<p>Indeed, the 300+ schools that use the CSS/Profile to distribute their own funds are free to do the calculations in any way they choose, which is something I have posted on this forum over and over and over. Again, USC does not “gap,” they claculate a students need using a uniform calculation for all students and then meet that need. USC is under no obligation to use another school’s calculation method. Please bear in mind that the majority of those other 300+ schools that use the CSS/Profile do not meet need. USC does.
Have you received a USC need-based financial aid package from USC? USC packages a subsidized Stafford ($3,500 frosh, $4,500 soph, and $5,500 each jr and sr years - see page 1 of the FAQ thread) and a Stafford unsubsidized loan of $2,000 in the need-based packages. Parent Plus and other loans are NEVER included as part of the need-based aid. Once again I ask that you link me any examples of a USC need-based financial aid package that included more than those loan amounts in meeting the USC-determined need. Or are you talking about the need-based packages of other schools?</p>
<p>As far as calculating how much aid to expect at USC, it is not difficult or mysterious. USC uses an across-the-board calculation for all students. In 2009, I started the <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-southern-california/839970-faq-usc-financial-aid-2010-a.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-southern-california/839970-faq-usc-financial-aid-2010-a.html</a> and posted simple instructions to get a very rough idea of the amount USC will expect you to contribute. I have re-posted those instructions dozens and dozens of times on that thread and on many others, so if any College Confidential users were surprised by their package, it was because they chose not to do the calculation.</p>
<p>The very rough estimate method: Take any assets protected by the *simplified needs test *and any home equity (up to two times your gross income) and multiply those figures by 5.6%. Add that amount to your FAFSA EFC. That is a very rough estimate of your contribution at USC. You can also use the CollegeBoard calculators which will give you a similar amount. See page one of the FAQ thread for details.</p>
<p>I do not mind at all if posters wish to complain about the aid they received at USC, as long as they support those complaints with real information. What I object to are sweeping condemnations with absolutely no support, such as saying that USC presents need-based packages comprised entirely of loans. The only time that would happen is when the USC-determined need is $5,500 or less, because that is the size of a freshman-year need-based loan.</p>