Accepted EA, should I apply to only Reaches???

Applying to College
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<p>Hey, I got accepted EA (Notre Dame, GTown), and I am thinking of only applying to my reach schools- Northwestern,, ivies, etcc.... Now that I have an excellent school under my belt, Im not sure if I should apply to any safeties. As of now, Im going for Northwestenr, Carleton, Brown, and Vanderbilt RD with a safety/match (Colgate). Can I rely on ND to meet my financial package considering they have one of the best endowments (3 billion)? I mean they even say it on the acceptance letter that they will meet financial aid needs so I hope that those are good words of assurance.</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

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<p>I would advise you to apply to academic reaches and perhaps a few financial safeties- schools where you would be in the running for top merit scholarships. Now that you have a "safety" school, where you've been accepted, you don't really need to worry about safeties. Just make sure you have a back up with financial aid in case the other schools don't come through.</p>

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<p>Meeting your financial need is "relative". One school may do it with grants and another with loans. ND has many resources but for some reason I thought they were tied to some low interest banking to address needs (unlike Princeton for example)</p>

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<p>I guess, I mean when people get accepted from Harvard or MIT EA, or I guess in general, when people get accepted EA, do they only apply to like 2 or 3 college assuming that their EA school is a top choice?</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

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<p>Perhaps a financial safety or two may be indicated. Obviously you already have an academic safety. You can't get any safer than an EA acceptance.</p>

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<p>While financial needs must ultimately be met. One would think you may have already investigated the general cost associated and understand your family's financial position. Never-the-less If your #1 is in the bag.. I would concentrate on finding a way to make it work. If you think you sold yourself a little short and might be able to do even better than your #1 go for it. But don't waste your time if it's just to see who else you can turn down. Save the money. </p>

<p>With regards to: "I mean when people get accepted from Harvard or MIT EA, or I guess in general, when people get accepted EA, do they only apply to like 2 or 3 college assuming that their EA school is a top choice?"</p>

<p>I think people who get into their #1 at that level plan to attend that school. Most of them meet the financial need and if you go into a little debt. after graduating from them, you'll be able to afford to pay it off.</p>

<p>Good Luck! Dream Big..</p>

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<p>Thaks for your advice. But the thing is, if you guys weren't sure, I get my financial aid packages for my EA schools IN MAY just like with the RD college acceptances so I don't know how much I'll get exactly. But these schools, ND and GTown have very large endowments and I am hoping they will meet my financial aid packages? I hope that with this in mind, you guys can answer my original post.</p>

<p>Thanks a lot.</p>

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<p>I always think people should apply to more than one school...another Katrina could always happen to one of your options.</p>

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<p>Well that is thinking in the extreme but does an early action acceptance to your number 1 choice with high endowment assure a strong financial aid package in MAY and thus the fact that perhaps I should not apply to another school?</p>

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<p>Remember that the school, not your family, determines what your financial need is and the school also determines how to meet that need. For instance, your family may feel that they can pay $15,000 a year, but the school may think that your family can pay $30,000 a year. The school also could give you a large loan package that you are not comfortable handling.</p>

<p>These are all good reasons to have a back-up school that you know will give you good financial aid as well as an acceptance. An example would be a state university that guarantees a specified merit aid package to people with your stats.</p>

<p>Since you were able to get accepted EA to places like Georgetown, there definitely are lower ranked schools that would give you packages covering everything. This may even include such perks as a computer and internships abroad. Look around because you may find such a school where you'd be happy to attend so as to leave college with no loans.</p>

<p>Since you like Catholic schools, check out what's available at places like Fordham, Loyola and Catholic University.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
But these schools, ND and GTown have very large endowments and I am hoping they will meet my financial aid packages?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Another pesky parent saying if you apply for anything, make sure you have a financial safety under the belt, in the event that you may need it. I would also throw an application where I am in the pool to get some major merit money.</p>

<p>Keep in mind that these schools offer need based financial aid:</p>

<p>Cost of attendance- EFC (expected family contribution from student and parents) = demonstrated need. </p>

<p>Keep in mind the current cost of attendance at GT is $45,850 (there could be an increase in the spring).. The average grant award per recipient was $18,375. <a href="http://explore.georgetown.edu/documents/?DocumentID=749&PageTemplateID=52%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://explore.georgetown.edu/documents/?DocumentID=749&PageTemplateID=52&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Notre Dame cost of attendance $41,970</p>

<p>Average need-based financial aid award
(need-based scholarships/grants, loans & work) $21,190 </p>

<p>Average need-based University Scholarship $16,740 </p>

<p>Remember the school calculates your demonstrated need based on the income and assets of you and your parents. This includes income from work and investments, a % of home equity, savings, your college fund (if applicable). There is sometimes a big disconnect between what a family feels they will and can afford to pay and what a school determines they should pay. Make sure you fully understand how much your family is willing to spend/borrow for your education. When they give you this amount, please believe it.</p>

<p>All financial aid packages are not created equally as Fatherofthe stated, some are heavy on loans while others are heavy on grant/scholarship aid. A school can theoretically offer your parents a PLUS (parents loan) for the entire cost of your education and still have fulfilled their requirements of meeting 100% of your demonstrated need.</p>

<p>Don't equate a large endowment with lots of "free money" for you. If you don not already have access look up your school in the U.S. news best college guide so that you have some indication concerning the average amount of debt a student has upon graduation </p>

<p>You will have a commitment of earning money over the summer to contribute to your education, loan component and workstudy at any school you ultimately attend. No one is going to make you fulfill these requirements, they are just not going to increase your grant/scholarship aid if you don't and you will ultimately have a shortfall.</p>

<p>If your schools have a financial aid calculator, I suggest that you run your parents preliminary numbers to get a feel for how much they are expected to pay out. (The college board also has a FA calculator,-use both the institutional and federal methodology).</p>