Will ED give me a reasonable financial aid package?

mdnijpn · 11-01-2009, 01:09 PM

Hey all, I'm thinking about applying Early Decision to Lehigh; my application's almost all set except I have one hesitation. What if I need a good amount of financial aid?
And do you guys think I am in line for acceptance, let alone a good financial aid package?

Top 10% of big public high school in Massachusetts
3.66 GPA UW
1430 SATs (740 CR and 690 M)
7 APs, two 4's and a 5 on the tests last year
Varsity Lacrosse captain, 20 hour a week job, NHS, a few clubs/community service commitments sprinkled in, Boys State member, etc.
solid/good essay and solid recommendations
visited campus for open house

what do you guys think?

any feedback would be greatly appreciated

WaitingDad · 11-01-2009, 01:17 PM

Everything appears to be in line...but have you shown interest in Lehigh by visiting a few times?

vossron · 11-01-2009, 02:26 PM

"What if I need a good amount of financial aid?"

If they offer you enough, you accept their offer; if they don't, you say thanks but no thanks, and apply RD elsewhere.

mdnijpn · 11-01-2009, 06:01 PM

I have visited once, for an open house, and I tried to schedule an interview when they had someone in my area, but they were booked. It's kinda a tough trip to make repeatedly, about 5-6 hours from me.

bonmar · 11-02-2009, 08:31 PM

Lehigh meets approx 96% of your EFC (I believe..it is high). So, your financial aid package will reflect the amount of need you have.

Everything looks good for you otherwise. Good luck!

Momwaitingfornew · 11-07-2009, 08:25 PM

MDnijpn, when you attended the Open House, did you sign in? If so, that counts as an official visit. From what I can tell, Lehigh doesn't expect multiple visits from anyone, but they do expect applicants within a reasonable driving distance to do so at least once. The only way they know if you've been there, however, is if you leave your name.

I know one student who applied a few years ago. When I asked if he had visited, he said yes, that his father had driven him through campus and had taken him back a month later to see the athletic fields. The problem? No one at Lehigh knew he had been there. Although I can't say this is why he was denied, it certainly didn't help his case that he lived an hour or so away without having done an official visit.

mdnijpn · 11-08-2009, 11:09 AM

Yeah, I signed in. At least I think so. I registered, they took down my name, and gave me a paper to give to my school to say I was there. So I'm pretty sure they know me. And I emailed my admissions officer! I've made contact, shown interest, etc. hopefully everything's in line. But a few days ago I found out my GPA is a 3.58 UW... hope that slight decrease doesn't hurt me. But I should have pretty good grades first term with 4 AP's so my rank will hopefully go up...

I'm nervous!

WaitingDad · 11-08-2009, 09:37 PM

Lehigh wants to know you want them! Let your admissions rep know this. Going ED definitely helps and if you know of any alumni from your high school that attend Lehigh let them know what a great they're having.

LWMD · 11-12-2009, 05:39 PM

I am a parent of a current Lehigh student (and my daughter applied ED I) and here is my take on your situation. Lehigh does not give a large amount of merit aid, so your package may have merit aid, but count on more need based grants, loans, and work study. Unless something has changed, the largest merit grants are $10k per year.

Your own family situation will determine your EFC.

I don't know how easy it is to get out of ED at Lehigh if your financial aid package isn't what you wanted. They don't seem inclined to let you out of the agreement if you were expecting all grants and no loans, but they expect you to take out loans. But here is the quote from the ED application: Should a student who applies for ﬁnancial aid not be offered an award that makes attendance possible, the student may decline the offer of admission and be released from the Early Decision commitment. Your version of "attendance possible might be very different from theirs.

I can say that particular emphasis was always placed on the "BINDING" part of Binding Early Decision when we made campus visits.

That said, your stats are respectable for a Lehigh applicant. Good luck!

vossron · 11-13-2009, 03:37 AM

"I don't know how easy it is to get out of ED at Lehigh if your financial aid package isn't what you wanted."

It's easy at any Common App school; it's the family's decision, not the school's.

Consider what would happen otherwise: The student is compelled to attend, but is then expelled when the bill can't be paid. It just doesn't happen. Schools emphasize "binding" to get students and families to take it seriously, which they should.

mdnijpn · 11-14-2009, 09:06 AM

My application's sent! Thanks everyone for your input, it seems that if I don't get enough money for my family, I can opt out of the agreement (if I get accepted of course!)

December 15th!

bonmar · 11-15-2009, 10:03 AM

Good luck!!

reporter31 · 11-18-2009, 10:07 PM

Good luck!!!

My son got accepted last year and we never went to visit the school. And we live 15 minutes away. And he does no sports...just skiis and plays golf.

We were waiting to see what schools he got accepted at and then we did our visits.

They are looking for well-rounded children.

Have faith and trust that you will end up going to the school that is right for you.