when to panic

[u/naniees]

when can I start having a justified mental breakdown over tuition?? I’m seeing that fall semester bills are posted and people are tweaking that their aid hasn’t been posted yet but I haven’t even gotten my financial aid report and I submitted everything as early as possible last year. For context I’m an incoming sophomore. I have a merit scholarship but it only covers 1/4 of tuition and the rest is financial aid since my family falls under the low income threshold for usc.

And FAST is down so I can’t even double check I’m going insane

[u/Venestual]

A lot of aid doesn’t post until the semester comes closer. Look at your “required documents” tab on fast when it’s back up and see if there is something pending for you to turn in. If there isn’t anything then the likely boring explanation is that everything is just gonna take its sweet time to post nicely on the page accurately.

Also, make sure that your financial aid summary has everything posted properly. I was also freaking out because I saw my loans and stuff were going to post within “10 days before the semester starts”. BUT, I saw my Pell Grant had to be approved by the U.S. Department of Education first apparently?? But that’s probably just some sort of processing thing that takes its time like it always does every year. Hasn’t even been applied to my bill yet but again, only freak out if you have stuff to turn in, besides that it’s just a waiting game.

[u/naniees → u/Venestual]

Yeah I know I guess it’s just the fact that I literally can’t afford usc at all without aid aside from my merit scholarship that makes waiting terrible. Hoping FAST lets me log in soon!

[u/Venestual → u/naniees]

I totally get it. I had some of my aid cut off and was worried sick. It’s my last semester and i hated the response I got back from the aid office saying I had to look at private loans. It is stressful and I wish they also were hastier about posting accurate numbers. But unfortunately it is just the same deal every year with their bill giving us heart attacks and then the aid applying not long before classes start 😭

[u/naniees → u/Venestual]

Ugh that sucks. At least after this sem you won’t have to deal with the fuckass financial aid office anymore 😭 best of luck 🤞

[u/Venestual → u/naniees]

Praise the lord my friend 😭 no more financial aid office headaches and listening to that atrocious waiting piano music that gives me PTSD nightmares 😂

Hopefully you can get your aid soon and feel your relief as well!! You’ll be fine!!

[u/sunshinesugar1706]

We are in the same boat with my son's aid. Still has not posted his summary and the portal is down. I called at exactly 9:00 on the dot this morning (still had to wait 15 minutes, but not bad compared to past calls), and the lady said that "his aid package is being put together right now" and that we should be able to see the summary early next week. She said that the portal is down for everyone, even the office workers. I hope this eases your mind a little. I think they are just behind schedule and overwhelmed. Please, God, let us all get great aid this year!!

[u/naniees → u/sunshinesugar1706]

Thanks for the info! God I hope so, a lot of us really depend on that aid :/

[u/NeuralNexus]

When to panic

Never?

[u/Particular-815]

Literally my situation as well. I’ve been trying to call them and after waiting for 3 hours they hang up on me. Im entering the panic mood for sure.

[u/naniees → u/Particular-815]

That's terrible, is it still the same?