<p>Every single year lots of students transfer from large public universities to LACs. What you need to do at Rutgers is perform well in your classes, get to know your professors so that they are willing and able to write letters of recommendation for you, and take advantage of everything that Rutgers has to offer you as a student. If you know now which LACs you are likely to target, read their websites so that you can fulfill most of your general ed. courses at Rutgers and so that you are well prepared for upper level coursework once you do transfer.</p>
<p>If your EFC is 10k, you do need to talk with your parents about where the other 12k is coming from for Rutgers. Just exactly how are they going to pay back those private loans they are planning to take out? Will they be robbing their retirement fund so that they can put you through school? If so, will you ultimately be responsible for supporting them in their retirement? Right now Happydad and I are helping to support his mother. This is not something that is accounted for by the FAFSA, and it means that Happykid has no choice but to commute to our community college for the first two years.</p>
<p>Your parents don’t want you to pay a dime for college. That is a very nice sentiment. However, you need to step up to the plate here too. If you visit the Financial Aid Forum (there is a link on the left-hand side of this screen), you will find lots of useful ideas.</p>
<p>Wishing you all the best.</p>