I’m an undergraduate first year community college student barely making ends meet at this point. I’m recieving the fullest amount of financial aid possible in this part of California, particularly at this college. I’m recieving the max amount of pell grant allotted to me for the semester, as well as the max amount of in school subsidies and grants. I’m currently transferring out in about a years time, and paying the bills here has been fully covered by my financial aid allotment. However, after looking into costs for my top School of choice (UCSD), I’ve found out after using their net pricing calculator (which I’m starting to highly doubt…) that after inputting basic financial information on my parent’s income that I would be recieving, from the school as well, the maximum allowance for financial aid possible. My parents make around $19,000 a year before taxes, and I’m 100% positive that they will not be able to contribute a single penny to the costs, as we’re barely making ends meet at home, and I couldn’t bare to put the financial stress onto what they’re already going through. After using the calculator, it is estimated that I’ll owe around $15,000 in net expenses (which, is on the liability of the students cost). After around $32,000 in overall costs for the year being taken care of, I’m still left with a huge amount of money to pay that simply isn’t possible. I’m not looking into loans at the moment, mainly because I’m not sure if I’ll have to pay that amount, but entirely because I’ve promised myself to not look into them at all; loans are only going to be an absolute last resort option to me, which I’m praying I don’t have to take out. Aside from the rambling, my main question is, after UCSD’s allotted “grant award” of $18,000-$20,000 and their “family help award” of $3,000-$5,000, I’m still left with an estimated net cost of $15,000 for the year. How would I go about paying this? Would the school take on some other financial aid forms that aren’t given to me directly and instead paid to the school, or am I stuck with the bill? Is this even a cost that I have to worry about (question specific for hopefully currently enrolled students), and is just something more of an estimate? I know this may confuse some, but hopefully people from the school can help and understand what I’m trying to say. Thank you for your time. (:
Forgot to add, although it may be obvious at this point, that my EFC is 000, as stated on both my FAFSA, current financial aid report from my cc, and the net calculator for UCSD.
Coul you do two years of community college and trsnsfer those credits to the university?
The Net Orice calculator is for incoming freshmen…not transfers…unless it specifically ASKS if you are a transfer.
Are you a resident of CA?
Someone more knowledgeable about the Calgrant will need to chime in. But my understanding ismthe Calgrant does NOT cover the full cost of attendance.
@ucbalumnus or @mom2collegekids ??
Yes, all of the courses I’m taking this year are transferable towards my major
Yes, I’m a resident of California
Am I misunderstanding?
$18,000-$20,000 + $3,000-$5,000 + $15,000 = ~$40,000
Isn’t in-state undergrad COA for UCSD something like $30k? Where is the extra $10k in costs coming from?
If the COA is ~30k then you have up to $25k covered by grants/awards, which leaves about $5(to 10)k in costs remaining (which is where the assumed federal student loan comes in).