Feeling hopeless Realistic chances for the rest of my list

Applying to College
41

I’m not sure I agree with all this - for example, per CDS, PSU gave 6% of kids merit, an average of $5764. It’s flat out a wasted app if trying to get to $35K. Finance last year paid $78K. But I would not if I’m OP. The outcome isn’t relevant when OP can’t pay.

They are feeling hopeless. I would apply to schools that give me hope and my family’s financial situation hope. That’s what they need - so not PSU but WVU, as an example.

Unless OP has demonstrated need, they’re not going to be able to afford SMU, Bentley, or Miami.

It all rests on did the NPCs give aid - and most of these are CSS schools.

This student needs an assured acceptance at a school that will come $35K and under - that are on par with Loyola - which OP is down on but I wouldn’t.

Whether or not they get into Stern and could afford if they do - for now - isn’t relevant - as OP needs something assured to give confidence….IMHO.

And Penn State would be the exact opposite of where they should apply. In fact, I noted earlier - they said they learned their lesson - but PSU would be proving they actually didn’t.

42

Except you have to read the last seven words - and that often does families in:

  • Families with income less than $100,000 and typical assets will not have to pay tuition
43

You’re absolutely right, and I appreciate the correction. I was being optimistic about merit aid prospects without grounding it in actual data, that’s not helpful when OP’s family situation is real and urgent.

You nailed the core issue: OP needs certainty, not maybes. Talking about Penn State’s 6% merit rate when they need $35K is exactly the wrong direction, especially after they just learned their lesson about list-building.

The NPC check is the essential first step here. If Bentley/SMU/Miami are CSS Profile schools and OP doesn’t have demonstrated need, you’re right that those are likely dead ends.
What actually solves this:
∙ Schools with automatic merit thresholds (not competitive pools)
∙ Non-CSS schools where merit aid is more accessible
∙ Schools like WVU where OP’s stats put them in genuine merit territory

Loyola Chicago should legitimately be in the “solid option” category, not the “backup I’m disappointed about” category especially if the numbers work.

The real conversation is: What does the NPC say? That determines whether Kelley/Bentley/Miami are actually reachable affordability-wise, or whether OP should be focusing on schools where they’re statistically likely to get merit aid to reach that $35-50K target.

44

And the beauty - lots of great b schools, who yes place in IB (maybe regionally but so do the big ones) are at play - from Bama (assured mid 20s) to KU, WUV, Ole Miss, MS State and there’s likely more - but these are auto merit. In fact, I know there’s more - and we know the C Michigan and W Carolinas for sure - but likely other SEC schools (but not 100% sure) like an Arkansas (strong in finance - backed by Wal-Mart $$), LSU and not sure about schools like Iowa/Iowa State/Ohio U, etc - who’s taking and where auto merit comes.

But Bama for sure - and Culverhouse is strong. Like many schools, they have a student fund managing - in this case over $2 million - and has an IB Academy. Given automerit of $28K, the student is assured to hit the price they need - and then some. I’m not saying it’s a better name than Loyola - but certainly as strong as Annenberg (UMASS) and a better cost.

But OP has to decide what they’re going to do - and sounds like they want to pursue a UMASS start elsewhere program. No issue if assured.

The point is though, they feel helpless and if they can get another admission (they will) that they can afford - they’ll have a second option.

And if they don’t like option #1, they have the power to properly and correctly fix that.

People in banking roles come from far more than 50 colleges. That’s the truth.

1 Like
45

OP has missed not only the application deadline for Alabama (although they still might have space available) but more importantly they have missed the auto merit deadline. Do you have direct knowledge that Alabama will honor the auto merit dollars for someone applying in March (if they are even taking fall 2026 applications now)?

Culverhouse, although a fine school, is not at the level of Isenberg (which is what I think you mean). Isenberg is ranked 30th at Poets and Quants, Culverhouse not in the top 100.

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46

Duh - USC. Thanks. Isenberg. Will correct.

I’ll disagree with P&Q. While UMASS doesn’t break out salaries by discipline, the average starting salary for the b school as a whole is 68K for both. UMASS doesn’t show a knowledge rate but at Bama it’s a very high 85%. And they show salaries by major (UMASS doesn’t - that’s how we know, for example, in marketing, they outperform everyone’s favorite IU Kelley).

It’s likely - like in other fields - companies pay by where the job is and who the company is - and I’d argue these are peer schools - and the salaries don’t dispute that.

So that’s my rank - which is like anyone else’s - an opinion.

As for merit, the competitive scholarship deadline used to be Jan 15. But auto merit isn’t competitive.

But it does look like they added a Dec 5th priority deadline. It used to be you got it period - and now they say on a space available. I’ll email to ask. Thanks for the catch - must be new. I’ve emailed - that would stink for kids chasing big time $$.

