I REALLY need your advice. I got admitted into Lafayette College but I didn’t get enough financial aid. Lafayette claims to meet the full demonstrated aid of all admitted students but they failed to offer me sufficient financial aid. They offered me $60,500 International Student Grant that comprises of a $4500 loan. I have to pay approximately $7000 per annum (including health insurance and unbilled costs) if I accept the loan. After 6 months of my graduation, I have to start repaying my loan with a 5% interest rate. I contacted Lafayette College about my financial situation and they encouraged me to send an appeal. Unfortunately, they only increased my aid by $2000 making it a total of $60,500 including the $4500 loan (same as mentioned above).
On the other hand, I got accepted to Clark University, where I have to pay approximately $4000 per annum (including health insurance and unbilled costs). I got a full tuition and board merit scholarship. I belong to a low socioeconomic background and my parents can barely even manage these expenses worth $4000 but at least it is possible for them to meet ends by earning and spending smartly. I got admitted as a Presidential Scholar and I get a couple of privileges such as a stipend to do a project, tickets to special events, personal counselling from the dean and internships.
I do want to attend Lafayette College more than Clark University. I haven’t visited both campuses, but Lafayette certainly has a bigger one with better facilities. It is also closer to NYC (favorite city in the world) and offers more majors. Lafayette is a more competitive college, so the students will also be smarter and competitive. I generally get a better vibe from Lafayette (correct me If I am wrong) than Clark. Though I do believe being a scholar outweighs being a normal student. Being a Presidential Scholar at Clark is a unique distinction and achievement, but in general students are not that smart. I feel that a lot of students got admitted because they could afford to pay full tuition even though they weren’t smart enough. With less than a week till May 1st I cannot decide which college to attend.
I have an interest in Biomedical Engineering. Though neither offer that Lafayette offers Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Clark offers Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. I am also SUPER interested in International Relations and a possible career in the UN (which I have been told is nearly impossible ) Clark has Political Science and Lafayette has International Affairs. What major should I go for and where can I have a stable career (enough to support my family)? Can I be successful in the field of IR or is studying a science major better?
On the whole, Lafayette interests me more, but is economically far fetched. Should I contact Lafayette once again after my not-so-successful appeal? If yes, how should I contact them and what should I say? Has anyone received more aid after an unsuccessful appeal? Also, do schools that claim they meet full demonstrated aid actually do so? Is taking a loan a bad idea and how can I reduce the remaining $7000 cost? Does the scholar status make a difference? In Conclusion: what college should I choose?
I will be EXTREMELY thankful if anyone could offer me advice for any of the above statements. I’d also really appreciate if you’re a current student/alumni of these colleges and would like to share any advice or negate/support my perception about college.
Thank you. Please help me out if you can. Bless you! x
Your aid package to Lafayette is $60,500 plus they are suggesting you take a $4500 loan. Is that correct?
What is wrong with this package? It is excellent. A $4500 loan for a $60,000 plus cost of attendance is quite small.
The loan really is satisfying your student contribution.
This is an excellent…excellent financial aid package…and especially for an international student.
If you really can’t afford the balance, go,to a different college. You have appealed this excellent award, and you got $2000 additional grant money. What do you expect to,gain by an additional appeal?
@thumper1 I know, it seems like a great financial aid award to most people. It may seem like an excellent award to you but as long as I can’t afford to the pay rest it really goes to waste. It’s unfortunate that I can’t afford to pay $7000 per year. My parents make less than $20,000 a year. They can at most pay $4000 a year including unbilled expenses and personal expenses.
The $60,500 is the total financial aid package which includes a $4500 loan and $2000 work employment. The aid is worth $54000 per annum.
@PurpleTitan Thank you. I don’t want to extremely burden my parents just so I can go to a college I like more.
Preconceptions are not the best way to go. I guess I developed those by checking colleges’ websites, YouTube channels and talking to current and admitted students.
No…the aid is worth $60,500. That’s your total aid. Aid includes work and student loans.
The cost of billable costs to Lafayette are $64105. You are short $4105 on those costs.
In addition you would need to pay for books, travel and personal expenses. While some colleges do,provide aid for these things, others view these as persona expenses that you need to pay yourselves.
It looks like Clark more meets your financial price point. You are fortunate to have a good offer.
@thumper1 Are you sure about the cost? I am afraid that it must have been for the previous year because I called the Office of Financial Aid and they informed me that I have to pay a little less than $7000.
I looked on their website for projected costs for 2016-2017. Of course…these are not set in stone yet…and I could be wrong.
But $64105 plus the $2000 in books, personal expenses, and travel bring the total too $66105 BUT they only allocated $100 for transportation…so your actual coat to,attend likely IS more than $67,000 a year.
You have received $60,500 which does NOT cover the billable costs…short $4500. And you still need $2000 plus travel to attend Lafayette.
Also, I didn’t see health insurance in the coat of attendance…and that will be something to,add in as well.
@thumper1 As far as I used the websites/ call to calculate I have to pay $4049 at Clark University (including Health Insurance and estimated books and personal supplies). At Lafayette, I have to pay around $7000 per annum (including health insurance and books)
Go where you can afford. These are both great offers but if you cannot afford Lafayette, move on. If youngster international you also have travel expenses. Save your money and go to Clark.
Make sure that you fully understand the heath insurance costs. There are generally two heath insurance costs. The first is the cost billed to all students to cover the cost of the student heath center. Often this cost is billed as part of the fees and should be included in the COA. The second is the cost of heath insurance that is billed to students who cannot prove they have heath insurance that meets the minimum standards of the college. I do not know if college include this cost in the published COA.
) Clark has Political Science and Lafayette has International Affairs. What major should I go for and where can I have a stable career (enough to support my family)? Can I be successful in the field of IR or is studying a science major better?
I don’t want to extremely burden my parents just so I can go to a college I like more.