<p>Kelsmom-yes, it certainly was a killer for us. We could appeal, but I suspect we would need to every year, and I dread the prospect of that for four or more years. We are staying in-state where the Profile is not required, save the time and expense it demands, and all son’s state grants and scholarships can be used at a nice private. Though nothing compared to CC standards, S is thrilled to go there and we can make the numbers work. Leave the spot at NU for someone to whom it means so much more. Things usually work out the way they are meant to, no?</p>
<p>Also, after reading some of your other posts–could be an accept/deny thing working here, too.</p>
<p>20K in Grant money for a UC is a GREAT package. That will cover tuition, fees, and most of the room and board. You’re left with books and miscellaneous expenses, and a small amount of the room/board. That’s as much of a “full ride” as you’ll get from the UC’s.</p>
<p>Note that UCB, and some other colleges create a high estimate of the COA, and we’ve found that our son was able to attend his UC for considerably less than the COA. For example, UCB includes student insurance in their 28K COA, which you can waive if you already have health insurance. They estimate books and supplies at $1300, and personal expenses at $1300, both pretty high estimates in our experience. They also allot another $1k for miscellaneous food over and above the meal plan that they include with their room/board cost.</p>
<p>Point is that the 28K COA can really end up being closer to 24 or 25 K, particularly if you have health insurance, can live frugally, and don’t have huge transportation costs.</p>
<p>So if you work during the summer, and work part time while in school, you should be able to do it with little or no loan money.</p>
<p>I always like following sblake7’s posts as he is so knowledgable and clear! We, too, have found that the UCs overestimate the COA.</p>
<p>My son called the FA office at Berkeley and had a part of his loan converted to work study. These are rough numbers, but I believe his work study amount is approx $4,500. You can make approx $3,500 before FAFSA starts assessing student’s income. That means you can make approx $8K per year before it negatively impacts your EFC.</p>
<p>My son needs the money so he makes more than $8K per year (so yes, his EFC is higher because he works).</p>
<p>Just be thankful you live in CA, here in Pa you can add thousands
to your cost to go to PSU, Pitt or Temple. I understand that things are
not what they were in CA, but it is still pretty good if you’re low income.</p>
<p>Our son, too, quickly outgrew his work study cap. He ended up snagging a job doing tech work for a high-tech startup, working part time (remotely from UCLA) during the year, and full time (in SF) during summers. Made 37K (!) last year. Not a bad gig for a student.</p>
<p>what sucks about need based financial aid for me is that my lil brother goes to a private highschool costing more than 30,000 bucks that we currently get help with already, but it seems that colleges don’t take this into account!</p>
<p>Mesquite_Girl, if you had worked only 1/4 as hard as you did in high school, you would not be prepared to kick major butt at the state school - but by working so hard, you are prepared to be a top student. You still have wonderful opportunities ahead of you</p>
<p>Endicott, if only you could visit my financial aid office and peruse the incomes of the families my school serves. $100k per year would be put into perspective very quickly.</p>
<p>I guess it’s partly because we live in a very expensive part of the country. It still seems a lot to expect you to pay half your annual income–I know other people with higher incomes who still get financial aid. But in some parts of the US, it can cost a third of a money to live a middle class, but the FAFSA doesn’t account for that. It doesn’t really bother me now–my son got offered merit aid from every other school except for the one he really wanted, which is a far better school that UR. But I thought he had a good chance for merit scholarships from UR, so I was surprised when he didn’t get it.</p>
<p>My D’s good friend was accepted to Duke, Vanderbilt, UVA, among other excellent schools. She is at our state’s #2 school, because that was the most affordable (and her family actually could have paid for the expensive schools - but it was their choice not to do so). She got TONS of credit for her AP’s, has a job assisting a prof with research, is in just about every honor society, etc, etc. She will graduate early at the top of her class, and her profs are sure to give her fantastic recommendations for veterinary school. In the end, she won’t be able to say she graduated from a Top 20 school - but it honestly isn’t going to hurt her in the long run. It is what you make of it.</p>
<p>Just don’t fall into the party-all-the-time trap …</p>
<p>“It still seems a lot to expect you to pay half your annual income”</p>
<p>We’re actually expected to pay for college with annual income, savings, and loans. Annual income alone is more a gauge of relative wealth from which EFC is determined, AIUI.</p>
<p>I think that one thing about this thread is that it seems the colleges expect us to pay more and more & now the parents & students are just saying “No” and going to another school. lt almost sounds like a rebellion! If this trend continues, many colleges may have student bodies of predominately wealthy students, so a financially diverse student body will be a thing of the past. </p>
<p>As to paying from savings, when you are like my H & I, we have already put 2 children through college & with two more going in, savings are just no longer an asset. Everyone attempts to save but sometimes it isn’t possible-you pay your taxes, kids’ braces, (all four of our kids had braces) school trips, summer camps & so on. While we lead a frugal life style, putting 4 children through college in 11 consecutive years is challenging.</p>
<p>SLU well said! It is about time that a poster wrote what I have been thinking for years! Once kiddo #1 goes to college, there may not be much in the way of college savings! Sure one could take 20k and either spread it among 4 kids with 5k going to each, or one can take the full 20k and give it to the first child with 0 in savings for the other 3. Any way you cut a 20k pie, it is a finite amount of money and a drop in the bucket next what the middle class is expected to pay!</p>
<p>Yes, if nothing is done regarding the cost of college in the US, schools will be filled with the wealthy, and a lucky few middle class and low income students who got a very good financial aid package because the school wanted those students for whatever reason (ie: athlete, exceptional stats). Now, what about the rest of America that would be college bound if not for the obstacle of obscene college costs? JMO.</p>
<p>What we are seeing is the stratification of college access along
economic lines. Community colleges and lower level states are still
enrolling a wide range of economically diverse students and this
is where the majority of American students attend. But the higher
level states and the privates are enrolling and marketing to wealthier
applicants and internationals. I suspect the economic downturn is only going to
increase this trend. These colleges have developed increasingly
difficult and complex admission and funding standards that are
designed to produce carefully regulated income numbers. It is not
just a question of state and federal aid. Recent increases in loan
limits and pell funding will not significantly change the trend. Colleges
simply add this money to their coffers without changing their finaid
practices , they take the money and pass the loans on to
the students. Recent increases in unsubsidized loan limits and competitive
grants have actually worked against access and increased costs for
students at many colleges. The standard loan is now $5500 and up
rather than $3500. And the competitiveness grant goes away for many
students after the first or second year, leaving them to fund the difference.
Only when legislators understand the situation from the lower end economic
status will change happen. Government is currently committed to pushing lower
income students into lower level colleges and providing additonal funding to
higher level colleges for their own purposes - merit awards to wealthier apps
One possible solution is to tie government funding to access. Reward
colleges for providing access. The privates, despite recent no loan
practices are not really moving forward - numbers remain stagnant
or in decline. Tying grants to access will encourage colleges to make
changes - and it might well be a great plan for many struggling privates
who are not top tier. There are only so many wealthy apps
to go around and eventually even aggressive discounting, fancy dorms
and state of the art athletic and music facilities will not be enough to
attract them. Currently students are suffering but in the long run the
writing is on the wall for many privates, especially smaller lacs. It will
be interesting to see over the next few years how yield numbers stand
up at these colleges.</p>
<p>Vandy $28K + NMF 5K (not sure if they decrease award because of it yet)
Duke $20K (loan is not aid!)
W & L full tuition $38K
UGA honors - $1K + Hope (free tuition)
W &M - monroe
UVA - no word yet
Wake - no word yet</p>
thats what i keep trying to tell myself.</p>