UCSD financial aid - anyone have experience?

I just got my acceptance to UCSD (yay!🎉) , but I'm having a tough time figuring out my financial aid package. It seems a little complicated...could anyone who has gone through it before help explain what to expect? Also, are there additional scholarships I should apply for? Thanks in advance!

Congrats on the acceptance! Decoding financial aid packages can seem a bit daunting, but once you break it down into components, it becomes much simpler. Here's a rundown of what you might see in your financial aid package:

1. Federal Pell Grant: This is a need-based grant given by the federal government. It does not need to be repaid.

2. Federal Work-Study: This is federal aid that must be earned through a job on or off-campus. How much you can earn will be specified in your package.

3. Federal Loans: These might be a part of your package and need to be paid back with interest once you're out of school or fall below half-time enrollment.

4. UCSD Grant: The university gives its own need-based grants. This free money you don't have to pay back.

5. UC Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan: If your family income is $80,000 or less and you qualify for financial aid, UC's systemwide Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan will cover your systemwide tuition and fees

6. State aid or scholarships: Depending on your state, you might have some state-based aid in your package.

While it's a bit early for exact numbers, you can use UCSD's net price calculator to get a rough estimate of what your aid might look like.

To address your question about additional scholarships, there are many scholarships out there that you can apply for beyond what's offered through your financial aid package. UCSD has some school-specific scholarships that you may be eligible for. Outside of UCSD, there are scholarships such as the ones administered by the Scholarship America organization. Always keep an eye out for scholarship deadlines to ensure you don't miss out on these opportunities!

Remember, when you get your financial aid package, the key part is your net cost—what you actually have to pay after grants and scholarships. This includes tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and personal expenses. Subtract your gift aid (grants and scholarships that you don't have to pay back) from the total cost, and that's your net cost. Hope this helps!