<p>Snowdog - Oops! sorry, poor phrasing - mid six figures over four years (total). </p>
<p>Twice the USC calculator - which makes me wonder if we entered data incorrectly. The FAFSA showed $11K (we have more than one in college). The USC calculator using figures from CSS showed $26K. Our actual EFC as parents was closer to $42K/year. So we’re prepared to take out PLUS loans and restructure everything around it. </p>
<p>I was in the financial aid seminar during Campus Preview and there seemed to be a lot of “sticker shocked” parents. Not sure how many ended up enrolling. Certainly “cost” is a rate limiting step for everyone. But we were already “all in” once we saw how well she took to the environment. </p>
<p>And before someone comments about being “stretched” the first year (or four) - yes, but it’s feasible. But I do feel for other families. My daughter made friends with admitted students only to find out their families couldn’t make the numbers work. But if Snowdog is correct, we’ll check to see if we made a CSS error. i wouldn’t have been shocked by twice FAFSA. I’ll admit to sucking in my breath when I saw the final amount.</p>
<p>She is gearing up to be a scholarship applying “machine.” Although SCA told her she was now eligible for department specific scholarships once she enrolls and they work with USC to make sure those are applied to her loans first. That will help.</p>
<p>Just an update to my finaid situation: I had a little freakout when I saw that I had a 54,000 EFC, but after an appeal and some corrections to problems with my financial info my EFC is now 20,000 which is within my means of attending. Couldn’t be happier!</p>
<p>Thanks for the update. I’m so swamped I haven’t appealed, but I do need to go back and look at my CSS numbers because the EFC is so out of whack. I’ll give them a call. congratulations!!!</p>
<p>Arts and Letters- Would you mind clarifying the reference you made to being eligible for other scholarships now that your D is enrolled? Is she an incoming freshman that has completed registration and upon doing so is now eligible for some additional scholarships for 2013-14? Thanks for any clarification.</p>
<p>alamemom and others who may be able to help. My financial aid was much lower than I thought it would be. My mom is very sick and cannot work. Also, my older brother has cerebral palsy and my parents will have to take care of him for the rest of his life. On the first look it seemed that they did not take into consideration all our family has been through and just looked at the numbers. I called and spoke to the person who answered the phone and she listened for quite awhile and said she would talk to her supervisor and they will see if they can find anything I missed mentioning. She said she would let me know if they needed anything else. Two days later on my Oasis it stated a date for my appeal. Nothing has changed. My question is, will they contact me either way? I never wrote an actual appeal, just talked to someone on the phone. Thanks. This extra stress has been hard.</p>
<p>It would be a good idea to follow up with something in writing (such as an email). Hopefully you have the name of the person to whom you spoke and can send the email to their attention. In addition, submit the appeal form through your USConnect (I am not a student, so I do not have access to USConnect and so I cannot provide more guidance other than to say I know that the form is available there). In your email, ask when you can expect an answer. </p>
<p>The things you might address in your appeal (which you have probably already mentioned on the phone, but it can’t hurt to document them more formally):
Any loss of income due to your mother’s illness. If your family income this year will be significantly less because of a recent illness, document that. If your income has not yet changed but you expect that it will, USC will generally not make adjustments in aid until the income change actually occurs.
Unusual medical costs not covered by insurance. If you mother’s or brother’s conditions require medical or equipment expenses not covered by insurance, do you best to document those. If the expenses were covered by insurance, of course they will not have an affect on your aid.
For your brother, you might include documentation such as a copy of an IEP showing the level of support he requires as a diagnosis of cerebral palsy is broad and includes individuals capable of independence as adults. Do your best to describe what expenses your parents expect to bear over the next 3 years (you are a sophomore transfer, right?) in connection with your brother that are not covered by insurance as a result of his diagnosis and which would affect their ability to contribute to your education.</p>
<p>I see that you have already paid your deposit to USC, so this piece of advice is late for you but it may benefit someone else in the same position: Accepted students, you do NOT have to pay your deposit until your financial aid information is received, nor should you. If the deposit commitment deadline is approaching and your aid is not received, contact admissions and ask for an extension of your commitment deposit until your fin aid package is received. It will be granted.</p>
<p>Katie617, if your final package is not enough for you to attend, do ask for a refund of your commitment deposit. The deposit is NOT refundable, but USC tends to be more sympathetic than other schools when that situation occurs and they may make an exception.</p>
<p>@momof2017, when we were at Preview day the admissions officers told us there is an office within School of Cinematic Arts that helps current students apply for scholarships targeted for that department. She’s eligible to apply spring of her freshman year. </p>
<p>alamemom - You are so awesome with your replies. Thank you very much. I was planning on writing the appeal but then when I saw it posted in oasis already I wasn’t sure if it was worth it. But, I will do it now.
