Financial Aid Packages

adorkable1987
Tue, 24 Jul 2007 13:21:00 +0000

From your previous posts, northeastmom, I’m assuming you’re from an upper-middle/upper class background. I can only report my experience and what my friends have told me.

My family is lower-middle class, and I have an almost full ride. For the past two years, I have taken out $4,000 in loans, the rest is covered by scholarships and grants. I am also offered a federal self-help loan. A tuition benefit through my father’s job has kicked in this year, and the school stopped requiring me to take out the $4,000; the scholarship I am receiving through outside sources covers my loans.

I do have some friends who have complained that the FAFSA has miscalculated their families’ resources, meaning that the family had to take out private loans. However, the loans that they have taken out is nothing compared to the loans I have heard some of my friends who attend other schools have to take out. The FAFSA would have reported this EFC no matter what; to me, the guarantee of meeting full need seems like it’s worth just applying to UR to see what the package could be.

The school also offers merit-based full-tuition scholarships (I know of 50 Richmond Scholar scholarships, I don’t know that much else regarding those) and many other scholarships of varying amounts that a student can apply for through the academic departments once he or she is attending.

If your child is contemplating UR, especially as an early decision, you can contact the financial aid department. They will give you an estimate of what your aid package would look like in order to help you.

In regards to the social life here, yes, sometimes it does feel like it’s a rich kid’s school. I’m not going to lie that there are times that I get frustrated with the atmosphere here. The thing is, however, that I can retreat to my close group of friends that I met through the groups I am involved in on campus. No matter who you are, what your background is, what you’re passionate about, you can find someone to relate to at UR. I did contemplate transferring, but studying abroad for a semester made me realize what an amazing school UR is (and by the way, UR practically throws money at you to go abroad–all of your financial aid goes with you and all students receive a travel stipend). My friends are amazing and the resources I have access to are unmatched–especially for a small school. UR is definitely a school worth at least contemplating as an option. What do you have to lose by checking out the potential of a university? Maybe ten minutes’ of your time; who knows, it might be the best fit for your child.