Class of 2013 Results: Celebrate, Discuss, Support Here - Page 13

doame · 03-23-2009, 11:43 AM

My D has been accepted to 7 out of the 8 universities she applied to. (Oddly, the only reject was UCSD - but who knows what's going on with the UCs this year!)

She has wanted to go to a particular private u all her life. Her dad went there for 6 years. I swear, this 'getting the acceptance a month before finding out Financial Aid' is killing me. I feel like she felt waiting for the acceptances. We make a bit too much for much "need" but certainly can't afford the 40K+ for tuit/room+dorm, etc. While she's not a Nat'l Merit Finalist or anything, she worked very hard and has incredible grades & SAT (2190) We're hoping for some merit aid & maybe a little need =)

I remember seeing a thread: is it worth it? We thnik it is ... but the wait for the Fin Info is a killer. She's our first, so this is all new for us. We heard the school will work with us, but...but the suspense is completely distracting.

anxious_parent · 03-23-2009, 03:53 PM

Does anyone know anything about the NYU Gallatin Scholars Program? S was accepted and I'm invited to a parent's orientation next weekend. No indications about merit $$ that might come with it and the NYU website is vague.

Deja · 03-24-2009, 06:50 AM

Quote:

the wait for the Fin Info is a killer.

Oh, it is! S was accepted EA to a place and found out in mid-December. We are still waiting for the finaid package! It is very frustrating! (We are also waiting for finaid from three other places he knows he's in at, and then there are the 8 he's yet to hear from about acceptances!)

He did find out yesterday that he got a full ride to one place, the result of a scholarship competition a few weeks ago. That place is definitely going to be in his final group!

doame · 03-24-2009, 01:05 PM

Wow Deja! Congrats to your son on the scholarship! What an honor. I hope he gets help from his top choice.

My D is also in contention for serveral. One of them, we may not hear from until AFTER May 1st, so it's just a wild card. She was awarded one for ~19K from one school, but after she visited, it dropped pretty low on her list. (I question if she'd be happy there.) I'm starting to dream about it, and have already started the family budget revisions

Deja · 03-24-2009, 03:10 PM

No scholarship notification until after May 1?! That seems so unfair!

The 8 schools yet to hear from include some extreme reaches, so they are essentially wild cards. There is one school that is agonizingly slow with the finaid package, especially considering s was accepted EA in mid December! If they would send the finaid info, we could keep son's dream alive of attending there or quietly lay it to rest and concentrate on the other wonderful choices we know he has that will work out financially.

PianoMom65 · 03-27-2009, 01:49 PM

Hi everyone,

This is my first post here. My oldest daughter is HS class of '09, and is off to college this fall. She's an academically talented kid...top 10%, lots of APs, ACT good but not great. Also, first chair flute, does forensics, some clubs.

We live in Wisconsin, and all of the schools she applied to are in the Midwest. Does anyone have any experience with Midwestern schools? The good news...she applied to 7 privates-liberal-arts and 1 in-state public, and she got in everywhere! The bad news....while she got nice offers of merit aid at each of the privates, it just isn't going to be enough. We have a large, blended family, which is expensive, and we make too much.

Here are the privates where she got in:

College of St. Benedict (17,000 merit aid)
Kalamazoo (15,000 merit aid)
Creighton (14,000 merit aid)
Drake (12,000 merit aid)
Wartburg (12,000 merit aid)
Ripon (11,000 merit aid)
Earlham (9,000 merit aid, plus a 13,500 grant!)

She also got in to University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (probably the number 2 Wisconsin in-state). Didn't want to go to UW-Madison....just too big.

She, and we, are leaning toward UW Eau Claire. They have strong program in Biology and German and a stron study abroad program, which is what she wants. Pretty campus, 4 hours from home (perfect distance)....and affordable!! Even after merit and and loans at the privates, the cheapest among them comes down to 12,000+ per year. UW Eau Claire $11,000 BEFORE any financial aid.

Am I shortchanging this talented kid? I just can't see her or us taking out huge private loans to meet our ridiculous 21,000 EFC.

I would really appreciate some insight from other normal families who have had to face this dilemma and how you solved it!

Thanks!

inuk · 03-27-2009, 06:35 PM

PianoMom65 -

SAT 800 CR 640 M 750 W

we are struggling with similar issues. EFC is also 21,000 - we live in a high cost area of the country and we have little left each month for extras. We always thought we would use our home equity to help the gap to pay college. Oh well...

My son was accepted at George Washington in DC and the cost is $55,000 a year! So far we have not been notified of the financial aid package but I don't think it will be much.
We had one tier 3 school give $21000 ($15000 merit grant) He received zero in grants at University of Miami - received $5500 in loans (not much help with a price tag of $53K)
University of Connecticut Honors program gave $6000 Grant and $9000 in loans and work study.
George Washington is his first choice and DC is a great place to go to school. George Washington has a great placement program and tons of internships so ultimately I am hoping it will pay off because he has a better chance of finding a great paying job after graduation. DC has not been as hard hit by the crisis becasue the goverment is growing and growing. I think in the financial climate that we are in, one needs to think about the potential payoff at the end. I am trying to think of it as an investment.

Endicott · 03-27-2009, 07:35 PM

PianoMom, if you and your daughter are leaning toward UW Eau Claire, that seems like a great choice.

curmudgeon · 03-27-2009, 10:22 PM

Niece received UMiami's FA award. Not good

.......immediately opened Boston University's email, and was accepted with a FANTASTIC award of FA. Just wonderful. I am so pleased for her. Now just NYU/Tisch FA and Barnard admissions and FA to go. Right now , I'm a Boston fan. WooHoo!!

roberthhid · 03-28-2009, 07:26 AM

inuk: We're going to a luncheon today for UConn honors students where you meet professors and students. With the cost difference make sure your son at least visits to have a look.

dukebrown · 03-28-2009, 12:33 PM

Son got accepted in Duke, Rice, USC.. EFC was determined to be >45K. Do you think, the fiancial aid officers at the School are authorized to lower parents' contribution. I am equity rich, cash POOR.

crzymom · 03-28-2009, 01:11 PM

I'm not an expert on this, but I think once you get the fa offer, you can contact the fa office and "appeal" the decision. I imagine this would involve trying to shed light on why your need is higher than they have anticipated. Also, the efc from the FAFSA is not necessarily what they use for efc. I know people who have gone back and forth with fa offices and wound up with a revision in aid.

inuk · 03-28-2009, 03:09 PM

Thanks Roberthhid - We plan on attending the accepted students day at UCONN. My son and husband drove through the campus last year on a Sunday so did not go on an fficial tour. I would love to hear how your day went at the luncheon and any insights you can share about the opportunities afforded to honors students. My son's longterm goal is to be a lawyer so the draw of Wahington and GW is strong as they are supposed to have an amazing internship and placement program. But the cost of UNCONN is very attractive.

momgeh50 · 03-28-2009, 03:49 PM

Every school offers the option of semester(s) and/or summer at the Washington Semester program at AU or other Washington internship programs. Lots of opportunities to get a Washington experience without taking on the cost of GW. Sweeten the deal with him - summer and semester in Washington, it will still save you and he will get a great education. Remind him that law school is expensive. Good luck!

lunitari · 03-30-2009, 03:12 PM

Aaaaand our long vigil waiting for answers is over. D's final holdout, Skidmore, accepted her today...but with a financial aid package that doesn't come close to several of her other choices.

Beloit is crossed off her list due to being to close to and/or too much like home, which leaves her with one CA, two OR, and two WA choices. So whatever the ultimate decision, it looks like I've got a West Coast daughter!