@Mia0Mia for UCLA you have to apply for their two major scholarships by application (one is invite only) so it’s more likely they’d get more if they won. And while need is a factor, there are a ton of factors they consider that we don’t always know. I’ve only heard back from UCSB so far and I had a similar package as you and I too having an unemployed mother and make next to nothing. I think we got the normal aid for my financial bracket and we just didn’t qualify for scholarships at the school’s we’ve already gotten into so far. I hope you get more aid to UCLA! 
Haven’t multiple said that people don’t actually get “full rides?” Your tuition is covered. You’re getting many grants. As other people have stated before do you want them to pay for everything, even your daily expenses? That’s just silly.
As for @luckie1367 how do you ask for more financial aid? Do you just say “I want more. Give me more.” Lol
@LuckyName whoa, dude. Take it easy. No need to be hostile. OP works hard, they deserve as much help as possible.
You ask for more financial aid by picking up the phone, calling FA, politely asking if someone would review your aid with you. After going though your award, you ask if there is any work study or department grants you could apply for, or if they have any other suggestions. Of course you don’t just shout “give me more” into the phone. We’re transfer students with part time jobs, not barbarians.
The little I’ve seen of this, this seems pretty standard. People take out the 5500 loan and somehow cover the 4500. $4500 isn’t much to cover for a whole year - either through work or WS.
And I’m not sure there wasn’t a loan in there somewhere with the others.
It’s important to be grateful.
@lindyk8 Like I said, I am grateful, but my question here was how UC’s award students, one would find it reasonable that those who need more support will get it, as opposed to those who are able to afford it but are covered nonetheless. I posted the question to see if people know what could lead to UC’s decisions in this matter.
In my opinion however, their estimated cost of attendance might be kind of high. What you need to take out as a loan probably even won’t reach that high if you carefully work out your costs for the year.
I don’t think it’s much different from the ones I have heard. About 9500 in loans and work study. But I may be wrong.
A two year loan will be about $11000, with rest paid off with work. Plus, expenses are usually a bit lower than estimated by the UCs.
@luckie1367 I was kidding about the “give me more.” I was just wondering how more can be awarded. So department grants is the answer. Thank you.
As for the first part of my post, I was just stating what I’ve read on here. I’ve seen many of the expert posts say it, so I was just passing along that information.
I’m all for passing along information, but I think phrasing is important.
We’re all just trying to help each other out.
I don’t know how they determine it, but what you got is pretty standard. People don’t normally get a “full ride.” I have a similar financial situation as yourself, and I got about the same. Also, if you do get scholarships, from what I know it is pretty much deducted from your financial aid. It could be a lot worse though. Some people end up with $100,000 in loans.
@music1990 Then I guess the people I spoke with were rare exceptions with an extremely good luck.
I think scholarships are first deducted from unmet need - or some are anyway, like Regents. But I’m not 100% sure. I used to think they deducted from aid, but I’ve lately been reading it starts with unmet need.
Also, do ppl really get free rides who aren’t athletes, or some hotshot brainiac? I thought in terms of f.a. they always at least leave some work study or work, so a person isn’t just getting everything without any effort.
Yes, there are some differences between UC and a UC. UCLA/UCB would give you more money than other UCs with less funds overall. As a UC student, you received the full ride everybody is taking about unless your friends BS you about their scholarships or they received something externally that isn’t really connected to the university but private grants. Your tuition is waived, as well as your housing+food if you plan to live on campus (Applies I think only for the first year). You also get $5,775.00 cash money to your bank account every year to cover food/supplies. The cost UCs list is pure BS, so I wouldn’t calculate anything based on their “predictions”. I don’t think UCs are offering anything better than whatever you’ve received. This is mine from UCB (EFC=0, independent student):
Berkeley Scholarship (this and the next one is instead of Cal Grant since I haven’t been in a CA high school, so they disqualify me).
$10,873.00
Charles Davis Turton Scholarship
$2,500.00
Federal Pell Grant
$5,730.00
Federal SEOG Grant
$400.00
George Douglass Scholarship
$600.00
Jenny Tetlock Mem. Scholarship
$847.00
UC Undergraduate Grant
$800.00
Total Gift Aid
$21,750.00
Subsidized Loan
Federal Perkins Loan
$4,000.00
Federal Subsidized Direct Loan
$5,500.00
Federal Unsubsidized Direct Loan
$1,138.00
Grand Total
$32,388.00
I appealed once and they raised by grant by $100/month since my rent was higher than their predictions (I live out of campus - they cover up to $1000, my rent is $900, but they give only $800/month unless you appeal).
The only thing I pay is food. We also don’t really use books since the professors lecture about their research or say the books are too old/haven’t been updated for years compared to current information available. If I need any books, usually I can find a PDF online. The only thing I buy is lab manuals/access keys for online homework. I pay about $700/month for food, but that’s because I don’t cook + I’m a spoiled rat, so even with that I don’t get to $10K net predicted cost.
@music1990 same here. UCSB gave me $20,000 in grants, $2,000 in work study and the other $11,000 in loans. I thought that was great considering I currently pay over $11,000 in rent in 9 months. So I’m happy with the 20k in grants.
@Mia0Mia if the Aid Year Totals $35,577.00 and the cost is $35,577.00
I’m unclear about what you are missing? The total amount really does seem to cover everything, from Books, health insurance, housing(which includes meals), & tuition.
@monarch1 It covers with the loans that they are offering. I was hoping for grants and scholarships and no loans at all, because I compared my income and gpa with the people who didn’t need to take loans, people with a lower gpa and a higher income, but who surprisingly got everything covered with grants and scholarships.
@Mia0Mia like others have stated, your package is on par with mostly everyone that has been accepted by a UC’s financial aid packages – almost everyone has loans. I wouldn’t compare myself to others, because you actually do not know their entire situation and the financial help they may have received from external sources (parents, grandparents, etc. may have given them the amount they needed, so no loan).
We are lucky that the amount of loans we do have to take out is so very tiny compared to many people In this country. I would suggest looking for scholarships and work-study to lower the amount of loan you may have to take out If you can’t get more grants.
Similar situation here. UCSB offers me Unofficial Grants and Scholarships with $21642 excluding from the loans. Their estimated cost is $31142 leaving me to pay $9500 a year. I guess that’s standard? I’ve also heard that ppl have all their expenses paid off and have extra money (provided by UC) but guess we aren’t those ppl.
@poggibaby Glad there is someone that understands my concerns here. It is just a disappointment when you hear all these stories of people working hard and getting college covered, so then you sacrifice your time, energy and peace to get there but are left with a "standard"reward. I’m glad the loans are little, but i feel like my diligence deserved more credit.
You two really have to stop the pity party. It’s getting offensive.