<p>nevermind! acceptance package was just late in the mail in nj :)</p>
<p>I received my acceptance package in the mail yesterday! It was supposed to get here on Friday, but nobody was home to sign for it when Fed-Ex showed up. My major is Biology. I’ve got a 4.35 GPA and am ranked first in my class. I got a 1910 on my SAT’s (630 reading, 650 math, 630 writing) and 30 on my ACT’s (32 reading, 31 math, 30 writing, 27 science). I’m editor of my yearbook and school newspaper, I tutor, I’m VP and treasurer of my Thespian troupe, I’m a HOBY alum (and active in the HOBY horizons of AZ), I volunteer at my local hospital, and I tutor freshman at my school. The dean wrote that he was impressed by my commitment to the arts, and that it really stood out in my application!</p>
<p>Yay, Colgate!</p>
<p>I also got a financial aid package for $49999!</p>
<p>Legacies are encouraged to apply early decision. Realize that makes FA more difficult.</p>
<p>Thank you for your perspective, nervedoctor, you are so right. If my son had been able to apply ED and we could financially commit, we would have in a heartbeat. Colgate is such a great school in such a beautiful place, we are both disappointed, he just shows it in his own way. Asking for high FA at selective schools is a high risk strategy and we knew going in that some decisions were going to be made for him in the admissions and award process. I am incredibly thankful DS has a solid offer at a great school that is high on his list. If he didn’t have that, we would be in a completely different place this week.</p>
<p>Does Colgate only send out physical package and no email? Because I am a boarder so I cannot check my mailbox until April 1 or 2 when the mailman put out the mails and I have received nothing from Colgate by email…</p>
<p>how can i get my decision online …</p>
<p>Our experience tracks exactly with those listed above re the legendary tightfistedness of Colgate on finaid - look at the stats - a max of 40% of all students at Colgate get finaid, which means that 60% get no aid at all (paying the full tab) (this compares with much higher percentages of students on finaid, and especially on Pell grants, at comparable schools, e.g., Wesleyan, Vassar, even Hamilton). And this despite the much touted results of the recent fund raising of $450+ millions, with around $180 millions earmarked for finaid. Well, read the above stories - if you need finaid, even top scores won’t mean admission; OTOH with a low ACT of 29 or 30 but no need for finaid, you’re in! Frankly, I would put Colgate behind every school which offers need blind admissions, like Hamilton, Wesleyan, Midd, Vassar, Williams, a goodly number of others in this rank. On their website, discussing the results of the recent fundraising and the prospects of going to need blind, one of the Colgate folks (not Ross) actually said that they’d need an additional $200 million to go need blind, calculating that it’d take $10 million (and understanding [he didn’t say this, i just know] that most schools try to take no more than 5% annually out of an endowment (thus requiring returns of say 9ish % to allow a net increase of say 4% - and 9% or better is still attainable based on current results for schools). So the $180 million wasn’t enough, need on top of that $200 million more. Well, obviously Colgate thinks it can be competitive on applicants with this admittedly very conservative finaid policy (‘conservative’ is being very very polite - skinflint, tightfisted, miserly, are more like it) and thus doesn’t need to be more shall we say generous - at a time when everyone now perceives the whoppingly high levels to which college tuition has climbed. I wonder, how does Hamilton do it? So this is why Colgate has such a white bread rep - most kids there are being fully paid for by parents, and are not receiving any finaid whatsoever, and most of those who can do full pay are not among the socioeconomically challenged. And, you know, I think Colgate likes it that way. Which of course makes those who do get finaid from the miserly uncle feel like poor relations day-in, day-out - and you know, you just KNOW that every year, on reapplying for finaid for the upcoming year, that it’s going to be a fight. No thanks. The loss is yours, 'gate.</p>
<p>Most of all you need to know re need blind admissions can be found on Wikipedia, particularly the distinction omitted above that you want both need blind on admissions AND a commitment to meet the full need of admitted students - Colgate has the latter but lacks the all important former (as Ross has said, ‘need blind is not a finaid issue, it’s an admissions issue’, i.e., if you need a lot of dough, you are much less likely to get in). Anyway, here’s the link: [Need-blind</a> admission - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Need-blind_admission]Need-blind”>Need-blind admission - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>Attydad,</p>
<p>Oh dear. You are dishing up alot of attitude. What’s that all about?</p>
<p>My own view is that Colgate’s finances are what they are. No sense whining about them unless, of course, you have the vision and resources to contribute in a positive way. For those associated with the recent capital campaign, the second largest among LACs ever, that was a rewarding achievement. And Colgate has a secondary campaign for $25 million towards an athletics facility in support of soccer, ice hockey and lacrosse underway for a $39 million project, if you are interested.</p>
