<p>The key is that you don’t get to arbitrarily define “sufficient” financial aid. If your EFC is $60k, you can’t just decide you only feel like paying $10k and renig on ED. If you do, there are apt to be consequences.</p>
<p>It is FINE for lower income folks to apply ED, as their EFC will be much lower.</p>
<p>“The key is that you don’t get to arbitrarily define “sufficient” financial aid.”</p>
<p>I’m sure I seem argumentative, but the Common App ED agreement instructions contradict the above. No one but the family has the ability to know if a financial aid offer is sufficient. Schools already have all the pertinent information they needed to make their determination, but the information doesn’t capture every family’s circumstances. That’s why the Common App release exists.</p>
<p>Please believe the Common App ED agreement instructions. Even schools that don’t use the Common App won’t bankrupt a family if their offer is insufficient.</p>
<p>Maybe the issue is that different schools have different ED agreements? I know Northwestern is very clear that the ED agreement can only be broken if they fail to meet DEMOnSTrATED institutional financial need, which means a very specific calculated need, NOT whatever the family decides they want.</p>
<p>Still, imagine the horrible publicity if Northwestern attempted to enforce such a policy, compelling the student to attend, resulting in expulsion when the bill couldn’t be paid. It just doesn’t happen. And if Harvard really, really wanted a top student at RD time, why would they care if Northwestern was unable or unwilling to offer enough aid at ED time to support attendance? Harvard has lots more money to offer. I’m not talking about families that frivolously say they want more aid (even though schools can’t tell the difference); consider the families that really can’t afford it, due to expenses a given college doesn’t consider (like mortgage and younger siblings in private schools).</p>
<p>I may be misremembering, but I think CSS Profile does consider housing costs and siblings in college. I know for sure it looks at home equity.</p>
<p>I guess the take-away for Juniors is that eventually financial realities may impact your school choices, AND be fully informed about any agreements you sign, including binding ED agreements.</p>
<p>Great information everyone! Thank you! You all are a so generous with your time and information . . . I’ve learned so much. I’ve often wondered how I’d learn all these things without this wonderful community.</p>
<p>Here’s a thread with more FAFSA/Profile info:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1095660-what-effects-mortgage-debt-financial-aid.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1095660-what-effects-mortgage-debt-financial-aid.html</a></p>
<p>I am auditioning for a program where you have you’re acting and singing audition, then if you get asked to continue onto dance then you dance later and for the singing and acting I was planning on wearing a red dress with black heels. Here is the link to the dress: </p>
<p>[Nominee</a> of the Night Dress | Mod Retro Vintage Dresses | ModCloth.com](<a href=“http://www.modcloth.com/shop/dresses/nominee-of-the-night-dress]Nominee”>http://www.modcloth.com/shop/dresses/nominee-of-the-night-dress)</p>
<p>Would this be considered too dressy for acting and singing?</p>
<p>For dance I was just going to wear black jazz or yoga pants, or maybe tights with a colored leotard and jazz shoes.</p>
<p>As long as this dress is not too low cut, in the front or the back. I love the color and the skirt, just not too sure about the top …</p>
<p>I’m glad you included the link to the dress, because I hadn’t known about that company before, and they have some wonderful things! Including that terrific dress.</p>
<p>I agree with photomom5, but want to add that a lot depends on your build. Some of the reviewers of the dress talked about basically having to stuff their breasts into it. That won’t be the look you want for an audition! Most teen MT girls aren’t super busty, so unless you are, you should look fantastic.</p>
<p>Try a range of bras with a dress like that.</p>
<p>Modcloth is the favorite “go to” company for my Jr. MT’s daughters audition needs. We have had very good look with the fit and quality and have very rarely had to send anything back. And if what you order is in stock, it is usually very quick to arrive. Good luck on this great adventure!</p>
<p>Same! Modcloth is quickly taking over my daughter’s entire wardrobe. Great prices, fit, quality, and reviews are very helpful if your unsure. We’ve had only had one fail in several years.</p>
<p>Modcloth rules my daughter’s closet too!</p>
<p>Nice thread. Glad it found its way to the top again</p>
<p>Hi Everyone, I have been reading all threads in this post and find them most informative! Our D is currently a HS junior and wants to pursue a BFA in MT. She is more vocally trained than in acting or dance. We are trying to figure out the best process to prepare her for auditions in the fall. One of her classmates is now at NYU (straight Theater even though he wanted MF) and another at NW. </p>
<p>She wants to attend school in the NE (NYU, Pace, Emerson, BU, NE are all on her list) and we plan visits with all in March. Her grades are good, but not sure if they are good enough for her to qualify for Financial aid based on grades (around a 3.4 gpa but at one of the most difficult private schools in Ga). </p>
