Financial Aid

sara12 · 07-09-2009, 11:06 AM

I know I'm only going to be a junior, but I'm getting really nervous about financial aid. I have no siblings, but my dad just went back to college a few years ago, and he's a high school teacher now (-doesn't make much each year.) I was excited about Bowdoin, but now I'm nervous about their financial aid. Their policy seems like one of the best, because of their need-based aid grants. I used a financial aid calculator, and it said I would need about 35 grand a year. Granted, I'm probably going to be getting local scholarships, but it seems like Bowdoin has been awful stingy with financial aid this year. Could anyone give me advice? I'm not lower class, but my family doesn't pull that much in each year, even though I live in an upper-middle class town.

TaylorAnn11 · 07-09-2009, 02:11 PM

Bowdoin is one of the schools that will meet 100% of financial need; where have you seen its financial aid awards decrease?

sara12 · 07-09-2009, 07:59 PM

I read a lot of people's complaints at CC.

TaylorAnn11 · 07-09-2009, 08:41 PM

Hmmm. I honestly don't know. Sorry. I haven't heard many complaints from the accepted class, but with the economy I'm sure families are feeling the strain of money. Maybe it's not the school, just that families are having a hard time paying. Private schools are so overly expensive.

Tzar09 · 07-09-2009, 08:54 PM

Hey Taylor Ann, random question: How did you set your 'location' in the dark gray box to left of your posts to say 'Bowdoin College '13?'

Isabelle7 · 07-09-2009, 10:58 PM

Bowdoin meets all demonstrated need. that being said, they are the ones who decide if you need money to go to Bowdoin.

TaylorAnn11 · 07-10-2009, 07:28 AM

Top right-hand corner, where it says welcome -- click on your user name
Go to personal information
Click on 'location' -- edit

Right. Bowdoin will meet all your need; you just have to qualify for it. I don't think they've lowered any of the qualifications for financial aid, and they are still need-blind as far as I can tell (although i read differently on one thread)

sara12 · 07-10-2009, 07:36 AM

Okay. I know they meet demonstrated need- but they determine whether you need aid. I think that I'll qualify, just I think they'd give me less than i expect after reading those threads.

Tzar09 · 07-10-2009, 08:11 AM

thanks!

10char

xcman · 07-13-2009, 01:35 PM

Hey, I understand how you feel. I was in the same position when picking which college to go to and juggling economic needs with my own desires. Basically, I'm upper-middle class which is, in my humblem opinion, one of the worst brackets to be in, 'cause you're rich enough to not qualify for great aid, but poor enough to not get enough aid. I found that Bowdoin's financial aid package was pretty fair. I mean, I would like more money (who wouldn't?) but that its manageable. I got around half which was pretty decent. And Bowdoin's also flexible, so if you go talk to them, they'll first explain how they came about to get your numbers, and what can be done to help you. My advice: worry about getting in, then weigh your options.

And Bowdoin is need-blind for all American applicants, but not International applicants, and not waitlisted applicants either.

sara12 · 08-08-2009, 09:04 AM

Thanks for your advice, xcman.

alexandrafitzmor · 08-08-2009, 04:05 PM

@sara12, Bowdoin was a lot less hard-hit on their endowment than some other LACs (about 17%), so they probably won't be as stingy in the next few years as CMC and Amherst have apparent;y been. Need-blind is need-blind: if you get a terrible FA package you can appeal and I'm sure you'll be able to find something for you.

torasee · 08-08-2009, 11:11 PM

Yes - and Bowdoin just finished a big and successful fund-raising campaign that raised $293M - IIRC, $100M of that amount will be dedicated to financial aid.