Kentric

I've been reading past threads regarding financial aid appeals and it seems as if the most money anyone ever received after a successful appeal was 2k. Is this basically the most that they will give you or is it possible to obtain more financial aid? (Assume that nothing on the FAFSA changes)

Also, if you receive a better financial aid package from another school of similar caliber (U of Rochester for example), would NYU consider attempting to make up at least a portion of the difference if you were somewhat desirable as far as number are concerned? (35 ACT, 3.85 UW, 4.9 W, CAS Biology applicant). As of right now, NYU is my number 1 choice (having been waitlisted/rejected at all of my reach schools). However, I have reason to believe that Rochester's financial aid package will be considerably better (I've already received a renewable 7k scholarship and I'm expecting a reasonable amount of grant aid in my financial aid package that's coming in a few days). It's theoretically possible for us to pay the 37K+ that NYU expects us to contribute per year but both my parents and I would have to live frugally for the next 4 years. Long Island is not a cheap place to live in, and I don't want to impose such a huge financial burden on my parents.

If anyone could shed some light on the subject it would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

hsseniorlooking

Write a letter to the finacial aid folks explaining your situation and include the finanancial aid package(s) you want NYU to consider. I did this last year and included financial aid packages from Emory. GWU and Carnegie-Mellon (CMU). NYU gave me only a token increase, yet I still chose Stern. My situation (financially) sounds a lot like yours. Good Luck.

I used a template from CMU that they send with your financial aid package asking if you would like to appeal your package. Very thoughtful of them.

teampakistan

Hey Kentric, I was thinking about appealing my financial aid award as well this year but after a lot of advice from various current student and their parents decided not to. Because so many kids apply and the wait list is so large, NYU hardly increases financial aid in any case. But it's worth the effort, better try than regret. Good luck.

DwightKSchrute

1) Rochester and NYU are hardly comparable in caliber...
2) I received my FA package from Rochester and NYU. I have to pay about 5k of the 47k for Rochester, but I need to pay over 20k of NYU's 52k.. I am planning on financially appealing to NYU as well; we'll see how it goes.

Kentric

My financial aid package from Rochester wasn't as good as yours, but it was still better than the one NYU gave me. Oh well, I guess we'll see what happens after our appeals....

And why are they not comparable in caliber? I know that every school has its strengths and weaknesses, Rochester being superior in the hard sciences and NYU in business/arts. I plan on doing premed/biology so the obvious choice would be Rochester. However, I've heard that there are many Ivy rejects at Rochester so I assume that the competition there would be fiercer compared to NYU premed. I could be wrong though, this is just based on whatever information I came across over the past year or so.

crideme

I called the financial aid office and they asked me if I wanted to appeal through the phone, I said yes, they gave me 2k. Right now I have 25k in scholarship, is it worth sending a letter comparing the aid from u of chicago and emory, or are they probably not going to give me any more money?

Nickel Xenon

Scholarship or grant money? Do you have 25k in scholarships or grants?

crideme

It is both...like 5 scholarships and 2 grants

Nickel Xenon

That's not very good. =/

elvenqueen10

Kentric-
my family's EFC went to down from 50 k to 30 k and my brother is going to school and I started paying tisch tuition. And NYU just suggested I take out more loans. I would not count on anything.

sueinphilly

what did they offer you as far as FA with an EFC of 30K

Did you get any scholarship money?

elvenqueen10

are you referring to me Sueinphilly? well, like everyone I was inititally offered loans and when my EFC dropped the first time, nothing happened (it dropped to like 45 K initially) so I started working. This is year they suggested I go on work study.... which my family and I were like, well she already basically does work study so that doesn't help.

I didn't get any initial scholarships though trust me when I say I have applied to outside scholarships. However, there are few undergrad scholarships for film majors as opposed to scholarships for women in engineering (or something like that). Ergo, we are tussling with FA right now and I'm applying to transfer so I can hopefully be somewhere else.

Nickel Xenon

My family's income is going from 76k to 54k. I wrote an e-mail about it, but I'm not sure they've taken it into account. =/ I did get an e-mail on my NYUHome that my aid had been adjusted...but I'm not sure. I'm hoping to call, but their business hours suck. But I finally get to see the awards page. ^_^ And loans do *not* count as financial aid. >_> No matter what NYU thinks. This is the aid they gave me per semester:

General Studies Program Scholarship $3,750.00
J. Eckhouse Scholarship $2,500.00
Federal Work - Study Eligibility $2,000.00
Expected Perkins Loan $1,200.00
Suggested Stafford Loan $1,750.00
Suggested PLUS Loan $14,791.00

What is this PLUS loan and what makes them think I want to pay over 14k for it? DX This is per semester right? This is filed under Fall 08 and then again in Spring 09.

samiamy

plus loan believe parents have to do that one, so looks like almost 19 K in loans per year.

Federal Parent PLUS loans - Sallie Mae PLUS loans

Nickel Xenon

Goodbye NYU. -_- Hello Boston U. Wouldn't it be 19k per semester that they want me to take out in loans?