What on earth do I do?

ClaySoul · 04-20-2005, 02:11 AM

I'm transferring to Brown and am in some serious agony waiting on the decision

I was waitlisted last year and feel like I put in a very strong application this year. My admissions officer knows me and the rugby team are being big supporters for my application (though they have only a very small influence) I go to Tulane University. My first semester GPA was 3.64 including an S grade and my midterm grades for second semester was a 4.0. My SAT is 1370. I have decent college EC and absolutely incredible high school EC.

Here's the problem:

This year, Brown decided to give financial aid to transfers. However, they alloted a paltry 400,000 dollars for over 200 transfers accepted. They are thus need-aware. To what extent need-awareness really affects your chances is beyond me.

My family has a need of about 23,000, and I"m really worried this is going to hurt my chances. The last thing I want is to be rejected because of need.

I am considering emailing my admissions counselor and saying something like

"Although financial aid would of course be extremely preferable, I love Brown so much that I would hopefully find a way to pay for it even if I was given no aid. I'm not saying that I don't need financial aid, because I do, but the very last thing I want to happen is to not be accepted because of financial need"

Here is my concern. I don't want them to think that I don't need financial aid as much as the next person. Lets say they really want both me and another person with the same need, but I wrote this letter. I dont want them to give the aid to the person who didn't write the letter because they didn't say they could hopefully be able to pay for it.

Any thoughts?

PLEASE RESPOND! i'M DYING!

calipharius · 04-20-2005, 02:15 AM

They won't do it. I asked the lady on the phone, and she said there's no in between. I am in a similar position. She did say that they do their best to get "strong students" aid, and that the aid only becomes a factor towards the end. I am at a loss for what to do myself.

ClaySoul · 04-20-2005, 03:15 AM

That's not what I heard. I heard that they are aiming to fully fund everyone, but that they may also admit people without any aid or with partial aid. SO CONFUSING!!

YOu're an applicant, I'm presuming?
What are your stats?

ClaySoul · 04-22-2005, 02:46 AM

I hear something different from every finaid counselor i speak to!!!

I'm considering withdrawing my application for finaid and trying to find another way to pay. And being in debt and poor.

But then I'll always wonder, maybe i was good enough...
But if i apply for finaid and dont get in, i'll always wonder, what if i didn't apply for finaid...

kman1308 · 04-22-2005, 11:25 AM

Maybe it depends on the school, but I really hope finaid doesn't play a role in admissions. The school should just offer what they think is fair and what they have left to offer, and if you can't find a way to pay for school or get enough loans, then you don't go. They shouldn't deny you acceptance because they think that you won't be able to pay for schooling. On some of the applications that I've filled out, it says on the application that financial information doesn't affect your application status. I applied for finaid because I need the money and I don't think it would affect my chances of being admitted.

jrpower6116 · 04-22-2005, 12:06 PM

You've probably already seen this, but:

Brown website:

All transfer applicants will be admitted to Brown on a need-aware basis starting for the 2005-2006 academic year. Need aware means that financial need will be taken into account in making the admission decision. Financial assistance is available on a limited basis to assist transfer students, who enter fall 2005 or later, in covering the cost of a Brown education. To be considered for financial assistance students must apply for financial aid when they make their initial transfer application. Students who do not apply for and receive financial assistance with their initial application, but suffer a dramatic change in a family’s financial situation will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

Students will continue to be awarded those federal/state grants and loans for which they qualify, regardless of whether they apply for financial aid their initial year. The Office of Financial Aid will continue to assist admitted transfer students in their efforts to obtain loans and federal/state aid.

There is also a Q&A section at http://financialaid.brown.edu/Cmx_Content.aspx?cpId=56

I would send the letter - couldn't hurt.

ClaySoul · 04-22-2005, 12:13 PM

Thanks. I have read that.

It doesn't say how financial aid applicants get admitted. If it's an all or nothing thing -- where you get fully funded or you get rejected -- or if there is a middle ground in which some people get fully funded and others get accepted but not offered aid

That's what I want to know, and what I keep hearing different answers on

calipharius · 04-22-2005, 04:08 PM

I am almost certain that it is not an all aid or nothing thing. If that was the case, it would be clear cut that you would be advantaged to withdraw your fin. aid. application. However, how they appropriate it is a mystery...

ClaySoul · 04-22-2005, 07:05 PM

Yeah I think you're right. My mom talked to a finaid counselor today.

Good news though (ironically). Fafsa says our family contribution is 18,000 dollars, but according to brown, it's 20-25,000. That means our grant would be smaller, so the money we would otherwise be getting wouldn't be as difficult to cover!!!