@thumper1 Thank you! I’ve definitely been humbled after just being rejected from BC (not that it wasn’t a reach anyways). Hopefully I did not sound too arrogant at all in this thread. I know I’m not the greatest student and I had no Ivy-league dreams like a lot of kids on this site have (not that there’s anything wrong with that). I just know very clearly what I want to do with my life and it’s Emerson that has what I need so it was hard feeling so limited especially when I believe I showed through my essays and other writings that I have potential to succeed in my field (I’m an English major currently, though I will probably change that to Communications and just do a minor in Creative Writing), even if the rest of my profile might not have made me a stand out. And as far as hopefully getting into the Honors Program someday if I go there, well I’m just going to give it my best shot. I definitely will not be slacking next year though. Anyways, thanks again!
@jjmopp That’s too funny. So you are accepted AND have merit scholarship. Maybe Emerson reads CC. LOL
@gearmom What are you referring to? Emmanuel? Or UMASS Amherst? And I honestly hope they don’t read CC because I’m pretty much the only person talking about them on here… lol. The forum for the school is dead.
Don’t underestimate Stonehill. It’s not big, and not well-known outside the region, but it offers a great education. I was accepted to BC with a partial scholarship (many years ago), but that still wasn’t enough for me to be able to attend. Stonehill made my education affordable, and I will be forever grateful (and a regular donor to scholarship drives!). DH and I are both Stonehill grads and I think we’ve managed to do quite well. I’ve never regretted my choice or my experiences there.
3 puppies is correct. That is why the ask you about income going forward if it changes. I have definitely seen questions about extended family on forms. Is your grandmother eligible for Medicaid or Medicare? May be worth looking at if she is already in the nursing home and you are happy with the home
@InigoMontoya I actually like Stonehill a lot. Going to school in Boston has just always been a dream of mine and not something I’m willing to give up if I can help it, which is why I’d still choose Emmanuel (it would be cheaper for me to attend Emmanuel than Stonehill anyways). You can’t beat the Stonehill campus though. It’s gorgeous.
@SaphireNY She is eligible for both, I believe. Definitely Medicare, at least. We’re working on getting her more financial help through a program that helps the wives of deceased veterans. Fingers crossed there.
Also, by the way, my parents want me to just go to Emerson and they’re ecstatic I got in. Meanwhile, I’m the one freaking out about the cost. We’re trying to sell our house (as I said earlier) which would help a lot but still.
EDIT: I thought I knew our EFC but I actually got it wrong because I am a moron that is not ready for college, lol. Not far off though. I think it’s somewhere around 30k.
Your EFC is $22,000 so that is the minimum Emerson will expect your family to pay. Your EFC is way too high for eligibility for federally funded grant money, or grants for low income students. Emerson doesn’t meet full need.
Did you run the net price calculator on the Emerson website?
@jjmopp Why don’t you wait and see if your parents can sort this out at Emerson.
If your grandmother has no pension or assets and she is in a nursing home then Medicaid is worth looking into. If you sell your house and have cash leftover that may impact FA for next year unless you use the money or put it in another house. Not sure how E looks at home equity
Saphire…the decision about where grandma goes and how that is funded really has no impact on Emerson’s financial aid calculation.
And just FYI…there are some skilled care facilities that do not take Medicaid patients. They are private pay only. Again, the type of care the family chooses for their elderly relative is up to them.
Could you write to Emerson and tell them you would really like to attend and would they consider accepting you into the honors college? Your CR score is above 75% of accepted students, but math is a bit below. Could you have your school send first semester senior grades? Did you send LOR from teachers, list of EC activities, tell them about some of the writing you did?
@mommdc Yeah, I already did all that. I even tailored my Common App essay for their school (it still worked for other schools though) as it was all about how and why I wanted to be a writer (the why part had to do with my goal to combat social justice issues through writing + increase representation for groups that separate from the default you usually see in literature (white, straight males for the most part). Thanks for the advice and everything though but I think the Honors College is a lost cause at least until the end of my freshman year (if I go there) when I can try again. I really just made this thread to see if badgering the school for aid would be worthwhile. Or if I should see what I should do in regards to financial aid, etc. At least I have a part-time job already lined up right down the street from the school if I go there. I used to work at a store that closed and my boss who really liked me relocated there and is their hiring manager now and wants me to go there if I end up at Emerson. So that’s something?
I think I’ll just wait a bit before going too crazy. Maybe let my parents handle things. 
What is your top priority - attending college in the city of Boston or attending a good communications program? In the event that Emerson is not a realistic option, you may have to decide.