<p>Thumper –</p>
<p>I know an Indiana U Wells Scholar who is studying violin performance Jacobs School there. She has a free ride plus summer stipend. You have to apply separately for it, it’s of course hard to get. You go there and interview in about September. If you get it, you don’t have to worry about money for 4 years. I beleive that other state institutions have similar programs - they’re not aimed at music, but include musicians.</p>
<p>Stringfollies I’m not sure why your last post is directed to me…there are kids at almost EVERY school who are getting a free ride. That does not mean that the school guarantees to meet full need for EVERY student who applies. That is what the OP was asking…I think…they were wondering if any of the schools on that list guaranteed to meet full need. The only one on THAT list is NU. And to my knowledge, with the exception of Colburn and Curtis, there are no guarantees of aid at ANY stand alone conservatory that I know of.</p>
<p>Ah – I understand. I’m sure you’re right, then. Only Curtis and Colburn. Sadly…</p>
<p>Although the title by OP says conservatories, I do not think the question was directed at stand alone conservatories only. The list is mostly universities. In which case you have to look at each university’s policies. Although Rice was not on the list, for example their policy states:</p>
<h1>For families whose income is $80,000 or less, Rice will meet 100 percent of need eligibility without loans.</h1>
<h1>For those whose income is above $80,000 and who are need eligible, Rice will cap the amount of loans in financial aid packages at $10,000 for the four undergraduate years.</h1>
<p>This includes the The Shepherd School of Music. The combination of merit and need are treated differently by different schools. From the above list, it appears thumper is right. If OP’s question was what are music schools that meet 100% of need, there would be a different list.</p>
<p>Singersmom07, I am not sure that policy still stands in that form at Shepherd- I know of at least one student admitted there who fit what you’ve posted but the school did not come anywhere close to meeting the gap for the family. I am still inclined to believe that all schools (except maybe the two who are known for the full tuition) will be rethinking and retooling their finances, due to the economy. Things are not as they were,and are not likely to rebound completely any time soon, so there is belt tightening all around. Students have to be talented and have a great audition, a good resume showing involvement in their chosen field as well as extra-curricular activities and, despite the ever-present debate on here about importance of grades for a musician, top grades. All of those componants are required if one really wants/needs to get the maximum awards- even at true conservatories, where grades didn’t used to be an important factor, things have changed. Money is tight and schools can be more selective than ever and, unfortunately, no one can enter into this process expecting a “full ride”…</p>
<p>Mezzo’sMama, that was a new policy this year that is continuing for the incoming class and it is repeated on the Shepherd web page [Shepherd</a> School of Music - Rice University](<a href=“http://music.rice.edu/undergraduate/financial.shtml]Shepherd”>http://music.rice.edu/undergraduate/financial.shtml). Don’t know your friend’s circumstances but previous years the no loan policy income amount was $60,000. Also, although they state they are need blind and meet 100% of demonstrated need, they use the CSS and their own formulas to calculate demonstrated need. As for rnany schools, you need to understand how they do that.</p>
<p>While not in the op’s list or question, this thread has expanded tangentially to include full rides, full scholarships at a number of institutions.</p>
<p>To that list, add Berklee, which offers a full four year ride under their Presidential Scholar parameter.</p>
<p>Singersmom07- You are right, there must have been more to the family’s situation than I knew. I noticed that Rice does have campus jobs and the Federal Work-Study program, so they must include something of that sort in the FA package, correct? I am amazed to find that they still have the 100% of need policy, when other, even the Ivies that were famous for such a plan, have done away with it. Thank you for the link, too. While I was looking at it, I glanced at their weather page, and noticed that the temp is 95 degrees and predicted to go even higher this week- that alone, would keep my D away! How does anyone manage in that heat? I know the buildings have A/C, something which even newer classroom buildings in the north don’t usually have, but you have to go outside to get to the dorm, class, etc. It was hot here the week before last, in the high 80’s and we could barely move, even the dogs refused to go out!</p>
<p>I am very much appreciating this lively discussion and wealth of information. Sorry if the original title was misleading, as all the schools certainly are not conservatories. I believe the consensus is that, aside from Oberlin which I know personally meets 100% of financial need based on the FAFSA and CSS Profile (and including small subsidized federal loans and work study), and special schools like Colburn, most schools do not have this generous an aid policy for all admitted students. Sounds like some believe Northwestern meets 100% of need if they admit you, while others don’t think so. Certainly I will help my friend personally verify the information directly with schools.
From my own experience with my S’s peers, based on talent alone (with even zero need) some highly talented students have been offered “full ride” merit scholarships at NEC, Julliard and MSM (on trombone, oboe and string bass/voice). Luckily the current friend I am helping plays a high demand instrument and is quite gifted in the talent department. I believe very generous merit scholarships will be forthcoming from most schools. My goal is to help this person know what to expect (given both the high need and talent level), though at most schools there is no guarantee.
The idea of waiving application fees via guidance counselor is excellent for those schools that will do it.
I wanted to add one more thought about outside scholarships reducing need/merit scholarships – I know personally that Oberlin reduces the federal subsidized loan or work study money first (you get to choose which one)-- so that generally it actually still is helpful in the long run to win some outside scholarship money for some particular schools. In other words, winning the outside award reduces how much time you have to spend making money to pay for school while you are in school (work study) or when you finish (student loans).<br>
I hope this thread will be helpful to others in this process. If I’d known to ask these questions a year ago when my S was applying I would have known more of what to expect financially (such as being prepared for the “gap” between EFC and need/merit scholarships at some schools).</p>