Wow, financial aid without loans!

Paying for College
1

<p>I've been really surprised by my son's financial aid awards. First he was offered a full ride at his safety (UCSC) that explicitly said they were giving enough grant money to eliminate any need for loans or work study. I had always assumed that state schools <em>always</em> included loans and work study in their packages, even for EFC=0 folks. </p>

<p>Today he got the official award from one of his two top choices, and again, the award is for full need, completely grants and scholarships, with no loans or work study. I was <em>sure</em> that he would be expected to take out at least the minimum loan and take a work study job, but no. </p>

<p>Anyone else had this? I guess I'm just really surprised, as most schools say that their packages even for full aid will include work study and student loans.</p>

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<p>hmmmm... whoever said there was no such thing as a free lunch??!
You are very very lucky.</p>

3

<p>No, both son and I have worked very very hard. Luck had nothing to do with it.</p>

4

<p>I am not casting any aspersions on you or your son, I am sure you have worked hard, but I am also sure that after reading these boards that you realize that there are many students who have worked very hard and do not get full financial aid that does not include a work study or loan component. Perhaps instead of saying you were very "lucky" I should have said you are very "blessed"</p>

5

<p>Hard work and financial aid don't necessarily go hand-in-hand.</p>

6

<p>I agree with chacha. Lots of students work very hard and have great stats, too, but still aren't lucky enough to get the excellent aid package that your S did. It's not an insult to suggest that he's lucky -- fortunate -- to get such a fabulous aid package. Congratulations!</p>

7

<p>TrinSF</p>

<p>Last year, my son was offered a full ride at UCI and UCD (no loans or work study). Check to see if it is just for the first year or for all four years.</p>

<p>Congratulations to your son!</p>

8

<p>The work involved wasn't just that of getting good grades. We both worked on a financial strategy to take the best advantage of the situation we have. I've been pretty much his full time college counselor for two years now -- doing legwork researching schools, helping with forms, following up about particular things. He's worked to build good relationships with his teachers to make sure they knew him well and could write good recommendations. </p>

<p>Grades and scores are important, yes, but as you said, there are plenty of students who have those who don't get good financial aid. I have been clear on the financial aid process since long before my son was old enough to attend college, so for us, this is the end of a long road of planning and making do with very little. </p>

<p>And even after all of that planning, I <em>still</em> expected that the best he could hope for -- the aid we were shooting for -- was a work study, small loan, and grants. As I said, I have been really surprised at having no loans.</p>

9

<p>FresnoMom: Yup, four years. Now, with his top choice, that's still sticky, because a lot of students don't graduate in four years, so he's going to have to be very careful to take a full course load every semester, because he can't afford to take longer than the 8 semesters of aid he'll get.</p>

10

<p>Hi! CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SON'S ACHEIVEMENT! </p>

<p>My son didn't get a "full ride", but by the end of his first year, it was close to a full ride. He is attending an out of state college (WVU), just across the border from us so he commutes. His choice school (Penn State) didn't offer anything!</p>

<p>His offer last year at WVU was: Academic Excellence L1 Waiver $8,000.00 ~ Fed Direct Sub Loan $1,708.00 ~ WVU Acad Enhancement Grant $2,500.00 ~ Pennsylvania Grant $600.00 ~ WV Mining & Reclaim (COMER) $1,500.00 ~ WVU Academic Grant $1,000.00 ~ American Postal Workers Union, AFO-CIO $1,000.00 (Personal Scholarship won for 4 years) I am assuming these will all stay the same, except for the FED Direct Sub. Loan....</p>

<p>We took the student loan of $2030 because we didn't know any better... He received departmental scholarships and grants that paid for everything ~ He was sent $2030 for overpayment on his account and the school sent $300+ as payment on his student loan. He didn't have work study.</p>

<p>He is a freshman, considered a Junior ~ He had enough credits through AP Courses, Upward Bound, and Pennsylvania Dual Enrollment Program to boost him up to a Junior is second semester of his first year.</p>

<p>He hasn't recieved his package yet for the upcoming year ~ we are a little nervous since this is our first college student and do not know what to expect on the second year of financial aid. Our EFC has be lowered from 4240 last year to 619 this year, so he qualifies for additional grants and scholarships ~ SMART Grant since he is considered a Junior. A PELL Grant ($3,660.00) has already been alloted to his account for this coming fall. </p>

<p>My son's intellegence comes naturally, but he and I still had to work and plan for what he acheived! Through all of his hard work, he is finally reaping the benefits. He knew he wanted out of college with the least possible bill ~ after every AP Exam he knew he saved this amount of $$$$ ~</p>

<p>He will also have a fantastic co-op opportunity that offered to pay the rest of his schooling (whatever is left) and any additional degrees he would like to further his education ~ we are still waiting for details of that... They had the program a few years back, but stopped it and are currently working to get it implemented again.</p>