<p>My # 1 choice right now is University of San Francisco. Their financial aid package is very generous and I can possibly afford to go (to this very expensive school). What I am worrying about is whether college gives its admitted students really good financial aid their first year (to get them to attend) and then drastically decrease grants and scholarships the following year? Will any college do this? Or does most financial aid stay the same every year (given that family situation stay the same.</p>
<p>well there are some sort of criteria to maintain that scholarships.So I probably guess there might also be some minimum criteria to maintain so as to retain the scholarship.</p>
<p>If you get any other help during the first year, say from an extended family member, that could be reportable as untaxed income and thereby reduce financial aid in future years.</p>
<p>If it is truly FA and not merit aid then it depends on your family income from year to year. Merit aid usually has a minimum GPA to maintain the scholarships.</p>
<p>I asked this same exact question to the college I plan to attend. They told me that the scholarship would stay the same amount each year(If I maintain the GPA requirements) and that the grant would also be the same amount each year. The only thing that could change is the loans. I don’t know if that’s how all colleges do it though.</p>
<p>You should contact USF’s FA office with your question. You might want to send an email with your exact concerns and then save their response.</p>
<p>I have asked the same questions–was told if scholarship is awarded for a set number of years, then if DD keeps up grades, there is no change.</p>
<p>If scholarship is only awarded for one year, then it is also dependent on family finances and could change. But if financial picture stays about the same, fin aid awarded the first year stays the same.</p>
<p>At two meets-needs colleges, DD got grants and loans. Was told again, if financial picture, primarily income, stays about the same then fin aid will stay about the same. I have been told that they do not do bait-and-switch. I asked pointedly.</p>
<p>All of these scenarios have occurred within all of my D’s offers. The only sure thing is defined scholarship but of course, one needs to maintain GPA to keep getting that. Always best to call the university directly and be up front about it.</p>
<p>Yes, I want to know this too. Would a college or university ever entice a student to enroll at their school by giving them a 100% completely full ride their 1st (no loans, no work-study, no student contribution from the summer, no parental contribution at all, all grants and scholarships), and then gap them and or make them take out large amounts of loans their 2nd-4th years?</p>
<p>^ Very doubtful since that would affect their retention rate. I can’t say no with the financial issues colleges are running into today.</p>
<p>It can happen. My daughter received WS her first year and WS and SEOG her 2nd then neither the following years (with a 0 EFC). Overall her aid has been good (all federal - the school does not offer any institutional need based aid) but I have been disappointed with the increasing loan levels in the final 2 years. (not a horrendous total, but not as low a final loan balance as I anticipated based on her first year aid).</p>
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<p>Well that was just an extreme example with full ride 1st year —> all loans / all gap the next subsequent years. What if they tried doing this in a more subtle manner like full ride 1st year ----> loan $5,000 2nd year -----> loan $10,000 3rd year -----> loan $15,000 4th year, etc.</p>
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<p>Did you see my last post in that other previous thread of yours where I answered your questions?</p>
<p>Thank you to everyone who answer! I will take your advice and ask USF. I will be going on attending an admitted students day, so I guess I will ask then. It just seems like my package is too good to be true and that I won’t get the same the remaining year.</p>
<p>Chaospaladin - Sorry, I didn’t check that question, but I just did and I can tell you it was very generous I only have a little over 5000 to pay for out of pocket (and my COA of attendance include room & board.</p>
<p>I think schools try to be consistent but with the economy as it is some will no doubt have difficulty maintaining the lofty goals they’ve set for themselves. I anticipate this with D1’s school - I’m hoping it stays within federal loan limits and doesn’t become unrealistic about parent’s ability to contribute. Year 1 was great - waiting to see the package for year 2.</p>
<p>Hi thuydeebird. I’m also going to be attending USF this fall. I received a generous amount of financial aid as well. Did you USF answer your question? If so, what did they say?</p>
<p>All students should know that many if not most school do put more of the onus in paying for college on the student each year in terms of financial aid. More self help and less grants is not unusual. That is why the Stafford limits increase each year. Also bear in mind that the costs tend to go up at least 5% a year. </p>
<p>There is more opportunity to save some money as an upperclassman too. You are given more freedom in terms of living quarters and meal choices. You can provide your own meals and save money, and look for outside housing, doubling up and saving money that way. My sons were able to cut costs drastically that way, though they simply blew the savings. I have seen kids, mainly international kids find off campus housing where they share bedrooms and halve their room expenses. A rice cooker and ramen cuts food expenses more. Also, as you learn the ropes, you can come up with a lot of ways to cut the costs. Unfortunately, there are more opportunities to spend more as well, so it’s tough avoiding that temptation.</p>
<p>This can be part of the school’s packaging philosophy (how they decide where to put financial aid). It’s commonly called “front-loading.” Yes, it happens a lot.</p>
<p>friendlyfire- I’ve called and they say that loan will increase each year. If you get merit aid, it will stay same as long as you keep your grade up. If it’s need-based, then it would depend on your family financial situation. So, if you keep your grade up and your financial situation stays the same, then you should get the same aid.</p>