<p>I just found out that my predicted EFC is going to be around $50k for CSS schools despite the fact that it's only around $10k for FAFSA schools because of the way my parents' business is run (they're real estate investors and it involves lots of complications with equity and stuff, don't totally understand the details). Anyways, my family can't afford anywhere close to that much so I need to start looking at schools with great scholarships and/or financial aid that's FAFSA only.</p>
<p>I'm looking for a school with solid engineering (though not an engineering school) that's fairly well-rounded, not too big (25k MAX, preferably around 6-10k) and preferably either rural or urban, I'm not a big fan of suburbia. So far I'm looking at: Virginia Tech (in-state), Northeastern (hoping for scholarships), Michigan (hoping for one VA resident scholarship) and possibly Grove City College. What are some other good schools like this or similar to my dream schools, Penn and Columbia, but still have decent merit aid or are FAFSA only. I don't need a full ride for UAB or anything, I need something that's not ridiculously expensive.</p>
<p>As far as grades and stuff, I have a 33 ACT, 2020 SAT, 3.9 uw GPA, 10 APs, lots of extracurriculars so I'm looking for a pretty good school academically speaking.</p>
<p>Also, does anyone know if it would be worth trying to appeal fin aid decisions to private schools (still possibly applying to Columbia, Penn and 1 to 2 others)?</p>
<p>Yeah, they are CSS. CSS schools say that people who own their own companies and/or are involved with real estate will probably have much odder fin aid packages so I doubt we’d qualify for aid there. Unfortunately most good private schools (and a few public ones) use CSS so I’m looking probably for a smaller one or for a good OOS public school with good scholarships/fin aid.</p>
<p>University of Arkansas has a surprisingly strong engineering program and would be pretty generous with scholarship money with those scores I would think. You would be invited to compete for one of 90 full-ride fellowships with those stats…as long as you apply before11/15</p>
<p>If you apply before Dec 1st, then Alabama would give you…</p>
<p>Free tuition (for your ACT 33 and GPA)
plus 2500 (for eng’g major)</p>
<p>^^^
these are ASSURED scholarships for your stats…not competitive…you’d get them if you apply to the school and submit the scholarship app before Dec 1st. You’d also qualify for the Honors College. The apps are SUPER EZ…no essays, no LORs…Bama admits by test scores, GPA, and HS curriculum</p>
<p>Remaining costs would be about $12k per year…very good financial safety.</p>
<p>Bama has a brand new mega sized Science and Engineering Complex.</p>
<p>Schools like Rice would not work. Obviously if the parents’ CSS family contribution is $50k, then they wouldn’t get aid from Rice.</p>
<p>BTW…I think your FAFSA EFC isn’t correct unless the primary home is the only one with lots of equity. I highly doubt that their FAFSA EFC is $10k if they can afford to pay $25k per year for college. Their income would have to be quite modest to have an EFC that low.</p>
<p>Either way, FAFSA-only schools will not likely work for you UNLESS they give huge merit. You’re beyond Pell, so FAFSA only schools wouldn’t likely give you much/any “free money”. However, some FAFSA only schools give lots of merit…so apply to those.</p>
<p>I’m looking more on the east coast or possibly midwest or northwest (WA/OR) but not california, not the southwest and not the south. Nothing against those schools or areas, they’re just not what I’m looking for.</p>
<p>I also don’t necessarily need assured scholarships or a full ride or half ride or anything as I said before, I just can’t afford the $50k that some privates or OOS schools require (I’m looking to keep it down to around 25k per year including r/b and fees and everything).</p>
<p>It seems hard to find schools that have engineering but aren’t engineering schools AND don’t use the CSS. You may need to bend a little to get what you need for $$$. Example - Clarkson U. is an engineering school that doesn’t use the CSS and can be generous with merit aid.</p>
<p>Columbia and Penn will allow you to appeal, if you have complicated or extenuating financial circumstances. How much you can get on a re-try is unpredictable.</p>
<p>Are you saying your CSS EFC is from the NPCs? Or another resource? For ordinary families who invest in an additional property, unfortunately, those can be viewed as tappable resources. Did you run the NPCs, with your limited understanding? Or, one of your parents? Any chance you inadvertently included RE investments incorrectly?</p>
<p>So my parents are working with a group that specifically deal with college financial aid. They just ran the CSS for us and, I don’t know exactly how they did it, but those were the results they gave us (my parents have been working with them for approximately the last week to make sure they had all our info and properties, etc.) However, with the FAFSA my brother is currently getting grants to go to Virginia Tech which is already a fairly cheap, in-state option and they told us we’d get a decent amount of aid to schools that actually give financial aid. </p>
<p>Also, do you know of any other high quality schools that do appeals (even if this is a low chance of getting aid, it’s still one I’d like to take); some of the other privates I was looking at included Northwestern, Rice, WUSTL and Vandy.</p>
<p>I live in Charlottesville. UVA’s a greats school and all but I need to get at least a few hours away. Also do you know anything else about Case’s merit aid (qualifications, amounts, specific scholarships)? Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!</p>
<p>UVA is such a wild card. Something about the way they choose a class that represents all corners of the state. W&M may be an option- total COA is within your family’s comfort zone and I believe they are Fafsa only. </p>
<p>Will your brother be in college next fall? If so, your family Fafsa EFC total is split by the number in college. Similarly, but not guaranteed or perfect, the CSS schools should account for a sibling in college. This makes me wonder- if your own CSS EFC is 50k, does that mean his is, too? Or is there a possibility it’s 50k between the two kids, 25 each, and someone has misunderstood?</p>
<p>If he won’t be in college, (or either way,) I hope this advisor group isn’t one which costs big bucks to steer you toward outside scholarships. You might search on CC for one of the threads about colleges offering good merit scholarships. Good luck.</p>
<p>I have both a brother and sister in college, both of whom will be next year. I’ll ask them how the EFC works for CSS with two siblings but I personally don’t know how they did it. Also W&M could be a possibility but they don’t have an engineering major though I could either do a 3:2 program or major in physics and try to get a masters in engineering but that’s even more money. Does anyone have experience with doing this?</p>
<p>With 2 in college, your parents should have some experience with the ropes. See what more you can learn. Right now, you seem to be in a position where the info you received is steering you- you do want to be sure you understand exactly what’s going on. And, try the engineering forum to ask about 3:2.</p>
<p>Again, I think your FAFSA estimate is wrong. If your parents can pay $25k per year for you and they also have 2 others in college that they’re paying some amount, then it’s hard to believe that your EFC is $10k. </p>
<p>What kind of grants is your brother getting? Is any of the money scholarship money? or state grants? or something that has to do with his stats?</p>
<p>How about Ohio State College of Engineering with roughly 5,500 undergrad students. OP should definitely receive $12k a year National Buckeye Scholarship for OOS students. Your COA would be around 25k if you decide to attend tOSU. :)</p>
<p>Ohio State University College of Engineering</p>