Financial Aid. BEWARE. - Page 9

madbean · 08-01-2009, 05:05 PM

This is such a stressful topic, I can understand why those who got the shock of reduced FA are posting (venting too) here. In cases where there have been changes in circumstances, it is regrettable but understandable that FA has been adjusted. That doesn't make it any easier for those families, but those are the rules.

For incoming Freshmen who got better FA offers elsewhere, there was time back in April to make a college decision that took that into account.

For those, like Write, who are stumped as to why a continuing student with identical circumstances is suddenly getting must less FA, I really hope it's simply a bad mistake that can be corrected--and soon. The fact that the FA office is not responsive is adding to the frustration.

Many of us reading your posts are trying to help make sense of this flurry of complaints, as we have NEVER encountered claims of FA downgrading at USC before. So, at worst, this might be a signal to us all that things may be changing (which I truly hope is NOT the case), or, at best, a swamped FA office taking it case by case and making corrections to messed up awards if there were errors made.

Please post when you get your final answers. Hope all will be made right.

Columbia_Student · 08-01-2009, 06:21 PM

I would call them instead of sending email. I had success removing charges by calling USC. My daughter had been trying with emails with no luck.

dt123 · 08-01-2009, 06:58 PM

Write (#120), I have a problem evaluating the change you call "dramatic"? This is not exclusively directed at you. This whole thread suffers from the problem.

Let's try something quantitative, yet still anonymous.

What were the ratios of (work study)--(loans, sub and unsub)--grants--(family contribution), as a percentage of estimated cost of attendance, this year and next year? Those should be easy to give while remaining anonymous. These numbers are right off of the FA summaries on Oasis, if you are familiar with those. The family contribution is labeled as additional loan eligibility at the bottom, being the difference between estimated cost of attendance and total financial aid.

I'll show you mine:

year WS:loans:grants:FC (% of COA)
08-09 5:13:72:10
09-10 6:14:66:14

As you can see, our work study, loans and family contribution went up some this year and the grants down some. The actual difference in family contribution is $2,000 that we have to come with. Is it dramatic? I say no, because in our case our annual family finances varied some too, in the direction of more income and assets. So I am still in the doubter/happy-camper crowd here.

Write · 08-01-2009, 07:52 PM

Hi, Dramatic maybe isn't the best work. I agree about 2K. I would be thrilled with only a 2K increase in EFC from last year. I am not thrilled about a 20K increase. I really don't want to reveal any more than I have.

niubie · 08-01-2009, 07:54 PM

I agree with columbia student. If you're having trouble reaching the financial aid office through email, definitely try calling them. In fact, you may even be able to negotiate with them better. I attempted to appeal my financial aid through email with no luck (they replied, but simply said that they did the best they could with my financial aid package); however, I decided to call the financial aid office afterwards and managed to get more financial aid. Good luck!

tocollege · 08-01-2009, 09:19 PM

Hi write - just checking, but are both of your two in college undergraduates? In an earlier post you mentioned that your son was a sophomore in college the 05-06 school year - has he graduated? Because, as I understand it, only undergraduates split the EFC. Also, all of the undergraduates in the family have to be full-time students and under the age of 24. (FAFSA rules, not USC rules.) I am sure you accounted for all that, but I just wanted to check. Hope it works out for your daughter.

Write · 08-01-2009, 09:32 PM

Yes. Both in college are undergraduates. Oldest has graduated. The year he graduated, another started.

They are full time students. (Only one is at USC)

dt123 · 08-01-2009, 10:27 PM

Well, then, there are three possiblities.

1. USC is singling people out for devestating reductions in aid while maintaining aid awards for others. Two formulas are being applied, for no apparent reason, in breach of USC's published promise to meet 100% of need on which people have relied to their detriment. (class action lawsuit to follow) USC is in such dire financial straits that it is balancing its budget on the backs of a few unfortunate returning undergraduates.

2. There is a valid explanation for your reduction in aid.

3. USC made a mistake in your case that it will be anxious to correct.

JAKNd · 08-06-2009, 12:14 PM

we thought we were the only ones....... our D also received no FA this year (2nd year) then we found out her room mate from last year also received a significant reduction and can not come back to USC. What is going on? We are still struggling with the FA dept trying to sort this all out. After reading these posts it looks like we are in for a big disappointment.

rlmorton · 08-08-2009, 01:34 AM

Dude, I just checked on all your posts, you attend NOTRE DAME!!!! This is pretty low of you to be commenting on a USC thread just to hurt our reputation.

Kathyc · 08-08-2009, 01:24 PM

My daughter says she knows of kids not coming back because of the changes in FA. In my opinion, some of these actions by the FA office are at best underhanded. I think the students/parents should complain to Pres. Sample if they don't get a satisfactory and logical explanation of the changes. Any downgrading in FA will hurt the university and make it more difficult to compete with other schools to attract the top students it wants.

Write · 08-12-2009, 11:34 PM

I'm reporting back with an update.

Good news. The appeal was successful.

hyakku · 08-13-2009, 12:44 AM

Seems like most appeals are being successful, great to hear.

Although this was a bad situation, I must say the university is handling it better than I expected.

binks09 · 08-13-2009, 12:49 AM

^^^ I appealed... my dad is terminally ill, just quit his job. My parents combined did make 100k before my dad retired in may.

They went from giving me NOTHING, NADA, ZILCH to... a whopping 3k! I laughed, took a sec to make sure it wasn't 30k, then said **** me.

Oh, and socially, I fit the SC stereotype as well, so I was baffled.

alamemom · 08-13-2009, 10:51 AM

binks09, Again, I am very sorry about your family's health troubles. Are you saying that you received more attractive financial aid offers from more sympathetic universities and it is only USC you see as "unfair?" When you posted here a few months ago, detailing your $40,000 EFC and near-one-million-dollar home equity, several posters advised that you could not expect significant need-based aid based on a future difficulty and that you should choose your other (excellent) option of UCLA (which, according to your recent posts, you have. Congratulations!). As you reported earlier, USC said that when your father was no longer able to work they would re-evaluate your need for aid.

Did another university give you a different answer? Most California residents in your family's fortunate financial position find that UCLA is the better choice financially than USC, and you are very sensible to have made that choice.

Quote:

Oh, and socially, I fit the SC stereotype as well, so I was baffled.

By fitting the "stereotype," what do you mean? Are you referring to the "University of Spoiled Children" stereotype? And you feel that students who fit that stereotype should receive need-based financial aid? I know you have come on this board and insulted students (like my daughter) who DO receive need-based grants from USC - in what way do you feel you are more deserving than she?