<p>About being need blind, that’s a fine ambition. Maybe in time. But who says that Colgate has to be need blind now? During the pits of the 2008-9 recession when college endowments dropped precipitously, thereby challenging schools’s assumptions about their sources and uses of funds, Colgate’s full pay parents did their part- as a large cohort. The aforementioned $480 million campaign rolled onto its 2012 finish with the terrific support of alumni, friends and those parents. And Colgate has about 47 years of balanced budgets to show for its leadership.</p>
<p>So we are where we are. I don’t know why anyone thinks he or she is entitled to college aid. Sounds a bit selfish. And why think Colgate likes being “skin flint” and “tight fisted”, as you put it? Being a supporter as opposed to a detractor is more attractive and pleasant, don’t you think? If that’s too much to ask, in the context of offering applicants and their parents advice, how about taking a break from the fulminating?</p>
<p>Just an idea…</p>
<p>Attydad, didn’t you run the NPC for Colgate before your child applied? We did and aid was within $50 of NPC. The Aid provided was not stingy, it was somewhat less than the school Son is going to attend, but it still made Colgate doable. Be glad that your child was accepted into such a fine school as Colgate, if you didn’t do your homework before applying shame on you- not Colgate!</p>
<p>Attydad, I understand why you’r upset, its hard to acept a rejection from a great school, blaming it on fiancee is certainly easier than blaming it on personal merit. I required FA with a 31 and was accepted over a friend of mine who did not need aid and had a 32. The dean said he loved my essay. Im sorry for what happend to you but dont attempt to trash such a fantastic school for things it cant controle.</p>
<p>No, it’s hard to accept a rejection when you KNOW the main reason was simply the finaid need at the higher end of the range. Especially when Colgate rather misleadingly said that because of the results of the recent fundraising campaign and more funds for finaid it was hoping to almost transition to need blind admissions. This, of course, is directly contradicted by the other statement that to be need blind they need an additional $200 million (on top of the recent harvest) - so, ever faithful and responsive Colgate alumni donors, be prepared for yet another call on your purse - no doubt the administration will keep flogging this horse well past death (to your wallet that is). </p>
<p>My remarks stand: Colgate, like any miser, cares more about keeping the money than using the money, which is why its finaid percentages (40% of students) are so abysmally low compared to peer institutions, and why it’s so white bread (which despite lip service to diversity, they prefer). I used to think of Colgate as sort of a lesser Dartmouth, but now I think of it as a tarted up Lafayette, and that unfortunately is a bit of an undeserved slam on Lafayette. Don’t believe me? Compare and contrast Dartmouth’s finaid with Colgate’s. Colgate simply doesn’t want students who have anything but the most modest finaid needs, and will never change its policies - it gives them yet more control over admissions while keeping their hands on the money. If they were running a shoe factory, this would be sound business practices, but as an institution of the higher learning which aspires to be considered among the very top peer group, it’s pathetic. Consider the contortions Wesleyan went through this year to even arrive at the point where they would stop being need blind for the last (however that’s defined) 90% or so of the class - see the genuine angst displayed by Pres. Roth in his meetings (search youtube) with students. Sure, Wes could have benefited from better business practices in recent decades, but its soul is still noble and pure. </p>
<p>Colgate’s, by contrast, remains fixed on its money bags, all the while telling itself it’s being financially prudent (which it is - the whole point of miserly behavior is maximizing financial prudence to the exclusion of all other values - see, e.g., Scrooge in A Christmas Carol). The point is, if you’re a poor relation, no matter how otherwise worthy, you won’t even get scraps from Colgate’s table - they don’t need to reject you on merit, but merely because you had the temerity to need substantial financial assistance. I have observed and interacted with these folks over a number of years, and I am convinced of it. </p>
<p>It was a mistake to have applied, unless you can write the checks and have no need for substantial finaid (or don’t mention finaid at all until after acceptance, then gin up a ‘change’ in your need, etc. - but that would be dishonest and would make you the sleaze, not them - we were very frank re our need, obviously a tactical error. Maybe the deception approach, given how bareknuckled they are in the greater scheme of things, would have produced a better result - but this only further illustrates the twisted wrongness of Colgate’s approach - why should you be forced to lie to your college to get in? That’s so very wrong.) Which is why Colgate is, and will remain, just that ever so much slightly below its peer institutions - or put another way, its actual level is the best school in the rank just below, and they’ll not move up until they are able to bring themselves to ignore financial need in their consideration of applicants.</p>
