taxguy

flalaw97 asks,"Have you heard any more on switching from the quarter system? That would really mess up the Co-op program as it fits nicely into the Fall & Spring or Winter & Summer now."

Response: They intend to make the changes by 2013. It won't really affect coops as much as you think. Now you get 6 quarters of coops totally 60 weeks. With the semester system, you will get 4 semesters totally 60 weeks. Thus, nothing changes. Also, UC guarantees that the switchover will NOT result in longer stays by students or cost them any more money than it would have cost under the quarter system.

Finally, it is my understanding that all Ohio state schools will be switching to the semester system and not just Cincinnati. They are doing this to alllow easier transfers among schools. It is very hard to transfer from a semester school to a quarter school and vice versa without losing credits. This way, transfers will be much easier and better for the students.

helen3

Based on the info posted on the UC web site, my Cincinnatus award is merit aid that would, in the past, have been $9000 ($6000 + $3000 for OOS). I say this based on what appears to be old info about Cincinnatus on UC’s engineering web site—there’s a link to it in an earlier post on this thread. As I said before, I am not ungrateful. But everyone has their own situation to deal with, and mine is that even with the $6000, UC is double my EFC, and that’s a problem. I am very fortunate to have received really nice merit aid/grant offers from some other schools (ranging from a $9000 portfolio scholarship to the flagship public university in my state to almost $30,000 from a private school out east). I go to school with a lot of kids who have far worse difficulties than mine, so I am really trying to keep things in perspective. Not attending my first choice school will not ruin my life.

Re the switch to semesters, here’s a link to info on UC’s web site:
http://www.uc.edu/conversion/

nathanb

If you are going into the college of engineering, they have their own scholarships. I emailed them and they said that recipients of the engineering scholarships will receive notification by mail in the first or second week of April.

flalaw97

Helen3: Thanks for the link to the conversion info - very helpful.

Hope it works out for you.

Taxguy: I think you are right about all Ohio schools switching. The prof from interior design was very up front about her concerns that it would mess up the co-op or abroad experiences (are overseas schools on quarters or semesters?) but it looks like they are thinking it through carefully.

sketchy

I checked my son's financial aid on UC's website and was pleasantly suprised to see UC added $3,000 of "estimated Cincinnatus need-based aid". Maybe if you're like me and can't pay full out of state tuition, UC will make up the loss of the $3,000 out of state Cincinnatus award.

helen3

Yes, I received this, too-- yesterday. It's a one-year grant that one has to requalify for each year, so it helps, but does not inspire a warm and fuzzy feeling for the full five years, as:
1) I don't know how I will stack up next to other students' levels of need a year from now;
2) Art programs tend to be such that if you transfer, you're starting over. I'd like to know what I can count on, especially since tuition and other costs will undoubtedly rise.
I am not complaining, just reflecting on what my considerations need to be. . .

taxguy

Helen3, almost all of the scholarships that I have seen note that they are one year,BUT are usually renewable based on meeting a minimum GPA.

AdvMom

D received an invite to Cincinnatus back in Dec or Jan stating she was entitled to at least $2000. We did not attend the competition. She has since received an email with her financial aid offer. According to this email, she is only entitled to loans. There is no mention of $2000 Cincinnatus. I also checked online and it only showed the loans. Should it show Cincinnatus too?

taxguy

Advmom, I don't think that they notify students about this directly. I do know that you can get the yearly $2,000 award without attending the competition, at least that was true in the past.

Your post is confusing too. You note that she is entitled to $2,000 but no mention was made about the $2,000. How do you know you are entitled to the $2,000 then if no mention was made by UC?

If I were you, I would call the admission's office and ask them about it. Please post your findings here.

AdvMom

I am sorry that what I wrote was confusing.

Shortly after she received notice that she was accepted at UC, she received a letter saying that she qualified for at least the $2000 Cincinnatus scholarship and inviting her to attend the weekend event. For various reasons, we did not attend.

We have since completed the FAFSA. She received an email this week saying that she qualified for various student loans. It did not mention Cincinnatus. It also gave a link to check your financial aid on UC's website. I checked that link, and it also only mentions the student loans. I would have expected that to also list the $2000 Cincinnatus. I am wondering if other people see the Cincinnatus there when their check their financial aid online.

Thanks.

flalaw97

AdvMom: The notice on the website says you can either accept the $2k or attend, but either way you have to RSVP. "Invited students must RSVP by January 31st to be eligible for award. Students can elect to accept the Century award or attend a competition date where they will be awarded Century, University, Founders or Cincinnatus-level awards." http://www.financialaid.uc.edu/cincinnatus.html

I would think that if you sent in your RSVP by the deadline, they would be sending you a letter (Mama4) or email (like Helen3) telling you the $2k was yours.

sketchy

AdvMom, you should have the Cincinnatus award listed on the "check my aid" on the UC website. My son's Cincinnatus award is listed with his loans, etc.

AdvMom

Mystery solved. She never RSVP'd. Thanks.