D got off waitlist. Got merit aid from college she’s already enrolled at, but I seem to recall that Colby doesn’t give merit aid, only need-based aid. Wondering if I can ask them if they can give her any aid, even though it wouldn’t be need-based.
Colby does not provide merit aid. You can always ask them to give your daughter non-need-based aid, but you can be 100% sure that the answer will be “no.” Even if Colby did give merit aid, as an admit off the wait list, it’s hard to think that your daughter is near the top of the admitted class, at least as far as academic statistics are concerned.
The Colby Commitment: “We meet 100 percent of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students—without including loans in our financial aid packages.”
Don’t think they give merit aid.
Did you apply for financial aid when your D submitted her admission application?
No. It didn’t look like we would’ve qualified, but my financial situation has changed dramatically recently.
From Colby’s website, a few of their FA policies:
•At Colby, eligibility for financial aid is based solely on relative financial strength; merit scholarships (based on academic achievement, athletic or other talents) are not available from the College.
•Students who do not apply for financial aid prior to admission will not be considered for College grant assistance until their junior year, unless their family financial circumstances change unexpectedly.
Thanks! I didn’t see the part about no merit scholarships when I looked earlier.
You can contact them and ask if they will look at a financial aid application now due to change of circumstances. But don’t be surprised if they say NO.
They accepted your daughter thinking she would be a full pay student.
I think you need to talk to the Financial Aid office directly to explain your circumstances.
Good point. I believe that Colby is need aware, but only for the very end of the admitted class, which would include admits off the wait list. It’s possible that by the time the wait list is used to fill slots in next year’s class, the FA budget has been depleted.
But it never hurts to ASK! Speak up, explain your change of circumstances, and see what they say.
Good luck!!!
Here is the rub. The financial aid for the 2016-2017…and 2017-2018 school years will be based on the 2015 tax return information. If the financial picture has changed,…this student would be asking for a special circumstances consideration. This means that something has significantly changed since the financial aid applications were submitted, and the student wants this considered.
But first…the family would need to submit the FAFSA and Profile to Colby…which they did not do before the student was accepted.
The school has no basis for a special circumstances consideration…since NO financial aid application was even submitted prior to admission.
But as Dodgersmom said…nothing ventured…nothing gained. Ask. Worse thing the can say is…no.