<p>Set forth above is a Wikipedia link re need blind admissions, which shows that of the top LACs (per USNWR, where Colgate is tied with Colby for 18th), EVERY ONE of them above Colgate is need blind, except three: Carlton, Washington & Lee and Colby (excluding obviously USNA, although they are totally need blind in fact). And behind Colgate, only Grinnell and Macalester (like Wesleyan, partially) are need blind (and West Point, I suppose in its way). So my point that Colgate is at the breaking edge between two peer groups is, I think, substantially proven. For Colgate to move into that top rank, it will need to become need blind. Said another way, being need blind veritably defines the top rank, which Colgate isn’t, and won’t be until it is. Q.E.D.</p>
<p>Attydad,</p>
<p>Assuming you as well as your fulminating about “making a mistake” with your son’s or daughter’s application with your QED barrages on this thread, can I also assume that we won’t be hearing from you anymore? If your powder is really spent, can you make that a promise? </p>
<p>Onto bigger and better things, no doubt…</p>
<p>Attydad,</p>
<p>I have rethought my reply of earlier today, partly because of a typo but mainly because I feel justified is reminding you of the spirit of this thread:
to share information among applicants and others who are considering Colgate and are full pays or were awarded aid.</p>
<p>Assuming you are happy with all that fulminating on this thread including the part about “making a mistake” with your son’s or daughter’s application, QED or otherwise, can I also assume we won’t be hearing from you anymore? If your powder is really spent, can you make that a promise?</p>
<p>Then we won’t hear so much about misers, bareknuckled antics, and what you assert is “pathetic”. This alumnus couldn’t care less. And no, you are not entitled to be rude and defammatory just because you it seems to please you.</p>
<p>So where next for your forays? Onto bigger and better things, no doubt.</p>
<p>I’m kind of surprised by where this thread has headed. My son was accepted to Colgate with a very generous fin aid package–and we are pretty high need. For us, fin aid will be the determining factor. I would like to point out, it is my understanding that any outside scholarships that my son might receive will go towards the self-help portion of his aid as well—first reducing loans, work study, and (even more importantly for us) the family contribution. Other schools my son was accepted to all would reduce loans and work study and that’s it—any other money would offset the school’s grant portion—not helping at all with the family contribution. To us, that is a very big deal. </p>
<p>I have not found Colgate to be miserly or tight fisted with financial aid. Everyone’s situation is different though. If it helps attydad sleep better by focusing on what he thinks is the reason his child wasn’t accepted, ok I guess. But remember you may unfairly be judging the situation and prospective applicants might be turned off to a very good school that has helped many students in similar circumstances. You might actually be doing them a disservice. To those students, I suggest you take everything you read here with a grain of salt, look for differing perspectives, read between the lines to try to discern motives, and best of luck making your decisions. My son hasn’t made up his mind completely yet (we are waiting for an official verification of his Colgate aid)—and like I said, fin aid will have to be the determining factor. Luckily, he was accepted to a number of great schools.</p>
<p>Michii,</p>
<p>Thank you for righting the boat with a bit of sail and shift in ballast. Your perspective is welcome.</p>
<p>And best of luck to you and your son with your choice of college!</p>
<p>College Confidential is a place where many of us come to read a full range of perspectives. In this year of surprising and also confusing admissions decisions, I am especially thankful to ALL contributers to this board and thread who are sharing their experiences and opinions of the process in general, and also at specific schools. You have helped me understand so much more than I would have on my own. </p>
<p>We are all in different stages of elation or grieving as parents and students, understanding and accepting our own/sons/daughters admissions decisions, financial aid offers, and formulating our plans for moving forward. It is natural, by turns, to be upset, thrilled, angry, defensive. I see honest posts and a lack of censorship as the single greatest strength of the College Confidential forums, threads, and posts as upsetting or annoying as it they may sometimes be, especially if not aligned with my own view.</p>
<p>Certainly there are many posts I have found less helpful than others, and yes, some are critical – of schools, of processes, but hopefully stopping short of criticizing or attempting censorship of individuals on the CC boards hemselves. I believe we each have the ability to sort through what is appropriate and helpful to our own needs and filter out those that are not. I hope this tradition of acceptance of all viewpoints continues throughout all threads on this board including this one.</p>