What's next USC?

Paying for College
1

<p>Total Estimated Expenses $49,654
Awards
Estimated Cal Grant A $9708<br>
Estimated Federal Pell Grant $5400<br>
University Grant $15158<br>
Federal SEOG $450
Work Study
Federal Work-Study $2750<br>
Loans
Federal Perkins Loan $1000<br>
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan $2000<br>
Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan $4500 </p>

<p>TOTAL $40966</p>

<p>EFC for 2012-2013 $8,688</p>

<p>I live with my mom and she only has an annual income of 24,000 and I have a sister that goes to a UC. We don't own a house or ne investments. I'm planning to live with her and commute. I'm also a CC transfer and I have like 1.5 years left on my cal grants so I don't know if USC will continue to give me university grants after cal grants end.
Do you think that there was something wrong with their EFC calculator that requires my family to pay 1/3 of the income or maybe I entered something wrong on FASFA or CSS Profile? It's because I expected a more similar EFC with my FASFA one which was zero. I was also hoping for the tranfer dean scholarship, but I didn't qualify I guess.
I also have to account of living, food, and transportation cost...which summed up is already stretched pretty thinly around that yearly income and counting for the tuition cost.
What are some of my other options besides getting more loans because if I work to pay for that 8.6k this year..and that lowers my financial aid package next year..it's kind of like shooting myself in the foot?
1)Asking for more grant money? 2)Scholarships?
3)Where can I get more Loans or should I get more loans? to meet the EFC?</p>

2

<p>I would call the college and talk to the financial aid office. That amount seems way out of line with the income your Mom has. Explain the situation and they should certainly be willing to review your aid. The Fafsa should have given you an efc and I would think it would be zero, unless there is other income or savings or…? Try calling it can’t hurt. Maybe your fafsa was not filled out correctly??</p>

3

<p>The $5400 Pell shows that the EFC is approaching zero, so a miscalculated EFC is not likely to be the problem.</p>

4

<p>^ Very true, but an EFC of $8700 and a Pell grant of $5400 don’t seem to match up either. Give em a call, it can’t hurt.</p>

5

<p>ooo… thats a good way to tell if I get the maximum pell annasdad.
Hmm I guess my next option would be to ask for more university grants.
Assuming I work 20 hours a week at $10/hour give or take for the place I tutor at…and they usually have 15 week schedules…I could get 3000 per semester or 6000 for fall and spring. Summer and Winter usually have 12 weeks together…so thats 8400 all together for the school year-probably less due to holidays… lets say $7600 and we minus $2750. It will say that I earned 4850 on my tax return since work study should not count as my free income…
And thats being optimistic…while studying engineering which occupies a lot of time.
ahh…I think I should make an appointment with one of their financial aid counselors because I think I want to also take more courses than usual as well before my pell grant runs out…</p>

6

<p>call the FA office at USC.
#1] they may not be as generous with grant $$ awarded to to new transfer students as they are to incoming Freshman or continuing students, as those groups get “first dibs”. As a continuing student next year, your FA awards may be more generous. But it doesn’t hurt to call them and see what can be done now.</p>