Will Reed College and Whitman College meet 100% need?

College Search & Lists
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So I am wondering guys, Reed and Whitman seem like they could be fits for me. I am the outdoorsy type, loves nature, environmental science and math, somewhat mature/nerdy. Might major in economics. And I am hispanic/first gen. From NYC.

OK so anyway — for some reason my college list is the toughest thing, I keep going back and forth. I do have Kenyon, Vassar, Oberlin, Skidmore on my list. But I’m wondering if Reed and Whitman meet full need? My family’s EFC is 0 so I really am looking for colleges that meet need.

2

Reed does, but Whitman does not. And the package includes loans.

But be aware that any college that meets full need meets what they calculate you need, which may be different from what you think you need

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3

Here’s all schools that meet need. They are not on the list but it doesn’t mean they won’t meet need…but they don’t guarantee it.

With an EFC of zero you’ll also need to ensure you apply to need blind and not only need aware schools.

A need aware school may take your need into consideration and reject you on that basis alone.

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4

Reed meets full need, as calculated by them (same as any other meet full need school).

OP, are you a senior? Have you sent in any applications or been accepted anywhere yet?

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Use the following to get financial aid estimates from Reed and Whitman:

https://www.reed.edu/financialaid/first-year-applicants/net-price-calculator.html

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Hi, yes I’m a senior. No apps sent yes as I’m applying RD everywhere.

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Thank you for pointing that out. The reason I ask is because the NPC comes out less for Reed than Oberlin even though the latter is actually on that list

8

Please start by identifying an affordable safety. Is there a CUNY that you can commute too? A SUNY?

What NPC results do you get from Reed and Oberlin? Are your parents divorced, or do they own a business or real estate beyond a primary home?

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The NPCs are better estimates than claims to “meet need”.

However, be careful if you have the situations that can lead to errors using NPCs, such as divorced parents or unusual assets or income (e.g. self employment, small business, rental real estate).

For divorced parents, check if the college wants both of their finances. If so, include both in the NPC.

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No worries, I’m applying to 2 SUNYs and submitting a CUNY app too.

I think Oberlin’s cost for the year showed around $8k with work study, loans, and out of pocket. Then Reed was ~$5.5k

We don’t have any contact with my dad, so they’re separated. And my parents don’t own anything

11

You are correct. I was looking at a list of schools and didn’t see Reed noted. But they say so on their website.

Someone else noted NYU, not right fit this student, but is meeting need too now.

12

I don’t know about Reed, but this is our experience. Our EFC is 0 according to FAFSA. However, according to the full need school my son got into our EFC is $5900. I think in their case, they are calculating in the equity they have in our house, but I am not sure.

13

You just missed the deadline (12/15) for having Whitman do a financial aid pre-read for you. Might still be worth a call.

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14

Homes and retirement are looked differently by different schools. Then others require loans and work study. Not a complete list but you might find answers in the attached.

15

Both Reed and Oberlin require both parents’ finances even if they are divorced or separated.

There is a waiver request, but getting a waiver approved by each college should be considered a reach.

16

Thanks for the info, my dad doesn’t have “finances” though – we don’t know his whereabouts and I don’t have contact with him. Do you know what colleges usually do in that situation?

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If this is related to the CSS profile I think I filled out that I don’t have contact with my dad

18

You typically have to fill out each college’s non-custodial parent waiver form (for the CSS schools)., schools will see that your parents are separated.

Talk with financial aid staff as well, especially if the NCP waiver is not readily accessible online.

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Colleges that require both parents’ finances will deny financial aid if they do not get information from both of them, unless you ask for a waiver and the colleges accepts it.

So if your father is unreachable, you need to apply for a waiver and hope that the colleges in question accept it. Consider that to be a “reach”.