<p>Thanks! You should get paid for answering all of these questions. I will definitely call the financial aid office and notify them of the changes today.</p>
<p>Great thanks a lot alamemom! That was EXTREMELY helpful!</p>
<p>I just submitted my CSS/Profile and FAFSA to USC and I’m almost done all the other paper work. On my initial applicaiton, though, I checked off no for the question that asked, “do you intend to apply for financial aid?” I went back into my application and I can’t change it. Is submitting the documents enough or is there another way to indicate to them that I am applying for aid now? I just don’t want to confuse them.</p>
<p>You don’t have to change the check-box on your application. The receipt of the FAFSA and Profile will alert them that you are applying for aid, but I think your idea to also tell them is a good one. I have had good luck with sending emails to <a href=“mailto:fao@usc.edu”>fao@usc.edu</a> . Be biref and clear - include your USC ID and say that you are getting all of your materials in as quickly as possible. If you want to include a reason why you did not initially apply you can, or you can simply say that you didn’t realize at application time that you could not attend without aid (or something to that effect).</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<ul>
<li>and thanks for the kind words herpyderp and nelson :)</li>
</ul>
<p>I just received my financial aid award letter today and USC was very generous with my award. But, still, my parents do not think that they can be able to make their share of the payments. Is it too late to appeal my award and ask for a little bit more help?</p>
<p>Also, one more question, is the university grant given for my first term renewable for every year or am I just going to get this money my first year? </p>
<p>I know I am sounding a bit greedy, but I just want my parents to live comfortably while still paying my tuition.</p>
<p>Thank you so much
Feel free to message me if you like.
Fight On!</p>
<p>Your financial aid will be calculated each year using the same calculations used this year. What that means is that if everything stayed exactly the same (and it never does), you would receive a very similar package except that your Stafford loan would go up $1,000 to the sophomore-level loan and your grant would go down $1,000. Juniors and seniors have another $1,000 in loans and possibly a bit more work/study as they are expected to be able to manage their time a bit better that freshmen and sophomores.</p>
<p>You “can” appeal, but to be honest, the purpose of financial aid is to make paying for college just barely, with lots of sacrifice and scrimping, possible. Factors USC will consider in an appeal include high medical expenses not reported on the CSS/Profile, job loss, unemployment, elder care, and in some cases private elementary or high school tuition for siblings. I am afraid your parents’ comfort in making the payments will not be considered.</p>
<p>Consumer debt such as car loans, credit cards, furniture/electronics loans, etc. are never considered.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.usc.edu/admission/fa/applying_receiving/special/change.html[/url]”>http://www.usc.edu/admission/fa/applying_receiving/special/change.html</a></p>
<p>For reference, the Stafford loans amounts are:</p>
<p>Freshman - $5,500
Sophomore - $6,500
Junior - $7,500
Senior - $7,500</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>But still, we live in 2011 and it is very hard for my parents to spend ~80% of my income on my tuition even when I have a younger bother who will be applying to college next year. </p>
<p>Is there any way I could go and speak to them in person about adjusting my award? I live in a subarb near USC so traveling is possible with public transportation.</p>
<p>I would suggest making an appointment if you are going in person. </p>
<p>Yes, you can appeal - the worst they can do is say “no.” I hope that you are successful, but I don’t want to give false hope - since your numbers were accurate and you do not have special circumstances, there will not be much to support your appeal.</p>
<p>Was your brother listed as a family member of your FAFSA and CSS/Profile with his correct age? If so, then they have already considered him.</p>
<p>If you have any outside scholarships, you can try asking for a more favorable application of those funds - to reduce your loans or work/study for example.</p>
<p>If your parents would like additional loans (I don’t reccommend this, but some choose this route) they are eligible to apply for Parent PLUS loans for the difference between the cost of attendance and any financial aid. If they are turned down for the PLUS loans, you automatically become eligible for an additional $4,000 in Stafford unsubsidized loans.</p>
<p>Remember that $2,980 of the cost of attendance will not be billed by USC - those are the funds you will use for books, supplies, trasportation and personal expenses. If you work hard to economize, you can reduce that amount by $500 - $1000. <a href=“http://www.usc.edu/admission/fa/applying_receiving/undergraduates2/costs.html[/url]”>http://www.usc.edu/admission/fa/applying_receiving/undergraduates2/costs.html</a></p>
<p>You mention that you live near USC - you could live at home and commute. That would very significantly reduce your expenses.</p>
<p>I hope it works out for you! Good luck.</p>
<p>Thank you Alamemom
I actually called them before I read your post and the advisor was very curteous and said that, until I get a reciept from email, I should not consider my package done.</p>
