<p>Thanks, we are sending in appeal cause is just seems off. We did our first ever FASFA/CSS this year for our second USC student. We did not do (never have done) a separate application for our current sophomore, is that the problem? We thought all the information was included in the one this year and it would pick up that we had 2 at USC as we clearly marked/said that. Is that the big screw up on our part? Cause right now we will be paying $120K in tuition with no aid and that is huge % of net income. Kid coming in is 4.4 etc., National Merit commended with no merit $ either. Ouch.</p>
<p>May I ask, when we send in the Financial Aid Award Appeal (I know to upload) is there anyone in particular to send it to? Is FAO - Financial Aid Officer? Should we call and get name of FAO first to coordinate with so it doesn’t go into black hole?</p>
<p>YES, as soon as possible, get the FAFSA and CSS/Profile in for the second student. This weekend, if possible. Be sure his also says that there are two in college. In the notes part of the CSS/Profile, be sure to say that the sibling has been accepted to USC and include his USC ID.</p>
<p>When you submit the appeal, include both student’s USC ID numbers.</p>
<p>Definitely keep me posted!</p>
<p>Edit: In the upload, just address it to “Financial Aid Officer.”</p>
<p>Wow, sorry to be such a newb (and imagine we have 2 more in private high school behind these two). Planning on working till we are 85, ha.</p>
<p>So we go onto college board website using my oldest son’s id and create a new CSS for him and also complete fasfa…doing it now thinking we could copy other son’s info, but I suppose we need to have separate accounts. Will be up late! Thank you for guidance.</p>
<p>I know when you submit the first FAFSA, a question pops up asking if you want to transfer the information to another child’s FAFSA - I don’t know if you can still do it after submission, but it would be worth it to log into freshman’s FAFSA to see if there is a tab. (Also double-check that it says 2 in college while you are there!)</p>
<p>You will use the same parent PIN for the sophomore’s FAFSA, but he will need his own PIN, so request that first before working on the FAFSA - hopefully it will be available by the time you are ready to submit.</p>
<p>Ah! Two more! I currently have a high school senior and a FIFTH grader (had I known years ago how financial aid worked, I would have insisted on triplets so they would all be in college at once to maximize financial aid…).</p>
<p>One more thought: Be sure your appeal and 2nd CSS/Profile includes information about the expenses for private school for the younger siblings. That is not something that is “officially” considered in financial aid calculations (because private elementary and high school is considered a choice rather than a necessity), but anecdotally I have seen instances where it made at least a small difference at USC.</p>
<p>So I have gotten two emails from the financial aid office. </p>
<p>The first said “Your 2013-2014 award information was recently updated and sent to your online record…To view your award, please visit [USC</a> Financial Aid](<a href=“http://www.usc.edu/financialaid]USC”>USC Financial Aid), click on My Financial Aid and Documents and follow the instructions provided…If the awards posted constitute your original financial aid package, you will receive a 2013-2014 Financial Aid Summary by regular mail. If the information posted is a revision to your financial aid package, it will be available online only.”</p>
<p>The second notified me of being eligible for a university scholarship, and also said “Your award information is included in the Financial Aid Summary Letter you received, and is also viewable online at [USC</a> Financial Aid](<a href=“http://www.usc.edu/financialaid]USC”>USC Financial Aid) by clicking on My Financial Aid and Documents and following the instructions provided.”</p>
<p>My question is, is my financial aid package complete? I haven’t received a Financial Aid Summary Letter, but I have read in earlier posts that emails for the financial aid office can signify whether packages are complete. Are either of the two emails I received an indication that my package is complete?</p>
<p>I think your situation warrants a call to the financial aid office to tell them you have not received your paper copy in the mail and ask them to re-send it. Neither of those emails appears to me to be the one saying that the package is complete (though the first one suggests it is an all-purpose email), but both suggest that email/paper letter should have been sent earlier - confusing!</p>
<p>Congratulations on the University Scholarship!</p>
<p>Found out a few weeks ago we were getting a K-1 from some property that sold last year , in . a family trust that husband is a beneficiary of. The property sold at a huge loss. Just did the ammended tax returns and it reduces our AGI by over $40,000 . Daughter is about to become a senior at USC. I had already done all financial aid forms as we were not expecting K-1. Emailed USC today and jsut got generic reply, then looked at d financial aid stuff and saw we are being verified.I faxed down all the new tax stuff ammeded return and schedules, corercted FAFSA on line and will print out and hand.
correct Profile and fax that to them as I dont think I can correct that on line.