<p>My husband and I want her to attend any school of her choosing but realistically will need some sort of financial aid to make it feasible. We took a huge financial hit 20 months ago when my husband suffered a terrible accident resulting in a TBI. He is back at work, but the doctors/specialists tell us he is at a very high risk to develop early onset dimentia due to his brain injury. It is not a common situation and we are trying to network for advice in how to approach college FA offices with this information. </p>
<p>Anyone out there with any insight on GPA and medical situations such as this?</p>
<p>No, I don’t have experience with your situation, but I will say that all of the info sessions we went to spoke to financial aid. They always say to contact them if you have special situations. Maybe a letter to the financial aid office?</p>
<p>Also, BU does not have Musical Theatre. Could you have meant Boston Conservatory?</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>SiestaGirl, I’m so sorry about your family’s tough situation. I think if you ask your financial aid question in the CC financial aid forum you may be able to get some good advice. You might want to start your own new thread, to draw attention to your question.</p>
<p>When you speak of Financial Aid based on your D’s GPA, then you are speaking of Merit Scholarships. Need-based financial aid is based on family income and the use of specific formulas within the FAFSA to determine eligibility. Each school will have it’s own guidelines on what they will award for Merit (based on grades), Talent (some schools separate from Merit, some combine with Merit) and if they are able to meet full need-based aid. There are numerous outside scholarship opportunities on a local, state and national level to look into, as well as grant monies, which are awarded based on income requirements that don’t have to be repaid. Work study may be another option, if qualified. Your D’s Guidance Dept. should have info to help explain types of Financial Aid and what to prepare for before January of her senior year (money in student’s name, money in parent’s name, savings bonds, 529s, student loans, etc.) You can always discuss your individual situation with the college Financial Aid office, but be prepared - this is all business. While the school may be sympathetic to your family circumstances, depending on their policies, they may or may not be able to offer any additional financial help. They often will try to suggest other means of assistance, find scholarships within specific depts. she might be eligible for, etc. I’d strongly suggest doing as much research now and ask these questions when you visit some of her choices this spring.</p>
<p>While it is any parent’s wish to have their child attend the school of their choosing, when it comes to performance based majors (MT/Acting/Vocal Performance), especially in audition-select BFAs, it is the school that chooses you, and hopefully your D will be able to still have her pick. Given your mention of your husband’s potential future health-related concerns, it may be prudent to have a serious family discussion now about what you can afford. Nowadays, there are no job guarantees for college grads in ANY field. Any Financial Advisor will tell you not to sacrifice your family’s nest egg for your child’s education. I believe NYU’s cost of attendance tops out around 60K/yr; many programs easily cost 45-50K/yr. Some of the school’s on your D’s list don’t provide much in the way of scholarship $. Better to figure out the financial realities now than to deal with major disappointment when acceptances start rolling in and the dollars just don’t add up.</p>
<p>I wish your husband a miraculous recovery, and you and your D the very best of luck in her search for the right program. There are so many out there, and so many factors go into your child finding the right one. It isn’t about the “best” school, it’s about the best “fit”. It’s certainly an adventure!</p>
<p>Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T using CC</p>
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<p>Absolutely agree! As you visit schools, she will pick up on the vibe of the school and the program, so be sure to get the “MT tour” and sit in on MT classes. When my kids were in HS, they were often surprised on college/MT program visits; sometimes a “favorite” moved down or even off the list, while a “maybe” moved up the list to become a strong contender.</p>
<p>While going to school in the Northeast (ie, close to NYC) seems the most obvious option for Musical Theatre, picking a school based solely on geographics can certainly limit options. There are many schools with outstanding MT programs throughout the mid-Atlantic, southeast/southwest and midwest that offer generous academic merit and/or talent scholarships. Many of them have a sliding scale for guaranteed academic scholarship based on GPA/test scores, so she will want to really concentrate on her grades over the next 2 semesters to be applying with the best GPA (and test scores) possible. These types of schools would be good to round out her list along with a non-audition academic safety.</p>