Some funding for USC comes in the form of California grants (It’s $72K per year). If the OP is not a resident, he wouldn’t qualify for that additionally money.
@asianaaron, why don’t you want to go to Tulane?
So $56,000 in gift aid, and then Pell, student loan, work study is another $15,000? Doesn’t that cover all direct billed costs?
Then you can earn money in the summer.
But if it’s not affordable, you will need to go to one of your other more affordable options.
@“aunt bea” i’ve just lived in new orleans for all my life; and while it is a great, unique city, i just feel more opportunities and a new perspectives can be experienced if i went to USC (i really appreciate the LA vibe and feel as though the liberal nature of the environment is more in tune with who i am as opposed to deep southern culture)
Are you planning on grad school? If undergrad is almost free, maybe you could go to USC for grad school.
@mommdc the gift aid includes Pell. the total estimated cost of attendance for me is $72,623
I wasn’t talking about the COA, I was talking about the items the school bills for like tuition, fees, room, board.
Not the estimates for books, travel and personal expenses.
The school is not obligated to cover the whole COA without loans/student contribution from work.
When you said gift aid I thought you meant institutional grant aid from USC.
This helps explain the disparity. Your situation for Tulane is a GREAT one, OP! As a PT award winner, you may want to ask Tulane if you were to live on campus whether they would award you some need-based aid. Living on campus (and off campus but nearby) might give you a very different ‘New Orleans’ experience than the one you’ve had all your life.
the PT award is covering tuition/etc, but Tulane might make it possible to live on campus too, just something to try since your package as it is probably doesn’t include need-based aid. http://www2.tulane.edu/financialaid/grants/nola.cfm
You should at least contact them to ask, especially with TOPS, PT award, Pell and low-income all in the mix. BTW - congrats on PT award, that’s a fine accomplishment! My guess is they will fight to keep you. You probably don’t even need to mention the amount of the USC and Emory awards. Just say you are struggling making a decision, and let them see what they can come up with.
How does your Emory award compare to Tulane’s?
Beggars can’t be choosers.
Note that there would be significant travel costs as well.
And honestly, living somewhere different is more fun when you are working and actually have money than if you are a poor starving college student.
Can you afford the cost of transportation, books, and other ancillary expenses you might have if you go to a school you cannot commute to? Tulane is a fabulous option. So is Emory. Be thankful. No one “scammed” you. As others have said, profile schools usually expect you to contribute something. Count your lucky stars that Tulane and Emory were as generous as they were.
USC meets need according to its own special definition of “need.” Your definition of “need,” and even your EFC of 0, have no bearing on USC’s definition. USC’s packages almost always include loans and some family contribution even if the EFC is zero. This happens every year, not just with USC but with many other “we meet full need” colleges. There’s really just a tiny few who will typically give a full ride to a “0 EFC.”
A “0 EFC” student can’t be so picky. Take one of your full ride choices. There is a really, really long list of students who would love to have those choices. Congratulations on your admissions!
We had financial aid packages that varied by as much as $20k. When both of my sons were in college, the EFCs for each school were similar but the types of awards varied significantly.
EFC is what the school feels your family can afford based on savings, current income and future resources (i.e., borrowing). It’s NOT what your parents say they can afford. You’ve got some good choices. Surely there are reasons you applied to these schools and you thought you’d enjoy attending? Focus on the positives and make the most of the schools who are willing to pay for you to attend.
DH and I were both 0 EFC students. He went to an Ivy, I turned down a T-15 due to a poor FA package and struggled to pay my way through a flagship. The discrepancy in FA awards has been around for many years.