Well, Here's My Story.

tocollege
Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:40:18 +0000

Be sure to get some universities on your list that have a history of offering large merit scholarships to students with your qualifications, then. (Check out stickied threads at the top of the Financial Aid discussion forum.) The UCs generally reserve merit aid for in-state students, so they would be very expensive for you.

Also, financial aid doesn’t have a sudden cut-off if you are a “bit above the range” that generally gets aid (I am not sure what range you mean, by the way). Unless your EFC turns out to be over $45,000 (have your parents start doing the FAFSA calculators now to get an idea), you would very likely be eligible for university grants (free money) at private universities that you would not receive at the UCs.

On the UC acceptance discussion forums this year, there were so many OOS who had their happiness over acceptance turned into despair when they found they would not be receiving grants or scholarships from the UC.

Taking out $180,000 in loans would not be a good idea. Ask about your situation on the financial aid forum - they give lots of good advice.