “positive” ones. To me, the flaming is a hindrance to an open exchange of ideas.</p>

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<p>I agree that people shouldn’t get flamed for posting something less than positive about the usc experience. That said, Alamemom’s posts are hardly flames. You want to see some flaming?..hit the ESPN sports comment boards! Ha. There’s some good trading of facts here. I’m sure USC has overperformed in some cases (fin aid) and under in others. But there is no denying that a large number of applicants get more $$ elsewhere. Would love to know the percentages.</p>

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<p>Alamemom,</p>

<p>I’m a parent and, for reasons that you are probably perceptive enough to figure out, am not prepared to post specific info about other schools’ offers, stats, etc. Let me just say that I think that you’re an invaluable resource on this board and a credit to USC. You obviously have a genuine passion for the university, and I’ve found the info that you dispense to be more practically useful than anything that we’ve found from any other source. In fact, we’ve tried to apply much of your info to our benefit in this process. So, let me just say “thank you” to you.</p>

<p>That said, I was simply attempting to do what you do everyday: provide a public service. My only goal was to support your own repeated effort to point out that USC arrives at its own independent determination of what “need” means. I’ve seen you say that many times. But, rather than bog it down with home equity this or custodial parent income that, I just wanted to communicate in simple, bottom line terms that potential applicants should really pay attention to the fact that just because ___ says it meets “100 of student need” and USC says something sounding very similar, they may be looking at two entirely different propositions and should set their college application strategy accordingly.</p>

<p>It’s not at all a criticism of USC (other than the notion that maaaaybe they could emphasize the qualifier “USC-determined need” a bit more strongly). I’m just trying, like you, to provide a perspective based on experience that could be useful to other folks.</p>

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Yes, I completely agree that flaming, such as when simplelife directly insulted my character, or when simplelife insulted every non-engineering student at USC, or when simplelife stated that my posts are of no value, or when simplelife suggested (several times) that I should not post on the USC forum, is very upsetting. </p>

<p>Have I mentioned, simplelife, how very very very pleased I was to read about your son’t wonderful college choice? My heartiest congratulations to him!</p>

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<p>caneble, thank you for the kind words. Would you please re-read my post? I am wondering where you see me suggesting in any way that you not post the information that you posted (in fact I encouraged you to post MORE on the USC forum), and my response was like yours in that I posted my experience of seeing many many example of very good USC packages.</p>

<p>I very much encourage people to post their experiences, but, after several years of this I have found there is also very often additional information when you look at past posts - such as with coperguy - that he forgot to include that helps explain the reasons his aid was what it was.</p>

<p>It is interesting to me that because I post most often on the USC forum that I am somehow considered a blind USC-booster. If people would read the first two pages of my Financial Aid FAQ thread (or any of the other 32,567 times I have typed that same sentence “USC meets 100% of UCS-determined need using the CSS/Profile which considers assets, such as home equity, the FAFSA does not…”), you will see that I am very clear that you should expect to pay more than the FAFSA EFC at USC. I am also very often the lone voice on this forum telling kids choosing between USC and a UC at 1/2 the cost that the UC is the better option.</p>

<p>Let me make this VERY clear: I have as much right to post MY opinion as any of you, and I will continue to do so. A couple of months ago, simplelife’s repeated insults made me stop posting on this forum altogether. It was so very nice to get PM after PM from so many others who said my posts had helped them.</p>

<p>**The attitude I have returned with is: If you do not like my posts, PLEASE take advantage of the feature that allows you to block a poster’s posts. If you feel my posts are unacceptable, PLEASE report them to the moderators - I have no problem with that. If you disagree with me, PLEASE post your opinion, but remember that I have every right to post my opinion in response, and support it with factual information as well as your own past posts, and that I WILL do so.</p>

<p>**Have a great day, College Confidential posters!!!</p>

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<p>alamemom,</p>

<p>I don’t think we’re disagreeing or questioning each other’s right to opine. If anything, we’re kinda falling over ourselves to express how much we agree about this “USC-determined need” thing.</p>

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<p>I think all schools should be legally barred (seriously) from using anything close to the term “meets 100% of need” no matter how many qualifiers come before or after. It’s totally misleading, and in fact harmful to the process. I’m sorry…there will be a million “yes buts” to defend that language. Maybe there are some schools that actually pull it off. But i’ve had lots of experience with apps, and research…I haven’t found one yet. Better to say “we’ll evaluate each candidates needs, and do the best we can”. Very few students or parents have the time to make college financial research their avocation. Unless one is willing to do that…the term “meet 100% of need” is simply a red herring, and damaging to the entire process. My 2 cents. Your mileage may vary.</p>

