<p>I've really fallen in love with Bowdoin College. It seems almost perfect for me and I am absolutely sure I wanna apply here early decision. However my guidance counselor kinda scared me off the idea when we discussed financial aid. My family is kinda decent, in that we are above the cutoff for most federal aid, but its not enough to afford bowdoin's tution</p>
<p>Can someone tell me how Bowdoin is with determining the aid of students and awarding financial aid? Should I be concerned that they may not provide sufficent aid? I really wann go here, I just hope i can pay for it .</p>
<p>A little about my circumstances, Im a first generation Indian, born there, raised here, have a US citizenship.I live in NJ. My family five dependants, my parents, myself, my sister, and my grandmother. I know early decision goes by last years income tax but my father has been unemployed for the past two years. He is currently working temporary jobs so his income fluctuates. Combined thier salary about 100k, but like i said it changes yearly. Last year it was good, this year its not so good. So we mainly have to depend on my mothers salary which is like 49-50k. I do have a job, but its an internsip which is like 6.00 an hour, so its not much. Would I quailify for a decent amount of aid, preferably atleast half the tution would be nice.</p>
<p>Bowdoin has been need-blind in its selection of first-year candidates. The College customarily budgets enough grant aid to meet the full calculated need of all enrolling students without using financial need as a criterion in the selection process. </p>
<p>We are committed to helping students with demonstrated need cover their college costs not just for the first year, but also for their entire time at Bowdoin. We evaluate family financial circumstances each spring to make sure that our understanding is current and need continues to exist. </p>
<p>In 2003-2004, Bowdoin awarded about $16,000,000 in need-based job, loan, and grant aid to 725 students. Grant aid money that does not have to be repaid to Bowdoin exceeded $14,000,000.</p>
<p>Regarding your situation, you will have to file your FAFSA and CSS profile and the school will determine your financial need .</p>
<p>They will take into consideration the income and assets of your parents. If they own a home,the school may earmark a percentage of the equity in the home to be used for your college expenses.</p>
<p>I would suggest that you do use one of the financial aid calculators so that you can have some idea of what your EFC will be.</p>
<p>Since ED is essentially binding I would not suggest you applying ED since there is uncertainty as to whether or not your parents would be able to afford the education. You may be better off waiting to apply RD so that your financial aid paperwork willbe based on your 2005 earnings instead of your 2004.</p>
<p>what would be the point getting in early if you then find out that you can not afford the school? Remember that a school can offer you parents a PLUS loan and still have met your demonstrated need. You would have to with draw all of your other applications and if Bowdoin let you out of your commitment you would have to go to your local state U.</p>
<p>If you apply ED, then your financial aid is going to be calculated using your 2004 income and tax information. Since you state that your parents income was more in 2004, then yes it is going to affect the amount of FA aid you will receive. Since you apply ED, you are basically living and dying with the aid package you recieve because you are on the down side of the power dynamic as far as negotiating a better package. Remember if you apply ED, you usually have to turn in your signed commitment to attend before Dec. 31.</p>
<p>If you beleive that your family's income is going to be considerably less for tax year, 2005 as a parent, I would recommend to my child to apply RD. It would definitely be much less red tape in the even that you have to negotiate aid because you would then have more than a month from the time you get your decision until the time you must submit your letter of intention to attend.</p>
<p>My daughter's first choice was Dartmouth. I knew that we needed to compare aid packages so I requested she apply RD. During the RD round she got accepted to Dartmouth. She was also accepted to Williams. Williams gave a much better FA package than Dartmouth. As a result we were able to request a financial review from Dartmouth using the Williams FA award letter. In the end, the new package from Dartmouth reduced our EFC, reduced the amount of loans she would have to take out, and increased her grant aid by over 4,000. Since we basically got the same aid package for her second year, to date we have a cost savings of over $8,000. </p>
<p>If you could get in ED at Bowdoin you could probably still get in RD. If money is an issue then you should not be applying ED.</p>
<p>My d attends Bowdoin and loves it. However, because of financial concerns, she did NOT apply ED. That said, her financial aid package made it possible for her to attend. I ditto what Sybbie says- don't play with fire. If you are not positive you can afford a school, don't apply ED.</p>