@thumper1
Yes, I will get a job. Just to put this on the record: I am definitely not trying to sound entitled/lazy/ungrateful/ bratty. I’m just freaking out because my mom is saying no. It’s such a great offer at such a great school… it would be stupid to turn down.
@MiddKidd86
I agree, I think I need to give her a reality check. I’m just now sure how to approach that at the moment.
Nah, I think you know what’s going on, you just need to get your mom on board. I know that a lot of families have unrealistic visions of how financial aid at the most generous colleges is supposed to work. Basically, these kinds of colleges really aim at making their direct costs more affordable.
The family contribution is usually sized to be about what you would spend just on your day to day life – buying toiletries, going out to the movies every once in a while, eating out with your friends, etc. as well as possibly any travel that you might want to do. I think your mother might be holding out some hope that maybe one of the other schools will give you a grant for those amounts too but honestly I don’t see it happening. Once those offers come in, you can compare them to see how much out of pocket you need to spend. There probably won’t be any zeroes, but I think that if you can lay out those offers side by side with your mom it might help make things more real.
You clearly worked pretty hard in high school to get into these schools in the first place, so you already know that you can handle a work-study job or a summer job which is considerably less of a challenge. If you need to, you can even borrow the money on your own by filing the FAFSA; if your EFC is low enough you might get a subsidized loan which means that it’s interest free while you are in college.
The good thing about this case is that you’re in a position where you don’t really have any bad options. Worst case scenario is that you graduate with about $12,000 worth of debt, which is manageable.
Moogoo…do you have the Direct Loan in your financial,aid package already?
ETA…if your Pell is $1190, that means your FAFSA EFC is about $4200. This school is already finding more than your EFC.
@thumper1
I don’t have any loans offered in my package - just the vassar scholarship, work study offer, and Pell grant.
Well…there you go. YOU, the student, can take a $5500 Direct Loan for your freshman year. No parent involvement in this…AT ALL. That will cover your remaining costs…and then some.
@thumper1
W…wait? Really? How does that work/ how do I go about receiving that?
Any student who files a FAFSA can take the Direct Loan. Call the financial aid office at the school, and tell them you would like the full Direct Loan. They will tell you what to do.
@thumper1
Could I get it subsidized/ low interest even if it wasn’t offered in my aid package?
An unsubsidized loan accrues interest from the day it is disbursed, a subsidized loan does not. The aid office will be able to give you how the $5,500 is broken down between the subsidized and unsubsidized loans. The interest rate for both of these loans is currently at 4.66%.
Ask the financial aid office. They will tell you your options. I believe the limit for subsidized Direct Loans is $3500.
Since she is not contributing she can’t say no. I had a great package back in the day. My parents contributed zero. No spending money…nothing, except for the initial drop off. I worked in the summers for spending money and I took out a small federal loan ( and a TAP loan- NY State) Paid it off easily after graduation. As far as rides home for breaks, I found ride shares…and that was before the internet when you would just rip off a sliver of paper that was posted in the student union. Seriously this is the biggest gift. Its up to you to make it work not your mother.
Good news- I had my mom talk with my school counselor and so she said yes. I’m going to Vassar!
You have a great offer on the table. It doesn’t look like it could get any better than it already is. Why appeal?
My DD #1 was an orientation counselor between freshman and sophomore year and was a RA her last two years. She got free room and board (for RA-can’t remember pay for OC) and a small stipend. Your college may differ on how much they knock off your bill but I feel pretty sure it would take care of that $3800 each year. Research that and present to your mom. My DD loved being an RA and it saved us tons of $$!
Don’t pass up this opportunity. It’s is an amazing package.
100% of those who do not appeal do not get an improved package!
It can’t hurt to ask/make your case…the worse that they can say is no.