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<p>^ :slight_smile: I have a very distinct memory of the first time I heard the term “we will meet 100% of your need…”</p>

<p>It was at the first college-info session we attended with our oldest (now-USC-student) when she was a freshman in high school. The info session happened to be for MIT, but having attended dozens since then, I can say it was typical of all of them. We sat down for the presentation and I thumbed through the flyers until I came across the one that said “$49,367 per year…” at which point I fell off my chair and had to be splashed with cold water.</p>

<p>I had NO idea college costs had increased so much since I had attended approx two decades earlier. I wanted to leave at that point, but we were right up front and could not make a graceful exit. During the presentation they in essence said, “Don’t worry about the sticker price, we will meet 100% of your need…” I immediately defined for myself my need as: “$49,367 per year,” and then raised my hand and asked, “Who decides how much I need?” And thus began my odyssey into the quagmire of financial aid that has brought me to this typing-my-fingers-to-the-bone-point.</p>

<p>I recall the approximately 22 1/2 year-old-MIT-graduate who was doing the presentation (who had graduated approximately 23 minutes prior to the session) saying these actual words: “Well, they will look at your income and see how much you can comfortably afford…”</p>

<p>For those of us who have actually seen our EFC displayed for the first time as we complete our first FAFSA, we can tell you that the words “comfortably afford” are the exact opposite of what it is. For those who have not yet seen their actual EFC, have cold water handy and try not to fall off your chair…</p>

<p>Anyway as you can probably tell, I tend to research things thoroughly so by the time my then-freshman was applying to college we had a strong strategy in place to apply to colleges that would be most likely to offer a combination of need and/or merit aid that would make four years of attendance possible. She applied to 7 schools, including 2 state schools (UCLA and UCB) that we knew we could afford. She was accepted to all 7 and all presented packages of merit or need-based aid that would make it UNcomfotably possible to attend, but POSSIBLE. USC was the third most affordable, with Santa Clara offering a full-ride and UCLA offering merit that brought our costs to about $3,000/year less than USC. Berkeley and Oxy were both about $4,000 more/ year than USC. (She lost interest in MIT soon after that first info session and did not apply, so I cannot tell you how “comfortable” their package might have felt… :slight_smile: )</p>

<p>The packages were not a surprise, because we had done our homework. We knew what they would consider in determining our “need” (and it turns out MY calculation of us “needing” $49,367 per year was not considered at ALL) and we had established what we were willing to pay and discussed it with our student LONG before the applications were sent.</p>

<p>Since then we encountered some of the economic downturn that everyone seems to be hit with these days, and USC stepped up to the plate and offered our kid more for her third year of attendance than either of the first two. I am very very grateful, and feel MY experiences with USC financial aid are every bit as valuable as anyone else’s on this forum :)</p>

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<p>The problem is, alamemom, I didn’t “insult every non-engineering student at USC,” I merely asked a question about whether partying was rampant amongst the engineering students at USC, and you took that as an insult of all non-engineering students, including your daughter. I also never stated that your posts are of no value. I have found you to be a little too hostile to people who disagree with you, and a little too defensive, and I think that gets in the way of open communication. I also think it hurts feelings. But I never stated that your posts are of no value, and I do not feel that way. I also NEVER suggested, ever, that you should not post on the USC forum; I may have suggested that you be a little more tolerant of other people’s opinions, but I never suggested that you should not post here. That would be ridiculous. In other words, it seems to me that you made all of that up in your defense.</p>

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<p>I think you would be hard-pressed to find examples of my “repeated insults,” alamemom. I have merely disagreed with your tone while addressing people whom I don’t even know. You began some fight with somebody else on a thread I started about engineering students and drinking, and I politely commented on that disruption. “Repeated insults” is a big stretch. I completely agree that you have a right to post your opinions. We all do.</p>

<p>To clarify regarding my son: Are you saying that you’re celebrating the fact that my son will not be attending USC? And that’s because … why? – he’ll poison the water because I disagree with your tone on CC? Case in point. That’s sad.</p>

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<p>Yes, simplelife, I remember that thread very well. And I remember very well your direct insult of my character that you later edited - thank you very much - but not before I read your direct insult of my character. Since then, I have steadfastly avoided responding in any way to your posts, but - not surprisingly - you have not extended me the same courtesy. Based on your latest attack(s), I now feel perfectly free to respond to any and all of your posts on this forum or any other.