I’ll have to check Miss State - they don’t show a deadline at all. It’s becoming a popular school. One dad at my gym told me, with parents, they filled up 3 levels of the basketball arena on admitted student day.

Sounds like KU is Dec 1st - but all these would be worth a call - if OP is interested.

Ugh - these deadlines would be disastrous - but again for OP, they have Loyola….so it’s far from hopeless. I see more than several IB alums on linkedin.

Thanks for pointing out….because these are automerit and these schools still take apps. But noted for the future. Wow, that will take away a lot of late flexibility or require kids to be more diligent up front. And me too - in my recs. Thx

47

Alabama has always had an auto merit deadline and this year it included having official test score reports by dec 15. https://afford.ua.edu/timeline/

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OP can call - if interested - but sounds like they are into UMASS - if the overseas program is assured for them.

I’ll report back what they write me.

Thanks for pointing out. Damn - that’s a huge miss on my part for these late merit seekers.

49

Please don’t feel hopeless @roidboid

You have a fabulous acceptance at Loyola Chicago…and it seems to be within the price point for your family. You can work a handful of hours a week while in college for discretionary spending money.

It is my opinion that the Jesuits have higher education down! Our DD graduated from a different Jesuit college, and we were more than pleased with her education AND the commitment the Jesuits have to giving back to the community around them.

Chicago is a great location. So much to do there. Loyola location, right on Lake Michigan, and on the biking/walking trails along the lake is really nice. It’s an easy trip to downtown Chicago, if you want to go…but really, the area around Loyola is nice.

If you haven’t visited yet, please do so. Try to schedule a time to talk to some current students.

This is a terrific acceptance and you should be very proud.

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50

No problem.

51

Class of 2024 Undergraduate Outcomes.pdf

52

Email from Bama - I’d still argue worth it - but not assured - but there are others too - that would be worth a call or email if OP wanted out of Loyola (but they applied for a reason, so why would they?). This is most important to OP if you feel hopeless - find those assured - so a call to the scholarship office is worth it.

My kid was way later (like months) - as he was headed to Purdue until a last pivot - so not sure what’s changed. But perhaps as the school has gotten more popular, that’s what’s changed. Will take note for future. Thanks

Good morning,

Prospective freshman students who did not meet the December 5, 2025 priority deadline will be considered for scholarships on a funds-available basis. Please note that funding is not guaranteed at this point, even for students who meet the Automatic Merit Scholarship requirements.

Best,

Student Financial Aid and Scholarships
The University of Alabama
106 Student Services
Box 870109
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
Phone 205-348-8201
scholarships@ua.edu

1 Like
53

A little update to the situation.

It turns out the Dublin decision was sent through email and not in the decision letter itself, but I ended up finding it, and it remains an option.

The Bentley decision comes out tomorrow, and I would also like to state that I did have some legacy as my great-grandpa attended, and I also choose to commute to school instead of living on campus as I am less than a 30-minute drive away. I’m not sure if any of those will make a huge difference, but I might as well state them.

Also, Bates comes out on the 14th and IU Kelly on the 15th, so I will update when those come out.

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54

Good to hear about the Dublin option. Good luck on the upcoming decisions, keep us updated.

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55

Good luck - you’ll get into Bentley - affordability is the issue. Good luck.

56

it is so hard to know, but I think you will get another admit, given you have Physics C and BC calc and 760 math and are first gen… I think Bentley or Fordham could come through, and maybe a wild card Bates or Grinnell or Careton.. the real holistic review schools, depending on your full app. Any could happen.. I think NYU, UCLA, Berkely will be nos..I know nothing about some of the schools though.

And nothing wrong with where you got in!

Hard to predict which…

I am surprised by Isenberg - I know that is a hard admit, but geez, for a first gen, in-state?Your weighted GPA doesn’t seem to be on their scale, which gives added points for honors and APs so a bit hard to know how weird it is… regardless, what is done is done with them, I guess. Though you may be able to ask for a reconsidation? Some schools allow that, not sure about them..

Does your HS really still publish GPA deciles? That is weird for Mass IME and is hurting you sadly….I wish they didn’t, grrr…many many schools in Mass don’t.

If desperate for reassurance you could do a niche direct admit to UNH - it has a not bad business school I hear from some parents/students..you will know almost asap, and it would be not that, that much - if you take certain double majors (sometimes easy ones!) you can get in-state tuition too..(I am assuming still open on niche).

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57

Okay, I have some updates since my original post, some good news and some bad.
Starting with the bad: I originally received an email from UMass mentioning the Dublin program as an option. However, when I emailed admissions asking if I could switch to that option, they told me it actually wasn’t available to me. I’m guessing the email I received was just a general message that went out to a lot of students, but it was still pretty disappointing since I thought it was a real option. I do still have the Charles river offer though which I really don’t want to do but it remains a safe option for in-state tuition.