<p>And she explained to me how the billing process works and how I will have money in my account. I actually understood how the whole “Estimated Budget” works and was convinced that my parent’s EFC was actually very generous and I will probably not appeal (this year). </p>
<p>Thank you anyway Alemamom
I wish ALL colleges were a bit clearer on how their billing works.</p>
<p>I’m still waiting on my package and going absolutely crazy here! Unfortunately I had to make some corrections to previously submitted information so the wait is justified albeit nerve wracking!</p>
<p>They just sent a request for an Income Expense Declaration Form and my parents are divorced with my mother being my custodial and my father being remarried and all but out of the picture. I’m assuming I include only my mother on this form…am I correct? Furthermore, we rent. Do I have to attach a copy of the lease or utility bills to verify the expense? Do they ever ask for that? I’m trying to cut out all future steps as the deadline is quickly approaching!</p>
<p>Is it true that financial aid awards for returning students are not completed until the beginning of June?</p>
<p>I keep reading that we will receive and email when our fin aid is complete, yet we received a letter with the details (as well as whats on the website). If we haven’t received an email is it still possible that they will be adjusting our package?</p>
<p>legasp, yes, unless they specifically request non-custodial parent information, only put your custodial parent info. Unless a particular expense is much larger than would be typical, you don’t need to provide documentation, but it would be fine if you sent it along.</p>
<p>AmotherUscMom, yes, returning students typically get their aid in June. They are not all presented at once, and will ocntinue to be presented throughout June.</p>
<p>marthajp59, Your paper copy is your official financial aid package. A few University Scholarships and departmental awards (merit) will still be awarded (I am not saying one will neccessarily be awarded to you, though I hope so!). Occasionally there will be change in work/study as the University Scholarships and/or outside scholarships are applied.</p>
<p>Thanks alamemom, I appreciate it; the amount of financial aid items required gets a little mind boggling!</p>
<p>Martha,
If your award is on the web site and you received the paper copy in the mail it is very likely the email went into your spam folder. That happened to us even though we have had no trouble receiving any either USC emails. I think it is because it was sent from a no-reply account.</p>
<p>Just a note to suggest taking a peek at your award page if you haven’t looked at it for a week or two. A very few small University Scholarships will still be popping up. USC will send an email saying an adjustment has been made to your awards, but the scholarship shows up a couple of days before the email - my kiddo’s popped up on the 28th of April her year - it was a very nice surprise!</p>
<p>Hello!</p>
<p>The May 2nd returning student deadline to submit tax return information is approaching. New for this year, the student logs into USConnect and sends an email invitation (through USConnect) for a parent to submit tax info. The student uploads tax return copies following instructions on USConnect. [USC</a> Financial Aid - Applying & Receiving Financial Aid - Undergraduate - Continuing Students](<a href=“http://www.usc.edu/admission/fa/applying_receiving/undergraduates2/continuing.html]USC”>http://www.usc.edu/admission/fa/applying_receiving/undergraduates2/continuing.html)</p>
<p>Remember that if you encounter any difficulties in the submission online, you can always FAX, mail or hand-deliver the copies of the documents! Don’t stress out as the deadline approaches, just get the materials in any way that works for you.</p>
<p>Good luck!!!</p>
<p>Had your D committed by the 28th or was she still un-committed? I tried to get my son to wait a few more weeks to officially commit but he couldn’t for some reason. So I wonder if that has any affect on receiving additional funds.</p>
<p>She was un-committed. At one point it was my hypothesis that waiting to commit might be a factor - and I have not dismissed that - but I have observed posts from students who did commit and still received these late University Scholarships. Other things that seem to go with them, but for which there is not yet an established connection:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Thematic Option. Often students accepted to Thematic Option will see their work/study disappear and have it replaced with a University Scholarship. This may be coincidence, or it may be a recognition of the extra challenge of TO. </p></li>
<li><p>Already a scholarship winner. It seems many of the Trustee and Presidential Scholarship winners get an extra $2,500/year University scholarship. There is a lot of cross-over with the Thematic Option students though, so it just may be another coincidence.</p></li>
<li><p>Not yet committed: I am still wondering if this is a factor.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>I think we need a survey thread! I LOVE those!</p>
<p>I saw a post hypothesizing that money was being re-distributed from students who chose not to enroll. I do not think this is the case because the scholarships appear before May 1st, and USC will not know their yield until after that date. Students who send regrets before May 1st can change their mind before that date if they really want to, so USC does not know for sure they will not be attending.</p>
<p>Well maybe the acceptance of his invitation to take Engineering Honors, that he just mailed in will help him to receive an additional grant. That would be a pleasant suprise, especially after I just spent another $1000.00 on airfare, hotel and orientation fees.</p>