Yes the thread is in circles. Are you now sayng they are willing to pay about $33k for UNH?
Idk 
@redpoodles
And my mother is a computer consultant at Amica.
My dad has his own company thing called Entrack EDI Systems http://entrack.com/ @lookingforward
I would guess that the sister benefited from the above.
If this student got $10,000 from UNH,mthey her cost to attend there would be about the same as sister’s at UMASS (assuming no scholarships or grants).
To the OP…OT programs are minimally five years (bachelors and masters) plus a year of externships,which are required as part of your program (for no pay). You are asking for more years of tuition payments at a much higher price for those very expensive colleges. So it’s cost…and duration of the program.
Some of the schools on your list have only grad programs for OT…and the rankings are for,their grad OT programs, not undergrad.
You are going to need a masters. That is the minimal degree for OTs at this point.
Yes @lookingforward
Then you know what your parents are willing to pay – that’s a very generous budget for you, and gives you a lot of options. Depending on parental finances, that may or may not include schools that offer only need-based aid. Given the uncertainty, I think it makes sense to focus on schools where you can reasonably expect to receive substantial merit aid.
I’d add that the problem with the financial aid forms may be that the self-employed parents don’t have a good handle on what their 2014 net was – they may not have good numbers to work with until February or March. The FAFSA is due sooner, but if the parent’s income fluctuates a lot from year to year, it could make financial aid very unpredictable in any case. The mom’s reluctance to deal with the forms may be an expression of her frustration with being asked for numbers she doesn’t yet have.
And why say, “They don’t have an OT program at UMass” when you already know they don’t have that at Yale or Tufts either, but it didn’t stop you?
You can’t say education doesn’t matter if they have these careers. What do you think this is really about?
About NEBHE’s regional tuition break. RI residents ARE eligible at UNH, in occ therapy, but only in their senior year and for the masters. I’m checking for more, but last time I looked, it will only save a few thousand.
@lookingforward
Because at least tufts has specific coursework to prepare you for the graduate program they have, and Yale is just flat out an amazing institution and will help me get into a good graduate program.
Ok to be honest nobody helped me choose colleges I was like really on my own.
Google for the NEBHE RSP. At UNH, the RSP saves $2728 on OOS tuition.
Yes but only starting my junior year @lookingforward
NEBHE? Your senior year and grad. But you say they are willing to pay 30k-plus.
Yup @lookingforward. But maybe I could qualify for more money off with my grades and scores so I’m going to call
You are OOS for NH. You are applying to one of their most competitive programs. They give preference to instate applicants for OT…as they need to train for their state. Ditto for other allied health professions. There are limited seats in the OT programs.
Go ahead and call…but don’t be surprised if they say no to additional money. A $10,000 award to an OOS student is a lot. It actually brings the cost down to their instate rate. Why would they subsidize you more?
You need to look at a couple of things…where can you go,mand what can your major be to prepare you to apply to grad programs in OT.
And Just FYI…those Tufts undergrad students are not guaranteed admission to the MSOT program as incoming freshmen. Actually, they are not guaranteed that admission at all.
And since you need a masters for OT, it would be wise to keep your undergrad debt to a minimum. How will that happen if you attend Yale?
http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/research/SAT-Percentile-Ranks-Composite-CR-M-W-2013.pdf
This breaks down the numbers of kids with just your SAT. How many kids just like you are chasing merit. You have to have a handle on your jostling position in context. SAT is just part of the picutre.
Look at the CDS of the schools, see where your SAT puts you, adjust for desirable programs.
your mom is mean
Why OT?
How much do you know about the field?
And i agree with the suggestion to have a neutral person (someone your parents respect) suggest that they do a deep dive on the online calculators before deciding which schools they can and can’t afford.
Would you consider taking a Gap year to work and save money? Explore ROTC?
To the OP. Some of your schools…Yale and Tufts, for example…give need based aid only. Would your family income qualify you for need based aid? Your parents say they can pay $30,000 a year for you…and presumably pay something for big sister at UMass. This suggests an income that might not actually support receiving need based aid.
The reality may well be the parents know full well they don’t get FA. They may never have to fill in any forms to do that math.
To the OP…you have a sister attending UMass. Did they do a FAFSA for her for this school year? What was her EFC per FAFSA?
And with 2 in college EFC will be half. They’ll want to do the FAFSA.