<p>My most desired school (From the ones I've been accepted to) is Boston University.
However, Boston is extremely expensive and gave me, basically, no financial aid.</p>
<p>So here are my options:</p>
<p>Boston University: Total Financial Aid: $4,000. Tuition Approx.: $60,000.
My counselors never told me the about the CSS Profile and I never knew it existed until after I was admitted and my total financial aid was already given out.
However, I was accepted to the Spring semester for Boston, and my question is, if I were to fill it out now, would I still be considered for financial aid from the CSS Profile?</p>
<p>University of Oregon: Financial aid fully covers it, however, the cost is still $44k and obviously would have to be paid back after college. That still is a lot of money.</p>
<p>University of Tampa: $23,000 total net costs.</p>
<p>Still awaiting CSU Fullerton's decision (Can someone tell me why it's taking so long)?</p>
<p>And I really don't want to attend a community college.
What are my best options?</p>
<p>It’s not up to your counselors to tell you about PROFILE. You read the directions for how to apply for financial aid for each college and follow the directions precisely. You will need to that ANY TIME you are applying for things, especially money, as one mis step means no money or less money, because there will be plenty of people who do follow the directions. You need to talk to BU about that. You should run some NPC for the school and see what the estimate is in terms of what you might expect from them and the other schools. </p>
<p>I don’t understand how financial aid is fully covering Uof O and it obviously would have to be paid back after college. You aren’t getting loans for that full amount are you?</p>
<p>The cornerstone of financial aid are the grants. Loans are just deferring your payment. You compare the final cost to you WITHOUT taking out loans and without work. You can then pare down each of those costs with SOME loans and SOME work. </p>
<p>Someone at CSU Fullerton can tell you why it’s taking so long. No one else can.</p>
<p>Until we see what it will cost you without loans and work study for each school, we can’t say what the best option is. Also, how much are you and your parents paying out of savings and current income? The final piece for any gap are loans, and they really should be balanced out by what you and your parents are paying out of past and present earning, with them footing about 70-80% of those costs. Few 18 year old kids can cover more than that. If you are thinking that you are going to be borrowing the entire cost of college, you are mistaken. Unless you get some Perkins loans in your financial aid package, you are limited to $5500 in loans as a freshman. Any more requires parental involvement.</p>
<p>I realize that Profile was up to me to find on my own, but I didn’t know to look for it. I know it’s my fault, but I feel like there as nothing I could do about it. </p>
<p>Oregon: Federal Pell Grant: 2,595
Federal Work-Study Job: 1,500
Federal Perkins Loan: 2,000
Fed Direct Loan - Sub: 3,500
Fed Direct Loan - Unsub: 2,000
Fed Direct Parent Plus Loan: 33,030</p>
<p>And I know my parents need to apply for the plus loan and could be denied, but that’s just what’s offered. </p>
<p>Maybe I read the Financial Aid Award Letter wrong, I’m still new to all this and my both of my parents didn’t attend college, so they don’t know much either. My brother is struggling to pay his college tuition at this moment as well.</p>
<p>Sorry, I’m a little ignorant when it comes to all of this.</p>
<p>There isn’t much that my parents and I can put in on our own. We’re not very high on income. Nothing substantial, any way.</p>
<p>Which state are you in?</p>
<p>California. I was denied to every other California school I applied to.</p>
<p>That’s a lot of PLUS loans that your parents would have to pay, even if they are able and wiling.</p>
<p>Your financial aid at U of Oregon comes nowhere close to covering the costs! Your aid is the Pell, Perkins, and the sub and unsub loans. The PLUS loan is just a suggestion of one way your parents could come up with the money. And if your Pell is that big, then your parents have no business taking out that amount in loans. Period. Kick U of Oregon to the curb and move on.</p>
<p>Pick up the phone and call BU and ask how financial aid works for students who begin second semester. You might need to defer enrollment for a year so that you have a chance at a better aid package there.</p>
<p>In California (like everywhere else in the country) many students start out at their local community colleges because that way they save buckets of money. By meeting the transfer requirements, California students are guaranteed admission to certain UCs. Pay a visit to your HS guidance office and get the details on how that works. With your Pell grant and a bit of federal loan money, you can afford your community college for two years. Not what you wanted to do certainly, but also absolutely do-able on your budget.</p>
