<p>Right, I agree - no one is slamming USC, it’s all good :)</p>
<p>D’s package for the coming year (her junior year) was just posted, and it is remarkably stable. Very slight increase in loans–very, very minor. Thank you USC!
For those that are need more detail: DH owns his own business, no major change in personal or business assets. We planned to try and keep things fairly stable during her college years, but when you own your business there is only so much you can do. Some increase in income, but not huge. We have asked a few questions, and the financial aid office has been very forthcoming and helpful. </p>
<p>My grant aid dropped nearly 20 percent from last year, despite the fact that I made next to nothing. It will force me to take out a bigger loan than I thought.</p>
<p>We got no FAid, but S got increased merit awards for the 4 years he was at USC. Our D got 0 all the way through her time at USC, so no increase or reduction.</p>
<p>We have friends who had good FAid packages all 4 years for all of their kids at USC. It was a combo of merit + FAid, I believe. In fact, they were so pleased, they sent several kids to USC, all with merit + FAid. Sorry, I don’t have the stats or details (we don’t talk about these things in depth), but your concerns are definitely something you should discuss with FAid in making your choice and plans.</p>
<p>i just appealed our award. Got $6000 in grants in 2011. None in 2012, but experienced a decrease in COA due to study abroad. None in 2013, but income had increase. This year income is down and second child is starting college and once again we received no grants. It doesn’t make sense as our assets have decreased. Without those $6000 in grants first year, son may have taken another path, but we warned hime they weren’t guaranteed and that he was responsible for any costs above our in-state option. Thankful for his scholarships which reduce the out of pocket expenses. I still would like to know what USC thinks we can afford to pay. The first year is was comparable to our FAFSA. Years 2, 3 and 4 it is whatever scholarships and student loans do not cover. Am I disappointed, yes. Will we make it work…yes.</p>
<p>Not surprised that people that are low income enough to get financial aid end up sending several kids through USC. Seems smart to take the sure thing rather than start in another system that may not give it away like USC does.</p>
<p>Give it away like USC does? USC doesn’t really “give” much away based on student and family comments here and on FB. Not the FA thread where a lot of families got hit with huge bills. So it’s not accurate to say that even low income families are getting lots of financial aid. The reality is - very few get enough to survive. Most are not. And the Daily Trojan reported last year of a trend of students getting aid the first year and finding that evaporated in the second year causing students to drop out.</p>
<p>It’s an odd system. But at least USC is up front about it. Most lower income and middle class families choosing USC are strapped and finding ways to make it work - many times tapping retirement savings or maxing out on Parent Plus loans.</p>
<p>Compared to other institutions, USC’s aid is not as high as other comparable private schools. Harvard, MIT and U. Penn, for instance, make tuition free below a certain income. USC’s fund raising prowess is enough to make similar things happen, but that’s not their priority so it is what it is - expensive.</p>
<p>Maybe due to the increase in fund raising, my anecdotal observation seems to indicate that USC are giving a bit more grant. My financial did not change much for the last 3 years, but my D is getting more grant for the coming school year than the previous 2 years. Of course, my USC EFC is still higher than FASFA EFC, but I am grateful in getting more grant for my D for the coming school year.</p>
<p>@ArtsandLetters – USC’s endowment is not on par with the schools that give better aid. Harvard can offer more generous packages with their huge endowment (and should). The increase in fund raising is good-- but USC’s endowment needs to grow significantly to offer the aid that some of the elite schools are able to offer. </p>
<p>@camomof3 - I don’t disagree. I’m just intrigued that USC is pushing more fundraising for buildings than to improve increase the financial aid endowment. And (being facetious) why should they? They push parents to tap Plus Loans or retirement savings to make up the tuition gap. The FA issue has been a priority for other colleges to help them improve their outreach to a broader base of middle income students. But that doesn’t seem to be USC’s priority. It may be based on supply and demand. They don’t seem to have a dearth of applicants clamoring to come on campus. We are stretched but still give to the annual fund and designate it for scholarships as we do with our own alma mater.</p>
<p>It’s not necessarily (although it could be) the goal to raise funds for buildings vs. financial aid/endowment, but the donors themselves who want to donate to X (and get naming rights). The schools with large endowments didn’t get these through fundraising for the most part- they were giving at founding (think Stanford)/through research/patents and tech/ etc… and have built up with the stock market over the last 50+ years. Hard to catch up.</p>
<p>Gotcha.</p>
<p>Still, I think USC could start a fund and make a case for a scholarship specific campaign. It would really go a long way to attract talent that may be pulled away from other schools (including state schools) offering those same students full rides. Having merit aid be a competition, just strikes me as harsh. And the lack of “aid” for students who didn’t get them but are high achievers (My D’s gpa and course load is significantly higher than her merit aid awarded friends) kind of rubs me the wrong way - if it’s okay to be honest. 
Still, like I said, we’re stretched but designated our donation for scholarships because we realize there are others much worse off. Both of my alma maters (HS and College) had specific drives for scholarships (The former had one designated as a middle class scholarship fund and it met its goal 18 months early).</p>