Annoything is I think our new AGI would have qualified D for a Cal Grant but I know deadline has passed.
Anything else I need to do?
Very frustrated with trust attorney</p>
<p>First of all, thank you for help this year! You are too kind.
I’m worried for a couple reasons. First off let me say, everything was submitted ON TIME.
1st) a friend who got in last year said he never received a financial package which is why he couldnt attend. Does this happen? Or is my friend not telling the whole story?
2nd) I worry about this because I haven’t received an award letter yet! They have to process my NCP Waiver (which they received over two months ago but have yet to approve of it). what has been your thoughts on NCP waivers? do they normally get approved? On the financial aid documents tab it says i still need the non-custodial profile from college board, but I called and they said they just need to process the waiver. how normal is this time frame? Shouldn’t they be done with all the apps? All my other schools have presented financial aid awards already!</p>
<p>catlover2 - I can’t think of anything else - it sounds like you have all the bases covered.</p>
<p>12minnies, everyone who is accepted and submits the FAFSA, CSS/Profile, tax info and other requested information receives a financial aid package. It could be that your friend’s kiddo did not submit the applications (CSS/Profile and FAFSA), did not submit tax info or other requested documents or was not actually accepted. It also could be that another school was more affordable. Those who only submit the FAFSA and not the Profile will receive a package, but it will only be federal aid such as Stafford loans. Families selected for verification must submit all requested documentation or even federal aid will not be offered.</p>
<p>In my experience over the last five years, the bulk of USC financial aid packages are presented after the first week of April - which means this week. I would expect most packages for on-time applicants to be presented this week. So yes, at this point the timetable looks as it has for at least the last five years.</p>
<p>I haven’t any information about how often the noncustodial profile waiver is approved, I only know that it is looked at very critically. As I am sure you aware by this point, colleges do not consider whether a parent is willing to contribute to their child’s education, they simply calculate how much the could contribute. The reasons for an NCP waiver must be compelling. I do not know what factors USC considers to be compelling.</p>
<p>USC does everything they can to be sure financial aid is presented in advance of the May 1st National commitment deadline - try to be patient!</p>
<p>Thanks alamemom! I have sent the FA office an email, as the time difference between Germany and California makes calling a little difficult, but I will be able to give them a ring this evening. I’ll keep everyone updated as to what happensI know a lot of overseas admits haven’t even received their acceptance packages yet (I haven’t either, I’ve just been getting news through USConnect), so I’m sure a few students are anxious to get started with the whole process.</p>
<p>I’m currently a senior in high school and I committed to USC last night. Although I really love USC, after reading all the comments about its financial aid, I’m beginning to doubt my choice. </p>
<p>The FA office offered me a huge amount of money, and with that aid, I can afford the tuition. Without it, my family most definitely cannot afford the $63000 cost of attendance, especially with my sister also in college. What bothers me now is whether or not I can expect the same amount of aid for the next 3 years as well. I’ve called the FA office, and they tell me as long as our income stays relatively the same, I should expect a similar amount in aid. However, other people online say that each year the amount of aid will decrease while tuition increases. What has been your experience? I am afraid that I’ll have to drop out before I can graduate because I can’t pay the tuition!</p>
<p>Also, I know that USC only gives financial aid for 9 semesters(4.5 years), and I’m worried that I may not be able to graduate in 4 years. I’m entering as an engineering major, and many people have told me I should expect to graduate in 5, if not 6 years! Do you think graduating in 4 years is plausible? Do you know if most students are able to graduate in 4 years without much difficulty?</p>
<p>1 - USC will calculate your aid in the same way each year. If everything stays the same, you can expect similar aid. If your income/assets increase you can expect less aid and if your income/assets decrease you can expect more aid. Your loan total will increase $1,000 your 2nd year and another $1,000 your 3rd year. See the first page of this thread for more information on loan totals each year. If you currently have a sibling also attending college and that sibling graduates or leaves college, yes that could affect your aid - is that your situation?</p>
<p>2 - If you visit with your adviser regularly and plan your courses very carefully, there is no reason you would not graduate on time. You are allowed up to 18 units each semester (up to 20 units if you have a 3.75 and a major/major or major/minor combo) for the flat tuition fee, and you should try to take the maximum each semester if graduating on time is important to you. Students who choose to take only 12 units per semester will not graduate on time, but that is clearly their own choice - they are eligible for 18 units.</p>
<p>Thank you very much for your quick response.
