I’m sorry you and your son feel slighted, but this financial aid offer from UW for a OOS applicant should have been expected. Did you complete the NPC for all of OOS publics? What were the results?
So you own a business? This complicates financial aid at many schools.
Yes, and can make NPCs inaccurate, especially if the NPC doesn’t ask questions about small business ownership.
Small business ownership may explain the UVA FA offer…for example, UVA may have disallowed many deductions that small businesses take on their tax return (thereby increasing the business’s income.) Something for OP to ask UVA about when the call this week.
It’s not fair to many, we don’t even get FA in state (single income, 5 children, NJ so COL is super high), so my kids who wanted oos applied to less selective schools where there high stats got them merit money. At least you have affordable in state options, our flagship (Rutgers) is about $40,000 a year in state and they give very little merit.
Yes
Of all of the frustrations that many people express on this board about their admissions results & financial concerns, having to stay in Cali and attend UC Berkeley for 10K a year is one of the least terrible I have seen…even if you are politically opposed to the state & the school.
Yes my own small business. Actually sole proprietor.
I wonder why/how UCB determined you had major need but UVA didn’t?
You are very astute lol.. But….. I how I didn’t come off as ungrateful we are both very grateful. We went to visit CB and he liked it. For him it went from low on the totem pole to top 9.. Now that he got in and offered the Regents Scholarship it’s first right behind don’t laugh, Duke, Stanford, USC, Austin (already on but no word on financial aid yet), probably UCLA, Vandy to name a few. He got in the business schools at Miami and u of fla but those will probably be too much too now that we know all this. But again, there must be something work with the css/fafsa and will find out over the next few days.
In state at UCB, which needs only FAFSA, versus out of state at UVA which also uses CSS Profile which may allow it to treat small business or self employment deductions unfavorably.
Regents scholarship is great, since it comes with other benefits including earlier course registration every semester (which can really help if he wants to take popular courses that fill early).
Thanks, i never heard of it lol.
Benefits should be listed here https://financialaid.berkeley.edu/types-of-aid-at-berkeley/scholarships/regents-and-chancellors-scholarship/
No, since he was offered it, I know all about it!!!
Duh - you’re right.
Financial differences aside, students who get into both UC-Berkeley and UW-Madison choose Berkeley by a factor of more than 2.5 to 1. (And that’s in general - a Haas admit could well skew it more.) It’s just playing with data, but this site can be fun to look at: Parchment “Revealed Preference” Site
As others have already noted, being forced by affordability factors to choose a Regents offer at Berkeley with direct-admit to Haas is one of the least-problematic problems one could ever have. Congrats!
I’m working with a family right now. 2nd child is beginning the process. Much better student than the older sibling, but what most people on CC would call an average excellent student. The parents immediately came up with JHU and MIT as top choices becuase they were ranked highly for their child’s intended major. I had to gently remind them that they don’t get to just choose for the child to go there. They sounded much like the OP: their child has worked so hard and with good grades, etc… it shouldn’t be too much of a reach and the college will definitely throw money towards the child.
So many people just have no clue (and neither did I, back in the day) that there are literally thousands and thousands of amazing students out there, working really hard, and applying to top colleges, whose parents believe not only will they be admitted, but they will also be given big merit awards. That is just not reality most of the time, especially for the very most popular public and private U’s. It does happen for some, and that’s how the misperception spreads.
If a child works really hard in high school, that bodes well for their college experieince. Hard work isn’t for nothing. The goal is to earn a degree. That is the prize. Plan for at least one affordable college acceptance. Anything beyond that is an added bonus.
OP- congrats on raising such a talented kid. And condolences on the loss of your wife.
I live in a state with a “middle of the road” public university system and am agog that Berkely is considered a “less than stellar” outcome. But I do understand that for many HS kids, getting out of the region where they were raised is more important than anything else.
