berkeley financial aid

[darling]

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Anyone here who is going to berkeley and out-of-state? Do you know how much the maximum financial aid per year is? Is it enough to cover everything, and if not, what alternate sources are you planning on using?

darling

 

[weezer]

im an out of stater, i called the financial aid office. basically they told me to send in my fafsa and they will take care of it from there and figure out how much i will get. Im fairly sure they will give us enough options so that we can cover all costs. admit day is in april and they are going to speak with us about financial aid then.. hope this helped? 🙂

 

[darling]

im an out of stater, i called the financial aid office. basically they told me to send in my fafsa and they will take care of it from there and figure out how much i will get. Im fairly sure they will give us enough options so that we can cover all costs. admit day is in april and they are going to speak with us about financial aid then.. hope this helped? 🙂

Yeah. Well I just saw on the financial aid website that the max amount awarded for grad students is $18,500? If that's true for optometry too, I'm going to have some big problems 🙂 Thanks though!

 

[alkers]

I'm a first-year right now at Berkeley - AND an out-of-stater. For the first year, the FAO gave me a budget of close to $50,000. It's enough for everything for the first year. But I don't know if the amount remains the same every year ...

 

[darling]

I'm a first-year right now at Berkeley - AND an out-of-stater. For the first year, the FAO gave me a budget of close to $50,000. It's enough for everything for the first year. But I don't know if the amount remains the same every year ...

That's a relief to know! Thanks 🙂

 

[prettygreeneyes]

I'm a first-year right now at Berkeley - AND an out-of-stater. For the first year, the FAO gave me a budget of close to $50,000. It's enough for everything for the first year. But I don't know if the amount remains the same every year ...

$50,000??? 😱 😱 Wow... and I thought Pacific was going to be expensive!

--EDIT: Damn... now I look like an idiot!!! I looked at the COA Budget for Pacific and its $43,661 for a 1st year (including the $2500 laptop requirement!). Not a whole lot cheaper than Berkeley! Schools are expensive no matter where you go I guess!

 

[stompy]

Unless you are Berkeley in-state.

 

[ML1983]

$50,000??? 😱 😱 Wow... and I thought Pacific was going to be expensive!

--EDIT: Damn... now I look like an idiot!!! I looked at the COA Budget for Pacific and its $43,661 for a 1st year (including the $2500 laptop requirement!). Not a whole lot cheaper than Berkeley! Schools are expensive no matter where you go I guess!

PCO's around $40,000 if i remember correctly.

 

[stompy]

I wonder how much people at different schools are actually spending in a year.

 

[prettygreeneyes]

I do wonder how much everyone ends up spending at each school. I was of the opinion that some schools make you buy your equipment 2nd year instead of 1st year (like Pacific) so that may have an impact on how much the 1st year COA is. In state people are soooo lucky! Nevada doesn't have a school, so the next best thing to instate tuition is WICHE, but only two optometry students from NV will get it, and you have to go to Pacific or SCCO. Still waiting to hear about that...

 

[stompy]

I do wonder how much everyone ends up spending at each school. I was of the opinion that some schools make you buy your equipment 2nd year instead of 1st year (like Pacific) so that may have an impact on how much the 1st year COA is.

I was refering more to how much people actually do spend for the total four years. 😴

 

[prettygreeneyes]

I was refering more to how much people actually do spend for the total four years. 😴

Oh.

 

[stompy]

I do wonder how much everyone ends up spending at each school. I was of the opinion that some schools make you buy your equipment 2nd year instead of 1st year (like Pacific) so that may have an impact on how much the 1st year COA is. In state people are soooo lucky! Nevada doesn't have a school, so the next best thing to instate tuition is WICHE, but only two optometry students from NV will get it, and you have to go to Pacific or SCCO. Still waiting to hear about that...

Actually, I would say WICHE is the best thing. Let's say you want to go to a private school, where it doesn't matter if you're in-state or not.

 

[prettygreeneyes]

Actually, I would say WICHE is the best thing. Let's say you want to go to a private school, where it doesn't matter if you're in-state or not.

You are right... WICHE is awesome 👍 ... if you can get it 👎 ! It is based SOLELY on GPA, and you can do nothing to change your fate . (ie interview, letters of rec, anything). Both Pacific and SCCO are private, so I don't have a lot of options there! I'm going to Pacific regardless 😀 ... I find out about WICHE any day now. 😱 🙄 What was this thread about now 😕 ... after I've completely hijacked it!

 

[stompy]

You are right... WICHE is awesome 👍 ... if you can get it 👎 !

How much do you pay under WICHE?

What was this thread about now 😕 ... after I've completely hijacked it!

The poster got his/her answer already 👍 ....probably not even following the thread anymore. 👎

 

[darling]

The poster got his/her answer already 👍 ....probably not even following the thread anymore. 👎

Not true, still here 🙂

Isn't it the case that WICHE pays about 10K per year for tuition, but the recipient is required to work one year for each year of support. And the recipient works wherever the state wants for that time period?

darling

 

[weezer]

what is WICHE? i feel out of the loop here in texas..haha

 

[prettygreeneyes]

WICHE = Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education

INFORMATION FOUND AT http://www.wiche.edu/sep/psep/opto.asp

Supporting States :
AK AZ CO HI ID MT NV NM ND UT WA WY

The program that deals with optometry is called the Professional Student Exchange Program. The support fee that WICHE will give you is $13,600 (not sure if this figure is different if you come from a different state) for the 2006-2007 academic year (and some amount close to that for the remaining three years, usually goes up a little each year). You agree that for every year of support you receive, you will come back and practice in the state for the same number of years. WICHE does NOT tell you where to practice within the state (that is the case with other programs where you must serve in underpriveleged areas.) You have to pay back 1 year of support with 5-10 years. So basically, I will save $40800 if I get it. (Only two students from Nevada can get it, and the deadline to apply for the Class of 2010 was October 15 of 2005. ) This works well because it is my intention to live in Nevada anyway!

 

[darling]

This thread prompted me to look for the response I got when I inquired. In case any WA residents are interested, this is what the rep emailed me:

1) Yes, financial status is considered however, we do consider you an
independent student because you will be attending professional school.
2) Since the award is considered an conditional loan, we require
recipients to return to Washington State to work in an underserved area
for a minimum of three years, or the equivalent number of years they
received the award, whichever is greater. If a student does not return
to the state, they owe what they received plus 8% interest.

I guess that in WA, we are limited to locations. I was interested (it's alot of money!) but plan on following my bf who will be in med residency when I graduate, so that committment isn't ideal for me.

Good luck on getting that Nevada spot, prettygreeneyes! 🙂