<p>Look, the reality is that if you were, as you say, denied to every other California school you applied to, then chances are that you don’t have the stat’s to get good aid from BU, even if they are willing to put together a package for you for spring semester. BU is notorious for giving really horrendous aid to all but a select few of their favorite candidates.</p>
<p>Also, if you qualified for a Pell grant up in Oregon, then you should also qualify for a Cal Grant or other California state aid. Did you get your FAFSA and GPA verification filed in time? And, are you within commuting distance of Fullerton, or would you need to pay room & board on top of tuition?</p>
<p>There’s no way, if you’re Pell-eligible, that your family can afford the debt you’d incur at Tampa or Oregon. So you really need to be looking at what your costs would be in California . . .</p>
<p>I’ve tried contacting BU, but they’re busy and having returned the call yet.</p>
<p>I’m probably going to community, though I really don’t want to…</p>
<p>It is entirely possible that you were not accepted to schools because you did not read directions and fill things out precisely. Yes, I’ve seen this happen too many times. I think you had better call Cal State Fullerton, and find out what is going on with them. You need to sit with you school counselor and find out what is happening with those in state options. You are eligible for some CA state aid, that you really should not let go. If you got inot those other schools, you can find some CA state option. You may not have gotten it right this time around, so it might be wise of you to figure out how to give it another go in state. I think you’ll have some good options if you work it through.</p>
<p>The fact of the matter is that even if your parents are willing to sign for PLUS (Parent loans) if you are PELL eligible, it’s really a bad idea. It can truly put them over the brink as those loans are not going to be discharged for bankruptcy. Those payments have to be made even if they are taken out of their social security check. </p>
<p>You can talk to your brother about struggling over tuition. Better you go to a school more affordable. You are ever so lucky to have a great school system in your state. Take advantage of it. BU is over $60K a year and they are highly unlikely to give you much towards its payment. You can get most of a CA education paid for. If you can’t start up this year, look for spring or next year options. Believe me, you can get a good deal in state.</p>
<p>I doubt I filled something out wrong.
I realize what’s in my best interest financially, but community just isn’t what I wanted. Literally, my last option.</p>
<p>I know I could wait a semester and re-apply, but if I’m just gonna spend two years to transfer, I might as well start earlier…</p>
<p>Don’t let pride get in your way. </p>
<p>BU is too much and the finaid from Oregon is not worth it; I hope you realize that the $30k+ parent loan is for 1 year! That means you’re parents, if they qualify, will have $120k+ in loans (if you graduate in 4 years) on top of the loans in your name.</p>
<p>If you play your cards right and attend in-state, you’ll graduate with less than $25k. That’s more doable for you and your parents. Don’t start your life off with an insurmountable non-dischargeable loan.</p>
<p>You need to call CSUF and find out what’s taking so long. That will be your most affordable choice. With Pell, Cal Grant, and student loans, you should have nearly everything covered. You can work over the summer to cover anything else.</p>
<p>A degree from CSUF can take you almost anywhere.</p>
<p>What is your career goal?</p>
<p>Your parents do not earn enough to be considering Plus loans. Don’t go that route.</p>
<p>University of Oregon: Financial aid fully covers it, however, the cost is still $44k and obviously would have to be paid back after college. That still is a lot of money.</p>
<p>NO,</p>
<p>FA is not “fully covering it.” Plus loans aren’t really FA. They’re loans that your PARENTS are offered at all schools. That is a ridiculous amount of debt.</p>
<p>Top: Anything in Computers
Second: Cinematography
Backup: Psychology</p>
<p>CSUF has like 5 To-do list items. I sent in my transcript, but it told me I didn’t. So I sent another. It doesn’t say whether or not it was initiated.
It also says FAFSA, so I checked, it said it was submitted.
Then there’s papers due June 6th.</p>
<p>And I get it, Oregon is off the table. As well as Boston.</p>
<p>I’ve been accepted to other, random schools, but either not enough or no financial aid was offered.</p>
<p>Whether you did something or not matters not one bit in these processes. Even if it’s not your fault at all. The school has to have EVERYTHING. Call Cal State, have your counselor call. Really, your best options are in state.</p>
<p>Also don’t feel that starting at a CCC is a failure. The CA system is great in allowing all students to start at a CC and transfer to a CSU or UC. Your diploma will just state where you graduated from, not where you started.</p>