@thumper1 I am the poster with the Hamilton Jan admit that is being referred to in this thread.
@Chembiodad I was not aware that this thread existed so was not given the opportunity to speak for myself until I ran across it just now. I have never posted that D was happily attending Hamilton, I have taken a break from these boards for a while. I greatly appreciate @crewdad disseminating the information with far more grace than I have been able to muster on other threads on this topic.
For our family Hamilton was not need blind in the Jan process. We do not meet a typical FA student profile, but our need is such that we qualify for a Pell grant, even in our preliminary FA package. Nevertheless, Hamilton admitted her as a Jan even though there is a substantial need - I personally think it was an oversight. We are all grateful for the admittance, but there have been far more repercussions than I have shared publicly on these boards.
I acknowledge my ignorance in not being aware that ED applicants were subject to being Jan admits prior to D choosing it for ED2. I learned about the possibility here on CC. However, after reading a timely article in the Hamilton Spectator that said Jan admits are need aware I felt we had nothing to worry about. After speaking to our counselor about the Jan option and this article we kept her ED2 application active thinking this would never be an issue for our family. But alas, here we are!
I’d like to add a few clarifications to the posts to date in this thread on this subject as it is indeed complex.
First of all, post #25 is correct, read it step by step. In addition:
- You cannot pay for the Arcadia program with 529 funds, other college savings accounts or gov't loans. You need to pay cash or take out a private loan, both of which are quite difficult for someone in our position.
- Arcadia offers at most $2,500. of aid; far less than we would get if for a fall admit to Hamilton. Plus, it is almost impossible to get even in our financial situation.
- The base cost of the Arcadia program is still "TBD". Last year it was about $22k for tuition and room (there is no board). However, for many classes there is an additional cost of $3-4k per class. The base classes included in tuition are very very limited and not very academic (Photography in London, the London Stage etc)
- There are many more ancillary costs associated with a program abroad. Think about being in a bubble campus like Hamilton and how much is provided vs being in a big city like London where cash is spent on little things like a coffee or going to a movie. There is no infrastructure at the Arcadia program: no gym, no activities - so you need to pay for each and every thing you do out of pocket. There is the cost of travel back and forth to the US. The cost of setting up a dorm in the UK and then either paying to ship that stuff back to the US or just buying new stuff in the US. There is no food program, you cook all your own meals or dine out. Arcadia gives a budget number of $900 total for 3 1/2 months - aka less than $10 per day. How many teens can manage to eat for that? Most participants are from wealthy backgrounds - the ones we spoke to here in NYC (not the ones referred by Hamilton) say they spent most weekends traveling to other countries, many nights eating at 'sit down' restaurants then going to a pub for drinks, shopping and seeing shows. No, those choices are not obligatory but its pretty awful to put your kid into that situation where they are the odd person out.
Our FA package is not yet set, so I can’t quote a number - but we know that the differential from being a Fall admit will be quite significant.
While some may counter with the statement that the London program is not mandated there is a difference between choosing not to do the London program (because there are other things you prefer to do) and not being able to do the London program for financial reasons. Since the vast majority of Hamilton Jans do the Hamilton London program then come to Hamilton as friends there is a big social price to pay for opting out, one that my D is not willing to make.
Of course, as was noted by @merc81 one can ‘simply decline the offer’. But to be forced to do so for financial reasons does not seem to fit the spirit of Hamilton’s promise of need-blind and full-need, not in my eyes.
I post this not to bash Hamilton, but rather to put this possibility into a public forum. Not all FA recipients fit an expected profile, and while I have no idea if we are the first family to have this happen it is my guess that we will not be the last - unless the system is changed. So, I feel that having this information available might be helpful should others find themselves in this dilemma.