Financial Aid?

[sunsfan1357]

I'm transferring to UC San Diego starting this upcoming fall and I was looking at the finances and whatnot. The school lists finances as follows (for someone planning to live off campus):

Resident fees: 8K
Room and Board: 9,600
Books and supplies: 1,500
Transportation: 2,000
Personal expenses: 1600
Health Insurance: 800

Grand total: Around 23000

Do school over exaggerate how much the estimated finances are? The reason I'm asking is that I'm trying to figure out exactly how much I'll need in financial aid. I was rewarded with a $4500 grant and 7000 in Stafford Loans. I don't plan on taking a car (I have a bike I'm going to ride around) and bus transportation is free for students going to school. I plan on having a full time job which will probably pay my rent each month (California minimum wage is $8.00/hr assuming that's what I'll be stuck with).

Is there anything else I should be factoring in? I don't know how accurate university estimates are and it'll help in trying to come up with a figure I'll need for another federal loan I may be eligible for.

 

[Denny Crane]

You live in California? If not, those resident fees are considerably higher (since you have to be a resident).

Granted it was exactly 30 years ago... I went to a state school as a resident and paid $250/semester.

 

[sunsfan1357]

yeah I live in California. There's no way I'd try to go there if I wasn't already a resident I read it's an extra 20K. Yikes.

 

[shookem]

damn, my total college debt is $23 grand for four years.

 

[pegs]

2 years down, no college debt, and probably a total of ~10k for the next 2 years. Thank god.

 

[bangofan13]

There are so many ways to cut down on debts and what they say you have to pay. For books you can always find cheaper stuff such as rentals or old books from older students. For classes, do you have any AP credits? College is expensive......and that is that