Getting a little worried!

sovereigndebt
Fri, 03 Oct 2014 20:34:13 +0000

Montana ::
I am delighted your son got in and got money. Just like others here who have been brave enough to post their scores and scholarship information. It does underscore what I and others have stated, that Fordham Admissions (admittedly changing as tuition has been rising…its up 10k since 2007, or 40k over four years) is quirky on all the above.

Merit money is just a grant with a certificate of merit. It really comes from the same source, except the restricted scholarships which are designated for certain students, like “children of Italian Firefighter etc.” My view is that NEED should determine who gets aid. NOT SAT scores or GPA. Again, and while we had some unfortunate people on this board who made comments otherwise, I am not posting my daughter’s situation 07-11 FCRH to brag or promote her. Its a statement of fact to put her creds up and compare what WE were offered. We had NEED. We got aid in the form of fairly generous grants (though not nearly enough) and some student loans. But many students with lower scores and grades got MORE money and some of them, we know from their families didnt even need the money. Its infuriating.

There are countless stories of students every year fighting with financial aid and getting shut down or some who wink and nod and got more money. Its simply arbitrary and therefore unfair.

If we were offered a scholarship we would take it. I congratulate you and wish your son the best. I am not putting him or you down. I fully acknowledge the fact the SAT and ACT are poor measures of success in college often and certainly not a good measure of defining hard work. I wont argue that more here because it would take another thread and it would go on endlessly. The point is that Fordham is less than completely objective.

Yes, I get that geographic diversity counts and Fordham is looking to encourage kids from other areas. I also know that they look at need in determining all forms of AID, including scholarships.

I wish him the very best at LC and hope he works his behind off and produces stellar grades, obtains a good job and all ends well. I just wish Fordham was more fair…and gives aid to those who need it and not those who don’t.