PRKid

How have the awards been? Has anyone asked the FAoffice to reconsider an original award? I am in the process of talking to them about it but moving carefully.

Bretagne

I got a lot of Financial Aid from Allegheny. I'll probably be attending there in the fall

northeastmom

Congratulations Bretagne!

I would also like to know the answer to PRKid's question. Were the FA awards fair and allowing the school to be doable for the average middle class or upper middle class (depending on one's interpretation) family?

kmaqMom

Allegheny offered my D great financial aid (Trustee scholarship, stafford loan and work study) that fully met our EFC. It would be doable for us but she has selected a different college. I think Allegheny is a terrific school (as does my D), just not the best one for her.

northeastmom

Thanks kmaqMom. Anyone else who can comment on FA? Perhaps someone who did not get a sizable merit award, or who got one, but still needed some grant money?

Bretagne

I can go into more detail about mine. The FA (trustee scholarship, loan, work study too) they gave me covers 95% of the tutition/room and board. I am looking into other scholarship opportunities that will hopefully pay for the rest.

northeastmom

Thank you Bretagne. Good luck! If you end up choosing Allegheny, please come back to CC and tell us about your freshman year as it unfolds!

kmaqMom

Just a small thing but I wanted to share it.....
You know those phone calls to accepted students from current students asking if you have any questions and just talking in general about the school? The young lady from Allegheny was by far the nicest and most articulate of the calls my D received. I know because my D wasn't home the first time she called and I ended up talking to her for 15 minutes! Really a lovely girl and excellent spokesperson for the college.

pjscdn

Then there's hope. D received a Trustee scholarship. No aid package yet. The packages from other LACs have been disappointing.

jmom09

My daughter got a $17K trustee scholarship but is not going there. The Stafford loans are not from AC, but from the govt. My husband and I both went there and got a great education. It is really a wonderful school!

justintsn

Here is my financial aid packet they gave me, hopefully this will give you an idea.

Trustee Scholarship 15,000
Federal Pell Grant 4,731
Federal Stimulus Pell Increase 619
Fed ACG 1st Year 750
Federal SEOG 2,000
Allegheny Grant 7,000
Direct Stafford Loan 3,500
Federal Perkins Loan 1,800
Direct Unsub Stafford Loan 2,200

Sub Total $37,400

Federal Work Study 2,200

TOTAL $39,600


Has anyone also received aid like this and went to allegheny?
I'd like to know if the Stafford and Perkins loans were tough to pay off.

The financial aid package is HUGE but I will still owe around 10K in loans A YEAR. I would love to go to this school but to my parents it makes more sense staying in state and paying only like 3K a year. What do you guys think? I could use some insight.

-Justin

ioolie

My son was admitted to Allegheny and will be attending in the fall. He received a nice financial aid package that was not quite up to the packages he was offered at comparable schools. We communicated that to the aid office, and they quickly matched (or came very close to matching) what the other schools offered. They fully met our need after accounting for our FAFSA EFC. We are very pleased and he is thrilled. There is a significant Stafford Loan/Perkins Loan component but also a 10K combined Trustee Scholarship & grant. We can't expect to get off debt free, and it is nice to get a chunk taken off the sticker price.

ioolie

One other thing...don't accept the offer of admission until you are satisfied with the aid package. You will lose your leverage.

sjung7

Does anyone remember how long took them to give an answer back after calling them for more financial aid? I'm afraid because I'm waiting for over three weeks now.