<p>I have recently just received my financial aid award from Marymount University because I applied late. I was disappointed in my award because I didn’t receive all of the funds I expected to. The cost of attendance is about $39000. I received a merit scholarship for $12000, the VTAG award for $2800, and the pell grant for $5550. They also offered me the stafford loans, but that still doesn’t cover everything. They offered my mother, who is a single parent with 3 children and a low income, the parent plus loan of about $13500. I dont want her to take it out because she is not in the financial position to take it out. I h e an older brother already in college an a 12 year old brother. I was not offered work study. I have tried to get in contact with the school to figure something out. I have filled out numerous scholarships but I’m just not sure what to do.</p>
<p>marymount doesn’t promise to meet need. When students have huge need like you do, rarely do these kinds of schools meet need because they’d have to give you too much money.</p>
<p>Applying late probably hurt you, but even if you applied on time you probably still would have been largely gapped and offered a Plus loan.</p>
<p>you’re right, your mom can’t afford that loan.</p>
<p>This school isn’t affordable. You may have to start at a CC and then transfer later…or take a gap year and apply to schools that will be affordable.</p>
<p>Did you apply to any financial safety schools? Is there a state school that you can commute to?</p>
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<p>That is a very generous award for applying late however you are correct, $13000 is too much for your parent to take out each year in a ParentPlus loan. There is no guarantee that A) your award for year #2 will be better/larger even if you apply on time B) that your mom would qualify for ParentPlus loans in years #2 - #4.</p>
<p>If you read the posts over the last 2 - 4 months right here on this forum (they are all still there!) you will read this same story over and over and over, just different names and slightly differing amounts of money. And the same advice applies for almost every one of them–you can’t afford this college so start making some other plans. Local college and transfer later or take a gap-year and apply to schools you can afford, etc.</p>
<p>Where is your brother attending college? How was his FA package?</p>
<p>He goes to a college in California (Merced College).They offered him a full ride because he played football. The only thing he has to pay for is his apartment because he doesnt live on campus I have been accepted to a bunch of schools (UNC-Pembroke, St John’s University, Randolph Macon, Campbell University, Georgetown College) but these colleges were too expensive. I should have applied to more affordable schools, but i cannot dwell on that. I was deadset on attending George Mason that i did not have a back up plan. Unfortunately, I was waitlisted for George Mason.</p>
<p>Your mother was not offered the PLUS. It was suggested that she apply for the PLUS. SHe has to apply, undergo a credit check and get accepted. SHe could be turned down. No one is “given” PLUS–it’s an option that is suggested. </p>
<p>If your mother is turned down by PLUS, you get $4K more. Still, you have have a gap there. You can talk to Marymount and explain the situation. Talk to a financial aid officer, not a student assistant. You can also appeal to George Mason. The other options are to go to a local affordable school this year, and try to transfer next year. Request a gap year from Marymount if you want that to be a viable option and apply for aid on time next time around and see if the school comes up with a more affordable package. Also apply to transfer to George Mason.</p>
<p>Several of my son’s friends did not get accepted to college last year and with good grades, the first year, were accepted as transfers. GM is a great school, a veritable bargain and packs a lot of punch for the bucks for instaters who can commute there. If you can make that option work with PELL and Staffords, and maybe a little workstudy, you will have a reputable degree from a good school without going through an arduous financial fight for many years hence. Those loans are tough, tough to repay and can harm you and your mother for a long time in the future.</p>
<p>Even if Marymount makes it possible for you to go there, if it involves a lot of loans and scrimping so much that it harms your family, it may not be worth while and a good thing that the aid package is clearly lacking.</p>
<p>Are you in state in VA? The VA CCs havr articulation agreements with 4 year universities in the state. You could go to a CC and transfer to Mason or another VA school. Or, take a gap year and apply to a more affordable list of schools.</p>
<p>Can you commute to Mason, or another VA state school? </p>
<p>It will be difficult to impossible to make up the gap at Marymount.</p>
<p>Sent from my DROID RAZR using CC</p>
<p>I’m in state in Virginia. I live in Newport news. I talked to the financial aid people and told them my situation and they said they would see if they can offer me more money.</p>
<p>Good luck! Hopefully it will work out.</p>
<p>Sent from my DROID RAZR using CC</p>