My sister is currently a freshman in college. She is only one year ahead of me. So, if she graduates in four years, I should expect less financial aid in my fourth year? Would you also know about how much less I can expect? Is this the same with most colleges?</p>
<p>Yes, it is the same with most colleges. The family’s expected contribution is distributed over both students. It is not “half,” as each student will have a self-help portion (work/study, summer earnings, Stafford loans), but it is a big benefit to have two in college.</p>
<p>Before committing, it would be a good idea to use the net price calculator and enter “1” student in college and see how much of a difference it makes (also estimate and include any income increases that may occur by your 4th year in college). Your family should expect that they will pay nearly as much with only one in college as with two - be sure to consider that in your decision-making process so there is no surprise in your 4th year.</p>
<p>My S attended USC with many of his HS classmates. Most of them had no problems graduating in 4 years. Agree with the advice you have been given. For those who got FAid, it was calculated similarly all 4 years their kids attended. My S could actually have graduated in 3.5 years, but we encouraged him to stay all 4 years and take at least some fun courses. </p>
<p>H didn’t take the max nor the minimum number of credits most terms, but did work closely with his advisor to be sure he met his graduation requirements. Our D is graduating in Cinema and has taken longer because she didn’t get into the college & declare her major until her JR year. If you declare your major as a freshman and work closely with your advisor there is no reason you can’t graduate in 4 years. </p>
<p>Engineering has its own advisors, internship and career placement staff and offices. Our S got more merit aid in his JR and SR years than his first 2 years of college.</p>
<p>FWIW, neither of my kids nor their friends have had problems getting the courses they wanted or needed at USC. Hope you receive a great education at USC, as my kids have.</p>
<p>We have a very intense friend who got 2 bachelor’s degrees + 1 masters degree in 4 years at USC + 1 summer (including a bachelor’s in chemical engineering). He took more than the maximum number of credits many terms and audited classes as well as sat in on classes. Neither of our kids opted for that much stress.</p>
<p>Ok, so I called the FA office today, and they said my package is complete. According to my parents, with the financial aid I’ve received (a university scholarship and unsubsidized Stafford loan), I won’t be able to afford USC. Now, my situation is a bit unusual; my mother is on a work assignment here in Germany which results in her income being artificially inflated. My question is, should I call the FA office first to see how they arrived at my current award? Or should I submit an appeal first? We submitted a letter detailing the situation back when we submitted the FAFSA and CSS, and it shows up in my document library.</p>
<p>^ I have called to talk to a financial aid officer and it’s probably worthwhile before sending in your appeal. In our case, the FA person looked at the package and said it looks correct and you can file an appeal if you wish; however, unless some numbers have changed, I can tell you by looking at this that the package won’t change.</p>
<p>Im worried that the later they get to my application the fewer resources they will have to make up my financial aid package. I feel like thats irrational to think though. A student who gets their package at the end of the month is as likely to have the same package as someone with the same EFC who got it at the beginning, right?</p>