<p>i was admitted to the Mellon College of Science at Carnegie Mellon University under the early decision I plan and today i called the admissions office to ask about financial aid. Before i applied early, i sent out an estimate form, and the estimated total per year came to about 17G a year with estimated work study, grants, and loans. However, at the bottom it says that this amount 'does not constitute an Early Decision Financial Aid Award'. What exactly is that award? I just sent out another early decision estimate form today, but it would be about a week until i get a reply and i was wondering whether i should submit my apps for other colleges. The person i talked to on the phone today said that the college would meet full need based aid, but the numbers in the new estimate would not be considerably different compared to my first estimate. Also my family income is under 30G and i am not an in-state student. CMU has always been my main priority, but i wouldnt want to go if i graduate with so much debt on my hands. </p>
<p>Is there a possibility that the aid i get would be better then what i would get as shown on the estimate form?</p>
<p>CMU is private…so being OOS makes no difference. Since your income is low, you should get a lot of aid if the school promises to meet need.</p>
<p>However, the weird thing is that you got some odd estimate of $17k. How could they estimate that you would only get $17k when your income is around $30k? Do you have a non-custodial parent whose income was also considered???</p>
<p>When do you have to commit to CMU?</p>
<p>Being instate or out of state doesn’t matter for CMU.It’s a private school. Everyone who goes there pays the same costs regardless of their state of residency.</p>
<p>You sent in the financial aid estimator. On that you should have done the very best estimates you have of your families financial situation including salary, assets and whatever else CMU asks for on that form. If you completed that with accurate information, your estimated award should be close to what they sent you BUT YOU NEED TO CALL CMU AND VERIFY THAT THIS IS CORRECT before you accept the ED admissions offer.</p>
<p>Assuming your info is accurate on that estimator, I would think that the only way your financial aid award would change would be if you didn’t put accurate info on that form. Otherwise what basis would they have to change your award? Again you should call someone at CMU and ask this question.</p>
<p>I don’t see anywhere on the CMU website that says they meet full need for all accepted students. Usually if that’s the case, it’s prominently displayed on the website. Maybe I missed so again…check that too. I’m not sure they meet full need.</p>
<p>the admissions person said that the school meets full need based aid to students who are admitted under early decision, not all admitted students.</p>
<p>yea u make a good point about the basis to change the award. the school asked us to submit an other estimate form which came with my acceptance letter so ima do that soon. maybe the stuff my parents sent out wasnt accurate idk. thanks tho</p>
<p>when i got the estimate form back it said: estimated total aid - 37,673 and my estimated balance due at the end of the 2010-2011 year had i attended there was 17, 354 total for both spring and fall semesters. </p>
<p>i need to commit by submitting an $800 deposit by feb. 1, 2011</p>
<p>CMU states:</p>
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</p>
<p>You need to understand what full need means:</p>
<p>Cost of attendance<a href=“55,286”>/b</a>- EFC (expected family contribution from both you, through summer earnings and your parents)**17,613 = Demonstrated need 37,673</p>
<p>You state that CMU gave you an estimated package of 37,673. In their eyes, they met 100% of your demonstrated need.</p>
<p>What you now need to wrap your mind around is why is your EFC $17,613?</p>
<p>Since CMU uses both the FAFSA and the profile and the non-custodial profile. There could be a disconnect.</p>
<p>Are your parents married, divorced or separated?
Do you have stepparents?</p>
<p>While you say that your family makes under 30K, do they own a business or are they self employed? If yes, then everything they wrote off as a business expense is added back in.</p>
<p>Does your family own a home?</p>
<p>Do they have money in the bank or money that they are “saving for their retirement” that is not in a 401k/403b/traditional ira account?</p>
<p>Do they own any other property outside of your primary residence?</p>
<p>all of these could increase your EFC.</p>
<p>You need to call and ask WHY a school that is claiming to meet need for ED students would expect a family that earns under $30K is supposed to pay about $17k per year towards your college costs.</p>
<p>Either a mistake was made, or there is other income/assets/ or something.</p>
<p>Do your parents have a lot of savings/assets?</p>
<p>Do you have a non-custodial parent whose income was included?</p>