Thank you!!</p>
<p>Continuing student packages are becoming available. I just spent 2 hours in a state of tearful panic working on a letter of appeal. My income is declining in 2013, and the grant aid not only didn’t get better, it went way down and work study was taken away.</p>
<p>Word to the wise - a phone call revealed that in my efforts to document scrupulously and well in advance, my ‘special circumstances’ letter was not reviewed at all, because I uploaded it in December 2012 (I already knew what my situation would be for 2013), and USC policy is not to look at any documents submitted prior to the current calendar year. Who knew…now for another nail-biting wait. The FAO that I spoke with was very helpful.</p>
<p>Snowdog, glad you were able to figure out the issue quickly. I hope they resolve it quickly too! These days can be very nerve wracking!</p>
<p>DSs package is up too. No university grants! No entirely unexpected as our income is up and his first year grants were only about $6000 anyway. Last year he studied abroad for one semester and the COA was $10k less than the USC normal COA, so we got no grants then either. So thankful for the scholarships he receives from USC. And hopeful that next year when I have two in college, we will see grants again!</p>
<p>NC Mom, the FAO said the massively reduced grant was due to a slight uptick in AGI in 2012 (I’m a freelancer and my income fluctuates somewhat year to year) - but USC assessed their take of the uptick at 140%…how is that even possible. Currently our family contribution per USC is 61% of before-tax income, we have a mortgage on a middle class house, have to buy health insurance off the shelf, and we have one car, a 15-year-old Honda. I am sick with worry while they review the appeal.</p>
<p>My EFC is 18,000. If anyone could estimate the amount of grants/ scholarships I would get that would be great ( ofcourse you can never be certain of the amount of aid, i just want to get an idea of what other ppl around this EFC have gotten so far etc). Thank you for your input!</p>
<p>It is very important to understand that your FAFSA EFC is used only to distribute Federal aid including Pell Grant, Stafford loans and work/study. You are not eligible for Pell, so for you that means Stafford loans ($6,500 for a sophomore) and possibly work/study (about $2,000-$3,000).</p>
<p>USC grants are distributed using the information from the CSS/Profile, which considers assets such as home equity that the FAFSA does not, and your expected contribution may differ from your FAFSA EFC.</p>
<p>alamemom I have a question that I hope you can help me with. </p>
<p>My D will be a sophomore this year at USC. Last year we did not qualify for a Cal Grant. After an appeal last year her USC grant was increased around $9,000. For 2013-2014 both of my college students qualified for Cal Grant A. D’s FA is up on Oasis. Her USC grant increased over $3000 from last year, but there is no mention of the Cal Grant. When the Cal grant is added, from your experience, will the amount of the Cal Grant be reduced her USC grant?</p>
<p>Our financial situation changed in 2012, with a decrease income and another unexpected loss, that is why we now qualify for a CAL Grant. My S will also be transferring from a CC to a Cal State for 2013-2014, so that is now an added cost.</p>
<p>Any experience and advise you have to share will greatly be appreciated. D is gearing up to submit an appeal if the Cal Grant reduces her USC grant. </p>
<p>iamjen1, yes, it is likely that the USC grant will be adjusted when the Cal Grant information is received. The package she has initially received was calculated without the Cal Grant, so when that information arrives from CSAC it will reduce her need by a corresponding amount. On the positive side, when students are over the Cal Grant income ceilings by a very small amount, USC does not leave a Cal-Grant-sized hole in their aid, they use USC grants to meet the student’s USC-calculated need regardless.</p>
<p>It would be a good idea to submit an appeal, not based specifically on the Cal Grant, but on the change in your financial circumstances. Be sure BOTH FAFSAs for both students show that there are two in college and in your appeal be sure to mention that the other student has moved to a CSU and is living away from home with the associated expenses (assuming they are, of course). Document the decrease in income and if it is expected to continue at the lower rate, provide as much documentation of the continued lower level as you can. </p>
<p>Describe the unexpected loss briefly and mention how it affects the financial stability of the family. Again, I would not suggest an appeal specifically asking that the Cal Grant be added to the existing aid, as the existing aid has been calculated to meet her need and there would be no need for an increase (in the eyes of the fin aid office, of course). Your focus should be on establishing additional need. At the end of the appeal you might add a line that says something like, “[Daughter]'s CSAC WebGrants record indicates she will be awarded a Cal Grant for the coming school year, but it does not yet show on her USC financial aid statement.” That hopefully transmits the message that an increase in her aid will not cost them additional dollars without making any suggestion that the Cal Grant should be added to her existing grants. (Hopefully that makes sense.)</p>
<p>Hi angieyeh. What was your contribution last year? As a junior or senior, you can expect a $3,000 summer earnings contribution, a $7,500 Stafford loan and possibly $2,500-$3,000 in work/student or a $3,000 school-year earnings expectation. That adds up to about $13,500 self-help portion. Is that consistent with your self-help portion last year? (The Stafford would have been $6,500 if you were a sophomore last year, of course.)</p>