But just some perspective- we could all give you lists of colleges where your kid would likely get a generous aid package and be admitted. But to put it in auto terms- you’d be comparing a Mercedes with a Ford Pinto. The lists would include directional state universities which are former teacher’s colleges (nothing wrong with these institutions- but they have limited majors, huge numbers of adjunct faculty) , private institutions which have two or three strong majors but do not offer deep or wide offerings otherwise, and a couple of “hidden gems”. So the choice would be a university which shows up on every global “top universities in the world” list (not that the lists are the be-all and end-all, but just noting it) vs. a “hidden gem” or another “undiscovered” college which may or may not have what your kid is looking for intellectually or even the right majors/departments.
That’s a choice.
Good luck!
OP- congrats on raising such a talented kid. And condolences on the loss of your wife.
Thank you, he is and I know it. I’m blessedfor sure. The wife part, really appreciate that. Healthiest 49 yo you would know and just like that brain bleed for no reason and gone same day. Been a couple years and in still say, Horrific and poor son omg. The pain… We are ok though..
I live in a state with a “middle of the road” public university system and am agog that Berkely is considered a “less than stellar” outcome. But I do understand that for many HS kids, getting out of the region where they were raised is more important than anything else.
We/he knows Berkely is an amazing college to day the least. We both know he’s truly blessed for the offer he received from them and all these institutions. There are kids and parents that would give up just about anything to go there especially for 9k a year we know! Just not his first choice and that is ok. Is getting out of dodge the most important factor? Not at all. It’s probably the fourth ish deciding factor. Not in this order, He wants a college with a minimum of 20k students, a rah-rah school (he is an athlete) and mostly wants a great education with a huge secesss rate out of college. Then comes moving regions. 20k+ students… Of course he would love Stanford, Duke and so on. SMU Cox wants him so that is an option too. Just received the financial offer from SMU might not be an option after all 
(see pic). Yes, we were expecting a full ish ride and got slapped in the face again imo. Going to start calling these schools today. There has to be a mistake somewhere. IMHO, the most important aspect of going away to college is the experience! They will grow and become adults over those 4 years immensely. Heck when he comes home after his first 6 months he will be a different person. That to me is the #1 reason to go away to school. Yes away means in state or out just get away from home. He also knows (i hope) NO MATTER where you go whether it’s a JC or Duke it’s only a good as you make it be. The success rate factor… He’s just turned 18! He has everything going for him i mean everything but… he doesn’t have experience like i do and you do who read this. He thinks he’s a brain surgeon already lol. Knows it all lol. I have taught him and I hope it sticks THERE IS NO GOLDEN TICKET! Just because you went to Berkely, Duke, Stanford, USC, or Umich to make a point doesn’t mean you are automatically a success in business or life! It’s about his character, empathy, understanding, willingness to listen and so much more that makes you successful in life. As far as money, it pays the bills doesn’t bring happiness. That’s what I try to teach him and actually that was more how my wife was may she rest in peace. That was long story…
But just some perspective- we could all give you lists of colleges where your kid would likely get a generous aid package and be admitted. But to put it in auto terms- you’d be comparing a Mercedes with a Ford Pinto. The lists would include directional state universities which are former teacher’s colleges (nothing wrong with these institutions- but they have limited majors, huge numbers of adjunct faculty) , private institutions which have two or three strong majors but do not offer deep or wide offerings otherwise, and a couple of “hidden gems”. So the choice would be a university which shows up on every global “top universities in the world” list (not that the lists are the be-all and end-all, but just noting it) vs. a “hidden gem” or another “undiscovered” college which may or may not have what your kid is looking for intellectually or even the right majors/departments.
I know I know, but he doesn’t want to go to a hidden gem neither did i at 18 lol. That is the 18yo in him who doesn’t have our experience. I can’t fight him, I can try to lead him there but he is on his way to independence and he’s strong-willed and smart. In 20 years from now he will understand what I taught him. He has glimpses of that understanding now and I’m grateful for that.
That’s a choice.
Good luck!
Thank you again @blossom
Except for being in CA (which Stanford is as well), doesn’t Cal fulfill all of these things?
RE: your financial aid offers, yes, do call.
Make sure to talk to an actual financial aid officer, not whoever answers the phone. You may have to schedule an appointment.
