I was just accepted to Amherst college today, which I’m absolutely over the moon about, but the financial aid package is alarmingly small. According to the letter, I would have to pay $48,000 a year.
The issue is that I really don’t have that kind of money. My family put down that we estimated we could pay $24,000, thinking that if the price was as much as $25K+, we would find a way to pay for it (via loans and whatnot). But Amherst is asking for twice that!
I was also accepted to Kenyon and Occidental, and the total family contribution required to attend those schools worked out to $26,890 and $$27,930. There’s just such a huge difference between Amherst’s aid package and the aid at Kenyon-- and I was under the impression that Amherst has some of the best financial aid in the country.
Is there any way that this is a mistake? And do any of you have any suggestions as to what I should?
FYI: I’m from Canada, so I don’t qualify for American federal aid.
You should call the financial aid office on Monday and discuss your options. If there is an amount you can pay (between what they offered and what you think, discuss it with them. Mention the other offers. You have nothing to lost if you cannot otherwise do it
Call the fin aid office, but if they don’t budge, frankly, I don’t think Kenyon would be much worse (or Oxy if you want to be on the West Coast after graduation). The quality of instruction will likely be the same.
I would call the office to make sure you are understanding their offer correctly. I’ve been confused about some of the financial paperwork I’ve been going over lately, so it’s possible you are missing something. Calling will clarify it for you. If that is really their offer, you will probably have to pick one of the other schools! Don’t feel too bad, most of us are in this same position.