2girlzmum

^^^ This is a wake-up call for those considering other schools that would cut off aid after 4 years.


So my stupid question for this thread is how do we find out before our kids' committing to a school if they have such a policy? Many merit scholarships are only good for four years.

thumper1

Merit aid at both of my kids' schools was for four years. It was VERY clearly stated on the letter that was sent with the award...renewable for four years with a 3.0 GPA.

Schools that are providing generous institutional need based aid can do so on their terms. I do not believe most of these schools would fund an additional year. But I could be wrong!


Our kids were told up front.. We were paying for the four year plan. Anything above and beyond was on their dime. One kiddo took summer courses one year, and she paid for them. We, like the OP had more than one student attending a private college. We simply could not pay for a fifth year...too much money.

momofthreeboys

Same here, our funding of college was conditional on finishing in 4 years...and yes, most "awards" state in the award letter that they are for four years renewable every year based on GPA etc. For new college parents, read, read, read...the website, the letters that come from the colleges. If something isn't clear, call and ask.

happymomof1

"I think it would be hard for him to get back up to speed in upper-level science and math classes (he is a computer engineering major)."

Is there any kind of job he could get now with the background that he already has, where he would use the knowledge he has already acquired? Can he hold down that job while studying part-time to finish off the missing coursework?

thumper1

Can this student complete ONE major quickly? He could then pursue a graduate degree in the other.

mom2collegekids

Either have the D take a gap year (I don't see the harm in having 2 girls be frosh the same year).....or co-sign a loan for your son to pay for his last year and have him be responsible for payback.

bluebayou

I haven't investigated many colleges, but the few private colleges that I have looked at cuts off finaid after four years*. And they state it clearly, in writing, on their website and in numerous documents. If you want to change majors and become a 5+-year student, do it on your own dime. (Indeed, many students graduate from a private in whatever major that they can, then return to their home state to attend their instate public to pick-up a second bachelors at much cheaper prices.)

*The only exception to four years is Dartmouth which provides aid for a 5th year only for Engineering students so they can earn a professional license/certificate.

OTOH, the California publics offer aid beyond 8 semesters/12 quarters.

No he doesn't. You can always tell him that a 5th year is not an option at the private college. If he wants major #2 bad enough, he can finish at private college and then matriculate to his instate public for a second degree.

I hope you see why your D's college would not subsidize your son's 5th year, when it is solely his personal choice/plananing.

Ditto. We added, 'enjoy it while you can, since four years goes by really fast.'

Momofbassist

Some schools will pay merit scholarships for 5 years if a dual major is declared when you apply. But you have to read all the fine print. One private school that accepted son last year did offer the merit scholarship for the full 5 years and another private said that the dean would consider extending the scholarship at the end of 4 years depending on son's performance in the preceeding 4 years. We opted for him to attend the instate public school with the 4 1/2 year dual major program(plus scholarships) which worst case if he lost all scholarships would still be affordable. We were very concerned that if he changed majors or didn't keep his grades up, we would be in the same position as the OP.

bluebayou

Actually, if I recall, Emory will provide a 9th semester of financial aid, with approvals, particularly if the reason is study abroad.

kela10

For others who may stumble across this thread I would have to agree that all scholarship offers I have seen have clearly stated exactly how long they will pay. S1 also changed majors to a completely different, unrelated field. He did come home every summer and worked full time plus took classes at the community college and local State U during the summers to play catch up.

teameffort

To clarify, my son changed majors from civil to computer engineering at the end of his sophomore year. Though they were both engineering programs, there was virtually no overlap in course requirements, hence the necessity to go an extra year. His credits largely would not transfer to our public in-state school, which would mean he would have to go more than one additional year to get a degree. Nor could he now graduate at his private school with any kind of degree after four years, not having fulfilled the requirements of any other major (engineering at this school together with distribution requirements means he has been able to take virtually no elective classes).

kayf

Team, I am not certain why having the D take a gap year wont help. Are you not willing/able to spend the EFC, as split, between the two girls? Are you saying that while you would spend for S to spend one year as full pay at expensive private school, you can not come up with any options for the Ds? Will they not have the same option that you thought was going to work for the S - private school with aid, or public school?

mom2collegekids

Not to be harsh, but it sounds like you've known about this potential problem since the end of your son's soph year...when he changed majors and saw that "there was virtually no course overlap" between the two majors.

Why didn't he do summer school and such to catch up to avoid this situation? Or work as much as he could over the past two summers to save for this 5th year? Or why didn't you just say, "we won't be able to afford that 5th year, you need to come up with a solution."

Anyway....it seems like it's the eleventh hour and you plan on spending most of your money on your son and your D is stuck holding the bag (thru no fault of her own).

If I were you, I would do one of the following....(probably #2)

1) Ask D if she'll consider a gap year (and apologize for the situation and how it may affect her.)

2) Co-sign loans for son that he would be responsible for. And, expect him to work a lot this summer to minimize cost. And, if he needs less than 30 credits this next year, then expect him to work a good bit during the school year.

kayf

Mom2, I know this seems like lack of planning. My DD transferred, and to avoid it turning into a 5 year plan, she took online courses over the summer. It meant she had virtually no electives in her brick and mortar school, but so be it. She was told, by me, that the transfer credit evaluation was critical to making it work.

Not to be overly pessimistic, but my former MIL is still bitter that her parents paid for her brother to go to a private school, but wouldnt pay for her.

bluebayou

IMO, forcing the D into a gap year is just not cool (nor "fair"); she should not be disadvantaged for your son's late decision to change majors. (yes, I know Soph year is not generally 'late', but it is in Eng.)

Instead, have the boy to take a year off, get a job and earn some money to help pay for his fifth year.