<p>Our S (parentals too!) very excited about USC admission, but EFC on completed offer is $34k. This compares to CSS/Profile tool $26k and private engineering school $25k?? Am in the middle class hole, with D graduating May and other S a junior, some untapped home equity and serious Parents PLUS loans already accumulated. Not getting much information from USC finaid office about how they calculate EFC (direct quote “I hate that Net Cost Calculator online”).
Does anyone know how USC does Asset Protection for older parents (56) and how it handles state-to-state tax differences? I am in NY and the Profile calculation has significant effect between NY and say WY. When I print the USC Net calculation, the underlying math prints through and neither is used.
So, my other late strategy is to refin home and pay off PLUS loans, but this will take 4-6 wks.
Need advice - should S accept USC now, and I wait until refi done end of May to appeal Fin Aid, or go with something now before acceptance, or do both?</p>