Now for the okay news: I got waitlisted at three more schools — University of Miami, Indiana University (Kelley), and Bates. Miami wasn’t too surprising. Kelley surprised me a little, but I know the business school there is extremely competitive compared to most other majors at IU. Bates was also somewhat surprising since it’s a pretty selective liberal arts school.

For the good news: I was accepted to Bentley and received a $17k per year scholarship. Since I wouldn’t be doing housing, tuition would likely be around $45k per year. I was also accepted to Fordham, although I haven’t received my financial aid package from them yet.

Another acceptance I forgot to include in my original list was Loyola Marymount. I added that school because I really wanted at least one California option. That’s also why I somewhat ignorantly applied to some of the UCs even though realistically I probably couldn’t get in or afford them. LMU’s cost went from about $99k down to around $65k after aid.
Once I receive all of my decisions and financial aid packages, I plan to try appealing my aid offers since the current costs are still pretty high.

One more thing about Indiana University. In the email about the waitlist they also mentioned a study abroad pathway option through Verto where you start abroad for a semester and then come to IU Bloomington later. I’m actually very interested in studying abroad in college, so I did fill out the form expressing interest in that program. However, it sounds like spots for that program fill up quickly and you may have to commit to it before regular waitlist decisions are finalized. I also believe it does not guarantee admission into the Kelley School of Business, which is really the main reason I would want to attend IU in the first place.

Updated decision list so far:

FORDHAM-ACCEPTED

BENTEY-ACCEPTED-45k/yr

LOYOLA MARYMOUNT-ACCEPTED-65k/yr

LOYOLA CHICAGO-ACCEPTED-45kyr

UMIAMI-WAITLISTED

UMASS-WAITLISTED( Charles river offer available)

IU KELLY-WAITLISTED(Study abroad available)

BATES COLLEGE- WAITLISTED

TULANE-WAITLISTED

BOCCONI-REJECTED

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58

It sounds to me like you now have at least three suitable offers to consider, between Loyola Chicago, Bentley, and UMass through Charles River. Loyola Marymount would be well worth considering if competitive on cost, and the IU option if you knew you would get to Kelley, but given the circumstances, I would personally be restricting myself to the first three options for now. And they each have different attractions, so that could already be a tough decision in a good way.

Then hopefully Fordham comes in at least competitive on cost, because that would be another great option if so.

Of course I am still hoping for your sake you get some more offers that are even more suitable when it comes to cost. But the bottom line is you are already doing well in terms of collecting interesting offers to consider.

1 Like
59

I wouldn’t go to IU. I’m a fan of direct admit.

Bentley would be strongest but living at home isn’t going away to school

So I’d be in at Loyola or find another.

I’m unfamiliar with the Charles River option. Would it guarantee you finance at UMass ? It’s not like UMass is a Wall Street hotbed but obviously will place well at some financial services companies. This could be a good option. On their website, they talk about internships but not academics. Not sure how that’d work for a first year but hopefully they’ve got a path defined academically.

Miami won’t be affordable. And the reality is a WL is nothing to count on. Like many privates, they WL most everyone. 22k last year of 58k applicants which honestly is unfair to kids. More than 2x how many they accept. 703 did get off but - part of that is because the WL yield is likely very low so they keep getting told no and go deeper. You can run the NPC but based on other offers, I wouldn’t think you’d be able to afford if you did come off.

Bates is another that WL far too many - 1940 last year - only 488 enrolled total and 1336 admitted. 306 of the 488 were ED - so they’re just hedging for themselves. But with need aid only, it’s another (run the NPC) I can’t imagine you can afford. It seems like your budget doesn’t align with your need. Oh, and you can’t study finance - so not sure why it’s on your list at all. Great name but….

But with Loyola, UMass and Bentley, three good names - yes even the first. Highly unlikely LMU would bring your cost down that much but it’s worth a try. There’d be other CA schools that could get you lower but you wouldn’t love the names. When you have a budget, you need flexibility.

Not trying to bring down your situation - but at this point, you need to deal in reality. If you’re unhappy with the three names you have, there is time to find other good ones or at least try - at your price point. But you do have three (not two) good names because I see Loyola Chicago as a fine name. Bentley is likely the best for your needs but is it the best for your collegiate experience? I wouldn’t expect Fordham to hit - but I suppose you’ll find out soon enough.

So you’re not hopeless - but you didn’t necessarily build your school list properly (based on budget) - so for anyone reading - please please please - get the priorities straight. Budget beats perceived rep - each and every day. One needs to build for that, not this is a great name.

Good luck.

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I really don’t know anything about the Charles River path for undergrads, but I believe some of their MS in Business Analytics students use that campus, the type who would be living and possibly still working in Boston. No promises since I have no idea if there is any interaction, but that wouldn’t be a bad community for networking purposes.