College financial aid

[pwherr]

Has anyone went through this bs or are going through this bs? My son is a jr at CSU. Every year they make up an estimate of how much it is going to cost for the year (not even close). Where they get this amount I have no clue. He gets grants and loans to help with the bill. He also bust his ass to get scholarships. They take this "estimate" subtract the scholarships first then refund the grants the amount over the estimate. So in other words instead of them giving him the money to live on they refund it back to the gov and I have a balance due. Example I owed the school $65 this month. He got a $750 music scholarship. I am thinking great he will get $685 to help pay his rent. Oh no they get the $750 send $1100 back to the Gov and I now owe the school $350 + the $65. He has 2 more coming totaling $1000 so then I will owe what another $600 or so? What a crock of shit. I was wondering if all schools do this or am I just one of the lucky ones. They have done this every year so it isn't new just pisses me off.

[Seanie Mac]

yea it was a pain, my little sister spends like 10 days in the summer on the phone and Internet filling shot out for it. but ya gotta do it. Do you use FASFA too?

[pwherr]

Yes. He even went in to amend the estimate and they told him he needs to get a roommate and that way he would have more money left. What a bunch of shit.

[Seanie Mac]

I've never heard of the govt getting the money. I would just get a check or my parents would get one, and that was my money to do whatever I wanted with or needed. That sounds stupid actually lol

[SecretStash]

sounds like u would have a cheaper bill due if he quit applying for scholarships.

lol

crazy shit them government peeps

-stash

[pwherr]

Originally Posted by SecretStash

sounds like u would have a cheaper bill due if he quit applying for scholarships.

lol

crazy shit them government peeps

-stash

Exactly

[QuadzillaXXX]

it's a pain in the ass, i just got shot down because i applied too late, i'm not going until january so thought i was safe but i guess you have to do that shit before may no matter what, must run via college year and not calendar year......maybe next year i'll get lucky and actually get a few bucks lol

[Chris46139]

Obviously haven't gone through any of that with my kids being so young, but my question is how much should I be saving for them to go in 16 years. It doesn't feel like I am saving enough, I'm putting in 150/month per kid right now. What do you guys think?

[Seanie Mac]

Originally Posted by Chris46139

Obviously haven't gone through any of that with my kids being so young, but my question is how much should I be saving for them to go in 16 years. It doesn't feel like I am saving enough, I'm putting in 150/month per kid right now. What do you guys think?

It's a good starting point. Just work their asses, make sure they apply for every grant, scholarship, loan possible.

[pwherr]

It is still going to cost you a lot of money. My son has all that and it will end up after the 4 years costing me about 20k and he will still have 50k in student loans. He is going to be a music teacher. I can't even imagine if someone is going to be a Dr.

[pwherr]

And my daughter starts next year. Joy

[Chris46139]

Oh yeah I can imagine its going to cost a ton by then especially. Something really needs to be done with the cost of education in this country. These days kids that don't go to school it seems like they have such a crazy headstart on the kids that do go to school, get out and still can't get a job. Myt cousin has 2 masters degrees and works 2 jobs for basically no money, craziness. I can't even imagine coming from a family that couldn't afford to help out at all these days, I thought I was short changing the kids lol

[pwherr]

It is very hard on the middle income. If you are poor it is all taken care of and if you are rich then you take care of it but people that have to bust ass to make a living get stung.

[revnecro1273]

never had a problem...went in and picked my refund check each time...loved it during my graduate school days...tuition was paid for my the dept and i got a full refund...shit rocked

[revnecro1273]

Originally Posted by Chris46139

Obviously haven't gone through any of that with my kids being so young, but my question is how much should I be saving for them to go in 16 years. It doesn't feel like I am saving enough, I'm putting in 150/month per kid right now. What do you guys think?

let them pay for it themselves...or...have them go to school in any of the scandinavian countries and they can go for free