<p>I was outraged with my Financial Aid Offer. They expect my family to contribute 7,500 a year and take out 5,000 in loans and 3000 in work study when my custodial and non custodial total income put together is probably 40,000. We have no assets. Should I call the Financial office or what? Is this an average award? My EFC from FASFA was 0. </p>
<p>Mind you Claremont Mckenna is offering me a completely covered financial aid package and expects my family to contribute 0. Why is my USC award value differing so much?</p>
<p>How do you appeal also? Where would I call and what do I do? </p>
<p>USC takes into account assets, not just income. Based on the limited details that you’ve provided, I agree that the finaid statement isn’t as good as it could be.</p>
<p>Call the finaid office and ask them about the details. Note that it may take a while to get in touch with them, since they are probably being bombarded by people in identical situations with questions and complaints. I’d suggest calling first thing in the morning.</p>
<p>As josebiwasabi says, USC considers assets the FAFSA does not. For many families who meet the simplified needs test on the FAFSA, that means they have to report the protected assets on the Profile.</p>
<p>Call or email (as calmly as you can) and ask what contributed to your higher expected contribution at USC. They are usually very willing to explain it. If there was an error, you can correct it. If there are assets they are considering you can present any special circumstances that keep you from accessing those assets.</p>
<p>IF your Claimont McKenna offer is a need-based offer, not merit, you can mention that another school that uses the Profile found that you have a 0 EFC and ask if they will reconsider your aid. If your better aid at Claimont McKenna is because they gave you merit aid, it will have no effect on the need calculations at another school. If they do not use the CSS/Profile it will not have relevance to a school that does.</p>
<p>It is a relief that you have such a great offer from a great school in case the aid at USC does not work out. You did a good job applying to a range of schools to be sure you had great options at decision time. Congrats!</p>
<p>with an income around 40k, your EFC should be about 1000-2000 depending on other factors. do you have any student income?</p>
<p>No assets at all? So you don’t own your home? This could make a huge difference.</p>
<p>are there any familial circumstances that are you aren’t sharing?</p>
<p>disabled/ss benefits/ etc.</p>
<p>Now, if you know the facts about financial aid and are sure that USC has nowhere to get this $7,500 figure.</p>
<p>USC promises to meet 100% of USC-determined need. The only time that guarantee goes away is if you turn in Financial Aid forms late, although they may still meet 100%. So I would double check with the PROFILE, maybe if you printed the application out? Go see if there is somewhere that USC may possibly get this money from, especially since the FAFSA said 0 EFC (Are you sure on this too?)</p>
<p>I think more details are necessary to say for sure, I don’t want this figure to discourage other people hoping for good financial aid. Keep up hope!</p>
<p>Good luck to you, I’m sure USC will work with you if there was an error on their part. And pay extra attention to everything alamemom says (;</p>
<p>I MAY have found something you said awhile back that could possibly be something to think of.</p>
<p>“My dad’s income will rise.”</p>
<p>Hm, how much? Would it be significant enough for USC to put a 7000$ gap? Who knows? There is a part to fill out Expected 2010 income on the Profile.</p>
<p>I think USC is getting the $7,500 from the profile information, possibly on the non-custodial side, or in the increase in funds. You’ll have to contact USC for sure, at worst what you will get is an answer to why. Or, it could work out and they could increase your package. </p>
<p>it’s really just cause i can’t wait for my financial aid to come through
after i got accepted, i didn’t need to obsess over this forum.
i knew it would come in the beginning of april.</p>
<p>it’s april 9th wheree are youu? haha.</p>
<p>i’ll be off for a few weeks and then have some questions probably and be back (:</p>
UCI is a FAFSA-only school. I do not know about the others. Clearly there are assets you were not required to list on the FAFSA - to get your FAFSA EFC of zero, you probably passed the “simplified needs test” meaning that your family did not have to list any of their assets - not checking or savings or college accounts, vacation homes, etc. - as well as home equity that is not asked about in any case on the FAFSA.</p>
<p>The fact that you are able to turn down full-ride offers from other schools and that your family can afford to choose instead to pay over $100,000 per year for 2 students at USC shows that indeed, your family has significant assets not listed on the FAFSA. Cases like this are exactly why USC also requires the CSS/Profile.</p>
You know what? This thread and the others popping up like it have sent me over the edge. </p>
<p>Wowie, I am outraged at your sense of entitlement. You have been handed $40,000 ($160,000 over four years) in FREE money by USC and you are outraged? Is it the taxpayers who fund your Pell and Stafford subsidies that you are outraged at? The USC donors who have given their OWN MONEY so that you can go to USC you are outraged at? Seriously? You feel you shouldn’t have to pay *anything *to attend a school that costs $55,500 per year?</p>
<p>And evita, I am outraged that you would come on here and complain that you “only” get a full Pell of $5,500 of taxpayer money when your family has hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars in assets (protected by the simplified needs test) and is able to write a check to USC for over $100,000 per year. I am outraged that the Federal financial aid regulations allow you to get a Pell because I am a taxpayer and I am contributing to that Pell. </p>
<p>Posts like yours make even my bleeding heart start to clot.</p>
<p>I find myself hoping that your outrage leads you to choose to attend elsewhere.</p>
<p>Well said alamemom. I did not apply for any scholarship because of the reasons stated. My family can afford to pay USC tuition and I didn’t want to chance taking money from others who need it. Getting free money, especially 160grand is extremely generous and you should be more than grateful and not stubborn.</p>
<p>Yea the entitlement factor is really over the top. Complaining this loudly about financial aid packages amounting to tens of thousands of dollars is little ridiculous in my opinion. If you have better offers, go elsewhere. Good riddance.</p>