Yes, the year my D applied (2014), Temple gave automatic full tuition for ACT 32 and 3.8 GPA.
I think she might have a good chance for merit, even if competitive.
You need to have a FAFSA EFC of less than $13,000 I think to qualify for a PHEAA grant.
FAFSA for 2020/21 opens Oct 1. You will report your marital status as of that day. You say your divorced husband can’t afford to move out and also support you.
This will reduce financial aid for your daughter. Could he live with a relative or get a modest apartment, and give you less support in return?
Yes, early applications are essential if needing merit.
The time to apply is now!!
I believe Lycoming and Susquehanna only require FAFSA for institutional need based aid, schools like U Penn and Bucknell that meet full need will require CSS profile as well, so both parents will need to report income and assets, and home equity might be considered.
The issue with waiting for Professional Judgment is that wait. They can review PJ much later in the admission cycle, even later than May 1. OP needs ideas now.
I know kids in some states automatically turn down the idea of a local or directional. If it were me, I’d be doing the research to find which of the affordable state schools would be attractive to her- whether a pretty campus, lively choice of activities, or expecially, strengths in her possible major, research opportunities, strong career planning, travel abroad, whatever it might be. Then get her a visit, focusing on whatever those “attractions” are, not just the usual tour. Work to get her to that buy-in.
And at a less competitive college, remind her that her own chance of rising to the top is better. A strong student does attract professor attention, etc.
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Yes, I am concerned with the bad reputation of the PASSHE schools. But is better reputation worth 80K in loans? I am really not sure.
Taking a gap year might be a very good idea if so many changes are in the air. What would your FAFSA EFC be if your ex is not living with you? It may not make as much difference as one might think because the most generous financial aid schools tend to take botH parents’ financials into account through PROFILE.
You can get a decent education at PASSHE schools, certainly at West Chester, which is one of the best. IMHO nothing is worth $80k in loans unless you know you will have a high six figure income coming out of school.
I do not think West Chester has a bad reputation and I think that should definitely stay on the list.
With her stats she could probably get $10,000 merit aid a year from Temple. If she commutes (I’m assuming since a commute to West Chester is possible then a commute to Temple could be possible as well) then that would put it in your general range since their tuition and fees are around $21,000. Though you’d need still need money for commuting, books, and at least some meals on campus, so it might not be an option… Her stats could possibly get her into the honors program there as well.
Not sure if Temple is a “directional university” as I am not familiar with the term.
Is there missing info here? There is now mention of a ex spouse who might not be living with the custodial parent at some point.
Where is the other information coming from?
@Anitka could you please summarize your situation in one post here…with all the info? It’s very confusing trying to give good advice with information coming in dribs and drabs…and some of it not even posted on this thread.
How much would the PASSHE schools cost, based on their net price calculators?
Is she thinking at all about becoming a teacher? PASSHE schools used to be the teacher colleges and have good education programs.
A high stats student at a local HS got good merit at Shippensburg.
If you look at the student academic profile at private and OOS publics where she would get merit, it is probably pretty similar to PASSHE schools. West Chester is a fine option, it could be her financial safety.
For whatever reason, OP’s DD is not eligible for financial aid but all they can pay is $10500 including student direct loans with decent probability of student covering books, supplies, sundries, personal expenses, pocket money through part time and summer work. No idea where transportation will go into this picture as it can be quite a bit depending on choice whether it’s needing a car to commute or a distant college that will involve airfare.
That basically comes down to full ride tuition grants needed , and still not quite enough to cover R&B at a lot of places. I know SUNY R&B is up there.
Or the cost can go towards tuition and the student commutes and somehow maybe student and family cover the commuting expense. If that involves car owner ship, not a negligible expense.
As we have seen in a lot of other threads, big time merit money is scarce. In this case, the student is placing another huge limitation in that she wants to go to what she considers a college worthy of her stats. No directional colleges like Penn State Hazelton campus or Pitt Johnstown or any of the PA I guess the smaller PA state universities are out too.
Which doesn’t leave anything other than some lottery tickets. Imo, prospective College students shouldn’t have a rope dragging them where they do not want to go. If the Mom can throw in some realistic choices in the mix and perhaps DD changes her mind in the spring, fine Otherwise, it’s not the worst thing in the world, in fact. Not terrible at all, IMO, that she sits out a year and ruminate on the possibilities, take a gap year doing done great stuff or working out the new reality of her family financial situation and reapplies with a new perspective
@kelsmom
would this mom need to include her Disability income on FAFSA?
There are high stat students in every school. I know several that chose lower ranked schools despite being accepted to more prestigious ones mainly because those were the schools that wanted them there and were generous with the money to get them. And being the big fish in a small pond can have some perks.
IIRC, some kinds of disability are included on the FAFSA and others are not. @kelsmom maybe you can tell us which kinds must be included…since we have no idea what kind of disability this parent is getting.
Two years ago, one of the Rhodes Scholars was from U of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Directional school.
OP’s received a lot of good suggestions. Daughter now has to decide if she wants to go to a non-flagship or a private school that might not be rated in the top 30, or not go to school at all. When you go looking for merit aid, you have to go to one of those schools that wants you, that is willing to give you a lot of money to go to that school. If you want something else, you have to pay for it.
I think my daughter is scared she will end up being with less ambitious kids. And this is something I cannot take against her. I am an immigrant. I graduated in Europe and my peers made me what I am. But we have to be open and realistic and chose savvy, since we no longer can afford much. We had savings for college, yet we had to use them during financial hardship to get by. BTW, what is a “directional school”? And I was not even aware that state schools used to be teacher factories.
I think you could give her a reality check though, it s 3.7 gpa and 1450 out of the norm in her school?
Here https://www.stockton.edu/admissions/scholarships.html
Check out Stockton University in NJ. It’s a solid state school. You qualify for their highest scholarship. Also check out Ramapo College. There are plenty of state public schools that offer enough money for your stats. Don’t take the bait of private colleges and universities—- their definition of meeting need will include crazy high loans.