<p>I received provisional acceptance to my top school as well as a letter that said they would give me “priority scholarship consideration” because I had a high ACT score. So, I applied early decision and was hoping that they would give me a substantial scholarship deal since they accepted me before I even applied and were giving me priority scholarship consideration. But, when I got my acceptance letter, they are only giving me $1000 per year. My aunt works at a college said this could me an initial acceptance offer or something and they would give me more later. Is this a possibility or was I just mistaken by their wording?</p>
<p>I got a 33 on the ACT, am 5th in my class, have a 5.1 weighted GPA, and a 3.965 unweighted. I’m in multiple AP and Honors classes and have a lot of clubs and extracurriculars such as marching band and being a camp counselor.</p>
<p>It’s hard to say for sure without knowing more information, but one possibility is that once you applied ED, they no longer had to woo you. You were signed, sealed and delivered, and they didn’t have to worry they were going to lose you to another college.</p>
<p>An inability to afford the cost is the one legitimate reason for breaking an early decision contract.</p>
<p>If they don’t provide a reasonable response to a polite request, I’d tell them you have to break the ED contract because of cost. I’ll bet they will then come up with more aid.</p>
<p>It’s like buying a car. If you are willing to stand up and walk out the door, the price of the car will suddenly go down.</p>
<p>Are you instate for Clemson? Looking at their FA numbers on College Board, it appears your scholarship is in the mid-range for average non-need based aid:</p>
<p>Full-time freshman enrollment: 3,326
Number who applied for need-based aid: 2,454
Number who were judged to have need: 1,606
Number who were offered aid: 1,520
Number who had full need met: 397
Average percent of need met: 71%
Average financial aid package: $11,462
Average need-based loan: $3,462
Average need-based scholarship or grant award: $5,178
Average non-need based aid: $1,789
Average indebtedness at graduation: $17,746 </p>
<p>If you’re expecting scholarships with a need-based qualifier, it’s possible they aren’t awarded until your FAFSA is filed. If you’re not instate, it looks like Clemson awards partial tuition waivers to their OOS scholarships recipients for those who receive an “academic recruiting” scholarship. Those seem very competitve, but seems like what you would be in the running for given your stats:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Have you posted on the Clemson forum to see if older students/parents can shed some light on their procedures?</p>
<p>Having had 4 kids through the college thing ,I think it has to do with what they think they need to offer you ,to get you to come .Maybe they felt money wasn’t a problem ,compared to other applicants . My #3 son was offered 10 k merit aid at Rodchester ,and 17 k at Case in Cleveland .He wanted R , and asked them to up their offer . They offered 12k and son went to Cleveland ,where he recieved additional $ in Junior year for 4.0 average ,and now gets 22,500 a year aid but hates Cleveland .It helps to come from an area that the school doesn’t recieve alot of students from to get more aid We live in NJ .Case had 17 freshman from NJ that year! Case worked very hard to get him fabulous intern offers ,including NASA,but ultimately chose a very lucrative offer from elsewhere .This is why a non ivy can be a great choice .He is a mechanical-aeronautical engineer . Thanks ,Case- Western !!</p>