The University of Texas at Dallas has very good merit aid and is a strong school especially for all things STEM.
Father’s choice, not kid. I just don’t think we need to make 18 year olds under tremendous stress feel worse. Or cry. Just help if you can, if not, hit the back button. (Sorry, this isn’t my kid, but I’ll adopt for a minute and stand up for them.)
Hello post #9 - did you read post #3?
@orangeee How much can your parents pay each year for 4 years?
Also, did you see the list of schools under $25k/year?
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I was an expat at country that my kid had go to an international school and my housing was more expensive than most US cities. My firm paid for all housing, transportation and private school. According to IRS, all of those paid expenses were taxable, but fortunately my firm paid for all taxes as well. What it showed on my tax return was double of what I was making in the US. If OP said his family is making 250K on paper as an expat, it is most likely 125K in the US. It is still not chump change, but probably not enough to be a full pay unless his parents have been saving before he was born. Of course, there are a lot of schools out there that offer merit aid for top students.
There is nothing wrong with applying to a dream school, asking for financial aid, and, if not given any or not given enough, seeking review of the decision and explaining the unique circumstances that demonstrate that your family does not in fact make as much money as the forms would indicate. You have nothing to “lose” except the application fee.
Right, which is why blaming the employer is asinine.
If OP wants to shoot for expensive schools that offer little or no merit aid, then based on the information provided I think the best thing to do is something I’ve already suggested: ask for professional judgment. This seems like a very unique set of circumstances that FAFSA/Profile don’t (can’t) take into account. A follow up to the FA office with a sober explanation of things certainly can’t hurt. In the meantime, picking some safety schools is an absolute must, because applying to a million scholarships is not a viable plan.
The OP mentions being an expat in the original post. Links with good merit schools have already been provided. If the OP gets that done (rather than comparing themselves to a pregnant gang member) then options will be available.
OP is 17-18 year old, he is not as PC as some of us.
There are many parents who are not as informed as CC parents. It is unfortunate a high schooler has come on CC to get advice instead of his parents. I think we can be helpful.
If your parent’s employer grosses up income or does tax equalization, I think you have a legitimate basis for appealing a financial aid decision. At this point there are plenty of schools you can still apply to that offer merit aid. Stronger students often get $25k or more at many, many colleges but you would need to understand which schools give money. If I were you and had already applied to six schools, I’d see whether your admitted but augment your list quickly. Expat benefits really add up quickly so it’s easy to see how you might find yourself in this situation
Not many families get all their housing & living expenses paid for by their company. So your not going to get much sympathy on that.
You should check first w your home state to determine whether they will give u special dispensation for being away temporarily.
Then you should target schools that award generous merit scholarships. Third party scholarships for upper income kids is mostly a waste of time.
Try this list
http://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-kiplinger-s-best-values-in-private-colleges/index.php
Apply to as many schools on the lists given.You have 3 days now. Use them well.
UAlabama is a must because the full tuition scholarship is automatic and their honors college is among the top 10 in he country.
UMinnesota has low OOS tuition (it’s trying to raise it but it’s still ok) and generous scholarships. Engineering and Business are top-notch, as are some of the programs in CFANS (Applied Science/Applied Business/Agriculture).
Most financial aid/scholarships come from the college itself. Next is federal aid (you"ll get $5,500 in loans). Next is state aid. External scholarships are way down the list - and, at many schools, REDUCE your financial aid.
Do check your home state’s rules. They don’t all require you to graduate from an in state HS!
We have no idea if this student would get a full tuition scholarship at Alabama, if he could get into an Ivy with FA, if he could get into any school. His situation is what it is. It is not suddenly a surprise to this ex-pat family that all the benefits are included in taxes as income, just that FA is based on those numbers.
If the family lived in the US and made $100k, at most schools it would make no difference for additional FA. It is possible that if the student misses the deadlines, waiting a year might provide more opportunities for scholarships, especially merit scholarships through the schools of choice.
OP, if you want help, post your stats, what schools (or types) you are interested in, how much your family can contribute (you’ll no longer be in private high school, so that money should be freed up for college). Does your father’s employer offer scholarships? Can you go to college in Europe (much cheaper)?
To answer your question, I’d say the majority of student do not qualify for need based financial aid and can’t afford $60+ per year. What do they do? They go to cheaper schools, they apply for merit scholarships at those cheaper schools, they work, they take out loans.
OP, please talk with your parents about what they can pay for your education. Given the family situation that you describe, it is possible that your parents won’t be able to pay much at all. If that is the case, you need to consider taking a gap year so that you have more time to figure out how you are going to pull the money together.
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My stats are decent (SAT=2220, Unweighted GPA=4.2).
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We have no idea if this student would get a full tuition scholarship at Alabama, <<<
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@twoinanddone Why would you say that? If the student applied now and sent scores/transcripts, s/he would get a full tuition award to Alabama.
I doubt it is that all of their living expenses and housing are paid for. I can relate to the OP’s circumstances bc we have been there. Our housing was subsidized, not paid for, to bring it down commensurate to US housing prices. If our kids had attended the American school, it would have cost the corporation close to $100,000 for all of them to be enrolled. All of the things that we received were necessary to live in that country and were reported as income. (There was no such thing as a middle class. The people were either wealthy or extremely poor. You would not put kids in those public schools and you couldn’t afford housing on an American salary (which is all we were actually paid.) The company paid those differences bc they needed qualified workers for start up. It is very probable that the OP’s family’s actual income is a fraction of the reported amt.
OP, I agree with the advice that you should contact FA offices and share your situation.
@mom2collegekids sorry if i’m abit off topic here, but I just applied to UA & was wondering how long it’ll take me to get a notification for CWID so I can finish the app in time for scholarship consideration. Does the app take long to complete?
You should get the email within a day or two. keep checking. The app is really easy. The more important thing is to get your test scores sent AND to get your transcript sent. Ask your GC on Monday to send.