<p>I was a great student, graduated top 3% of my class, I was accepted to a nearby college and decided to go there because it was cheaper than out of state schools. Turns out I received no financial aid just loan applications. It could be that I applied for everything very late, but either way I can’t go to college because of this and it seems my world is ending. What do I do?</p>
<p>A few questions;
- Have you called the financial aid office at this college to talk to them? Find out if you missed some paperwork or if they ran out of money or if your family makes too much to be eligible for aid. A lot of colleges also don’t “meet need”, so they don’t promise to cover the difference between what they think you can pay and what they offer; they expect you to take out loans or just figure it out somehow. Or you could have made a mistake and put parents assets in the student spots on the FAFSA or something like that.
- Were you accepted at any other schools, and did you go through the process to apply for financial aid at those? If you have acceptances but did not apply for aid, you could call those colleges to see if it is too late to switch over to attend and also apply for aid. It is pretty late for that, but you can ask.
- You could attend community college next year and re-apply to other schools after 1-2 years to transfer.
- You could take a gap year. Work and earn money, and apply again to schools that are more affordable. Every college has something called a net price calculator on their website now where you can put in your family’s income and asset into, and it gives you an idea of what your cost of attendance may be.
- It wouldn’t be a bad idea to run the net price calculator for the college you have planned to attend to see what it says. If it shows grants instead of all loans, then you have something to ask them about when you call to see if you did something wrong in the process.</p>
<p>Most any out of state school is gonna be more expensive than instate.
What is the school?
Is it public?
Is it close enough to commute?
How big is the difference between cost of attendance and what your family can aggord to pay?</p>
<p>Let’s talk this out. It won’t be the worst thing in the world if you have to take a gap year and have another round of applications to colleges that are affordable or will give you merit aid. Lots of kids do gap by choice, some to make smarter more informed choices and work and save money. </p>
<ol>
<li><p>Why did you think you would get aid? Are you qualified for Federal aid, what is your EFC? </p></li>
<li><p>What is the amount available from savings and parent contribution each year?</p></li>
<li><p>For the nearby school, would you have been commuting from home? What is the COA there for you? It is funny you would accept without seeing a financial aid package. Were there any affordable schools in your choices?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>It’s July 6, how is this just coming out now? What is wrong with this picture?</p>
<p>We just got our FA letter from D2’s college (a pretty highly ranked school) just over a week ago, although she is a rising sophomore. But the OP says himself he may have applied for FA late. If you get your FA materials in late, then you get your letter late…</p>
<p>Your world is not ending. Either take a gap year, take out a loan, or go to community college. You can still do some great university work, you just need patience.</p>
<p>And at some places…if you get your financial aid applications in late, your institutional aid will be zip. </p>
<p>
If you think you could get a lot of financial aid only if you apply on time; then you should take a gap year and work.</p>
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<p>Not always true. if the student’s stats are high, then there may be OOS schools that are cheaper after merit.</p>
<p>If you have strong stats, take a gap year…do NOT take any CC classes, and apply where you will get large merit.</p>
<p>what are your stats?</p>
<p>what was your EFC</p>
<p>How much will your family pay?</p>
<p>looks like OP is a drive by</p>
<p>Just in case OP returns:
Since you have high stats and missed a deadline, you should defer at the college that admitted you and reapply for aid (on time!) next year; and/or take a gap year, work, and after you’ve run the Net Price Calculators, reapply to a variety of schools during the Fall, using Rolling Admissions + Early Action (+ ED if you have a clear favorite).</p>