FYI: Hamilton has excellent financial aid for families making about 200k and less (basically full ride if 75k or less) but no merit scholarships if your family’s income is 300k or more.
If you haven’t yet, run the NPC with your parents
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To receive financial aid from Hamilton, it’s necessary for you to have applied for financial aid at Hamilton. Have you?
Unfortunately, due to a mixture of lack of attentiveness and personal familial drama I missed the deadline. Which is completely my fault. In hindsight, I don’t even know why I brought up Hamilton in this thread. I should be more focused on the schools I’ve gotten into and can definitely afford.
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Fortunately you have excellent affordable options.
My gut is that unless you want to pursue theater professionally that Binghamton is the better option…but try to revisit so you can decide for yourself.
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In comparing Purchase and Binghamton, the particular program to which you were accepted at Purchase might be determinative. For example, if you cannot access Purchase’s national level music and theatre programs based on curricular restrictions, then the benefits of such programs may be illusory. Therefore, to enhance the potential replies to your question here, you may want to specify the program at Purchase in which you would be enrolling (such as by stating the degree track, etc.). (If you stated this earlier, then I missed it.)
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There’s been FA chaos because of the FAFSA rollout disaster, with many colleges having to push their reply deadlines. While Hamilton is a CSS school it may make them more amenable to a FA application received TODAY, IF you run the NPC first and determine it’ll be affordable.
Generally, for strong English/writing academics and theater EC opportunities the better choice would be Bing.
Is it affordable?
Did you get into Honors (Source or Scholars)?
Do you have pending decisions? If so, check today that you sent their FA application (FAFSA and/or CSS) and if you forgot send it immediately.
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Have you had a conversation with your parents about how much they can afford to pay? If not, please do that right away.
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Yes I have, on multiple occasions. They say I shouldn’t worry or think about it, but I am.
Then pick your school and if Hamilton comes in, go check it out. If your parents say we can absolutely send you here with no strain, then there’s your answer.
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You should definitely contact Hamilton about submitting a late financial aid application. I know that for my kids’ schools, the financial aid deadline was a “soft” deadline and they were willing to accept an aid application after their posted date. Not saying that Hamilton will, but it’s definitely worth filling out their forms today just in case.
Also, if they haven’t done so already, ask your parents to fill out the Net Price Calculator for all the schools you are interested in /accepted to. Every school is required to have a Net Price Calculator on their website. Just google “name of college” net price calculator. Many schools will also have a link to a site called “MyIntuition”. Don’t use that one – the other one will be better. But please note that the NPC will likely not be accurate if your parents are divorced, own a small business, or if you are an international student.
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IMO SUNY Binghamton is a huge win in terms of being a great school that appears to be affordable so congrats.
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My daughter is a Hamilton freshman. First semester there was one play. A student production with a tiny cast (maybe 4?). Her friend who did theater in HS and was hoping to participate at Hamilton was disappointed. My daughter is currently on leave applying for transfers as it is not a good fit for her socially.
Definitely fill out the CSS if your family makes under $200k. We got great financial aid.
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FWIW, one of my D’s majors at Hamilton is TA. There are productions every fall and spring. (In fact, they even had a 20-person musical production in spring 2021 during COVID. Everyone had to wear masks, but it was much more than other schools did. Parents could view it through a livestream.) The play/musical depends on the professor producing it. The senior TA major productions were last fall, so there were several short plays with small casts. That is because they were entirely produced and directed by senior majors.It was set up like a festival over several days.) That is NOT the same as the major semester production. For example, last spring they did Rent. This spring, it’s Angels in America. Perhaps @AnonMomof2 's D was misinformed. She was probably thinking about the senior productions.
Edited to remove identifying info
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@M.A Feel free to PM me if you want information on Hamilton’s TA program. My D is a senior there and has had a fabulous experience. She has acted in several plays and taken several creative writing courses. (In fact, the Creative Writing major is one of the reasons she applied.) Because Hamilton has an open curriculum, she was able to do this while also majoring in another more demanding subject.
Edited to remove identifying information.
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I am sorry for spreading incorrect information. If an extracurricular or minor is important to you I highly recommend doing a lot of research. Some courses in the catalog may not have been offered in years and clubs may not be as active or exactly what you are wanting.
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Yes, my daughter is at Hamilton as well and while not directly involved with theater I know it’s quite vibrant there.
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