<p>On most of the college sites I've looked at, virtually all of them say "We expect no parental contribution if the annual income is below $60,000", or something along those lines. Is this a general rule of thumb that I can use? My family makes $38,000 a year; should I even worry about paying for college because of the financial aid?</p>
<p>No it is NOT a general rule of thumb. There are about 30 colleges that guarantee to meet full need with the most generous giving full rides to students with incomes like you show. The VERY VAST majority of colleges do NOT have the resources to do this and they do not. These very generous schools are also amongst the most competitive for admissions in the country. NO ONE is guaranteed admission to these schools…and their generous financial aid does you no good if you are not accepted.</p>
<p>I hope you are either a junior beginning to look at schools, or a senior with at least two safety schools (ones that are affordable and that you would like to attend) on your application list. </p>
<p>If your SAT/ACT scores and GPA are high enough to be a competitive applicant for these very competitive schools, you would be a good candidate for significant merit aid elsewhere. However, the deadlines for applications to colleges with generous merit awards tends to be BY December 1…at the latest.</p>
<p>On most of the college sites I’ve looked at</p>
<p>then you’ve only been looking at the MOST SUPER generous college sites.</p>
<p>MOST schools do NOT have that policy. MOST schools will expect a significant family contribution from all students, no matter how little they earn. Most schools do NOT meet need.</p>
<p>The most important school on any student’s list, is one that will definitely accept that student and is affordable to him. If you have such a school, then you are fine. You must know that a lot of your schools are super selective and that getting accepted is a big issue with them… If you don’t get in, you aren’t getting any money from them. Hopefully you have some affordable schools on your list, usually commuter, local, state schools or schools with some guaranteed mert for someone with your academic profile. As the others have said, most schools do NOT meet 100% of need for most students and you cannot assume you will get full need met.</p>
<p>OP’s stats (as posted on Yale Early Action thread):</p>
<p>Honest opinion please…
Straight to the point,
3.556 UW (48/314)
4.499 W (35/314)
IB Program
2280 SAT
34 ACT
Math SAT:790
Bio SAT: 750</p>
<p>I know that there are essays, recs, EC’s, but just based on this, do I have the slightest chance? I know my GPA is horrendous…but i have a reason for it. If i only took my freshman and junior GPA, I would have a 3.8. Something big happened sophomore year (mom hospital, dad had to work way overtime, brother diagnosed with depression, etc.). Family makes about $35,000 a year if that helps. Should I even think about applying?</p>
<p>Madison, you beat me to it. No outstanding ECs or hooks, either, according to OP in another post. </p>
<p>OP, I think you should widen your college search.</p>
<p>Well, that’s the reach school. If he wins that lottery and gets accepted, he may well not have to worry about financial aid. But there should be some schools on his list and in his mind that are far more likely prospects in terms of admissions and that he can afford. He’ll soon see if he is accepted to Yale or not. If not, he has to look at both the admissions and the affordability parts of college apps. Nothing wrong with giving it a go with Yale.</p>
<p>OP, look through this: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html</a></p>
<p>Did OP try Questbridge?</p>