My husband’s best friend did get a full ride at UD in 1985, he turned down Georgetown. I think UD was less competitive then.
To be honest I have assumed we don’t qualify for need based aid but I guess I better run each NPC and see. We have three kids so maybe that will bump us into some need based aid.
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Thank you - I looked at Washington and Jefferson and it does look like it could be a possibility.
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Good luck, we have 5, and the years we had 3 in at once, our federal loans were partially subsidized. Next year (the last!) we are back to 1 so I expect the loan will be unsubsidized.
Thank you for this tip!
Thank you for this suggestion! Central Michigan University wasn’t on my radar at all, but looking into it it certainly seems to check all of the boxes except it’s a 12 hour drive (or 10 with two border crossings). At this point that distance may be too much, but I will keep it on our list in case we decide to expand the geographic search. It looks like a great school!
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Thank you - I just checked out Allegheny and it looks like it can go on our list!
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IIRC, when the FAFSA was updated a couple of years ago, the benefit for having multiple kids in college at the same time was removed. @kelsmom is this still the case?
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Yes, it is. Even if a school uses CSS Profile and allows a break when there is more than one in college, the eligibility for federal loans is based on the FAFSA SAI.
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I’m not sure if having 3 kids at once will get you aid - school dependent. But will all three be at once? Does the budget change if all aren’t at once?
Schools like Allegheny are ok. Last year tuition, room and board were under $71K with a max merit of $42K.
So it’s “possible”.
Don’t forget, often if one gets merit, it likely will reduce aid (most schools) - meaning you won’t be able to double dip.
Here’s the general rule - as long as you have one (preferably two+ schools) that will assuredly hit your budget that you’re excited to go to, the rest of the list doesn’t matter. In the end, you’re gong to just one. Don’t spend time, of course, applying to the impossible - but like an Allegheny, if they have a scintilla of a chance, it’s ok.
Schools like C Michigan or W Carolina may be too far - but they assuredly hit costs - and have true D1 football. Others, like Mass College of Liberal Arts and some SUNY schools assuredly hit cost - and are within range.
The Allegheny and Wash & Jeffersons of the world are the - don’t count on them but you never know. WVU too although once you have a test score you can know for sure as they have auto merit (WVU).
Good luck.
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UVM is sort of a best kept secret for engineering. I’ve hired several and they were all solid.
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I really doubt you’ll be driving 5-10 hours more than once or twice while your kid is away at school. After the first year they learn to find rides, or at least find ride part of the way like to Boston where she’ll have to figure out how to get the rest of the way home. They also tend not to come home much if more than 2 hours away. My daughter was 2.5 hours away and even in the first year she had friends who would meet up with us to pick her up or stay at their homes before heading back to school.
There is some point (and for me it was way before the 5 hour mark) where it makes more sense to fly/train than to drive. My daughter quickly found rides to the airport when she needed to go somewhere. She never had a car when at school but her boyfriend did, and then her boyfriend’s brother had the same car, and now she drives it and she’s been out of college for 7 years. They find a way.
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My daughter was a 12 hour drive (or a 2 hour flight + 45 minute drive or a 2 hour flight with a 2 1/2 hour drive). She flew in and out of both airports, drove 12 hours with friends, and alone. Didn’t bother her at all. We only flew, no long drives for the parents.
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I agree, students find a way, generally. But it may surprise some of you to know that sometimes there are not faster flights door to door.
Each family (both student and parent) will have their own comfort level regarding the distance between college and home. This could be due to personal preference, family/health circumstances, cost of airfare, or any other reason. While it may be helpful that the OP understands that others have navigated longer distances, any family decision is perfectly fine and should be respected.
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Agreed. Not to mention the added cost of flights, buses, trains, etc.