What I said, simplelife, is that I was pleased to read about your son’s wonderful college choice and I offered my heartiest congratulations. I do not recall any mention of poison.</p>

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<p>^alamemom, you’re making that up as well. I never directly insulted your character. I did not post one thing and then later edit it. If pretending that I maligned your character or somehow directly insulted you helps you feel better about yourself, and if portraying such a thing publicly as though it were true, helps you feel better about yourself, then have at it.</p>

<p>Regarding your comments about my son’s college choice – a lot of people can see through that sort of thing. It is understood, as it was meant to be, just what you meant by your “heartiest congratulations.” Sad.</p>

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<p>@alamemom: I had a question about extra fees. I know there is a commitment enrollment fee (which I will have waived due to my financial situation) but what are the other mandatory fees that have to be paid, are they included in financial aid, and is there any way I can get them waived? Also, I noticed that in the 2011-2012 tuition costs it doesn’t include Health Care?.. I have Medical and my parents would prefer that I get university coverage while I’m in college.</p>

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<p>simplelife, I do feel good about myself, but certainly not as a result of any of my interactions with you. As I said, I attempted for four months to steadfastly avoid responding to any of your posts, even the ones with misinformation, but you continue your attacks on me so I will no longer avoid responding.

Again, what I said was that I was pleased to read about your son’s wonderful college choice and I offered my heartiest congratulations. Any suggestion of yours that you have special insight into what it was meant to be can only be considered yet another attack on me.</p>

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<p>femmefatal, the mandatory fees ARE included in the COA upon which your financial aid is calculated, as is an extra $150-ish for orientation freshman year (though we found orientation to cost more than $150). The Health *Center *fee is included, but the health insurance coverage through USC is NOT.</p>

<p>The health insurance is about $450 the Fall semester and about $600 the Spring semester (because summer is included). You can ask that it be included in your COA, but it will only increase your loan eligibility for that amount.</p>

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<p>@alamemom, i received full aid in the tuition and room and board, and really only have to pay a small amount in loans so would usc pay for those mandatory fees or would that be the loans?</p>

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<p>Simplelife, while you are certainly free to post anything anywhere on cc, since your child is not going to attend USC, perhaps you could Simplify your Life and refrain from visiting the USC forum to criticize one of its most valuable assets, Alamemom. At this point, I honestly can’t figure out what other reason you could have for being here.</p>

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<p>Thanks, jazz :)</p>

<p>femmefatal, USC will bill a whole BUNCH of stuff on your student account: tuition, room, board, mandatory fees, orientation, tuition insurance (BUY this - it is about $70 or $80 bucks and if you have to withdraw because you are sick it will pay for a semester to make up for the one from which you withdrew - it could be VERY important!), and a few others that always take me by surprise. In your case, there will probably be a bit of aid leftover after they apply all of your grants, scholarships and loans. That extra bit will be issued to you in a check (you might have to request it - check with fin aid in late August about the process). If your aid doesn’t cover it all, you can sign up for the monthly payment plan for the extra amount.</p>

<p>Bottom line, it always ends up being a bit more than you expect. Be ready for that and have plans ready (payment plan, resume ready for work/study or on campus jobs, cheapest meal plan/housing available, etc.)</p>

<p>Good luck!!!</p>

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<p>what is univeristy scholarship? i have it on my package. is it four years or just first year?</p>

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<p>CONGRATULATIONS! University Scholarship is an extra merit award that mysteriously appears for some acceptees in late April. It is extra-fun because it is unexpected AND can take the place of your work/study or subsidized loans (if you qualified for them). If you have need-based aid, USC will automatically use the University Scholarship to reduce/replace work study, but they will often accomodate you if you prefer to have a subsidized loan reduced instead. Email financial aid to discuss it.</p>

<p>Oh, and it is a FOUR YEAR award!</p>

<p>Congrats again!</p>

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<p>Really. I have to stop coming back to this thread. I keep reading about all these full rides, and half rides…and all expenses paid. our EFC might as well be a bajillion dollars. </p>

<p>I know i know…iknew what i was getting into …but i dont’ have to like it. And most of all i don’t have to torture myself. Thanks all for the advice. See you on the other “more fun” threads.</p>