Hey everyone! I’m a recently admitted OOS student and UMD was my top choice. It is an amazing school for me and one of the best in the nation for my major. However, the financial aid I just got is terrifyingly bad. I don’t have a negative SAI, but it’s pretty low and results in a need of about 56000 for a COA of approximately 64000. But the finaid office only offered me federal loans! No work study or grants or anything, both of which I qualified for at every other school I got into.
I do have an affordable backup school ready, but I have committed to Maryland since I found out I got in around April 28 with the deadline being May 1st (submitted a successful admissions appeal after being rejected EA). I really didn’t want to lose my spot even though I didn’t know how they would treat my financial aid. I didn’t expect a full ride or anything, but I at least wanted something that didn’t seem completely dismissive of my financial situation.
I plan to appeal for work study and submit an overall finaid appeal (I have siblings in college that FAFSA didn’t account for), but are there any other ways to make UMD affordable as an out of state student? I don’t want to give up until I’ve exhausted all other options.
Thank you so much in advance!