<p>My S has a friend who received an incredible FA package from CWRU and was wondering whether she would receive a similar offer each following year. The friend is a low-income, first-generation, female URM who wants to study engineering at CWRU and who received a great need-based aid offer. She would be in real difficulty if CWRU were to make a much less generous offer for the following years. Other than that, she loves the school and is ready to commit. Is there anyone out there who can comment on her odds of receiving a similar package in the future?</p>
<p>@austinareadad,
My daughter receives FA from Case as well as a Merit scholarship. For the scholarship, they have to maintain a 2.0 gpa to keep. So that is not a problem. </p>
<p>Case’s housing/food plans/tuition will probably go up each year. From her Freshman to sophomore year, she received an increase in loans based on what is allowed for subsidized loans of 3,500 for yr 1; $4,500 for year 2; and she will receive $5,500 for yr 3 and the remainder years. Plus her unsubsidized loans which remains constant. So I expect CASE to increase loans and decrease aid or at least offset housing/food/tuition with the allowed loan increases.</p>
<p>Now we have not received our FA package yet for next year. They release that in May once students have elected housing choices, on or off campus choices, food plan choices, etc and housing has been assigned. Each year the students get more choices and flexibility so costs vary greatly and will affect the aid one receives. CASE requires first and second years to live on campus and upperclassman can live on or off campus. (Case does guarantee you can live on campus for the full 4 years if student wants to.) Moving off of campus owned housing will impact FA drastically, so you will have to way the pros and cons of cost savings for someone who receives substantial FA. It’s over $11,000 that they reduce financial need, don’t remember exact number and it could change in any given year…so just be aware. My daughter will remain on campus as it is cheaper for us because of this factor. Also, food plans are no longer required, housing is more of apartment than dorm and they are furnished, so in the long run it still seems like the better/easier/cheaper option in the long run. And since we live OOS, it makes it easier by far!</p>
<p>Now, in regards to same/similar FA. My D’s FA was about $1,600 less than her Freshman year. So I would have had to pay $1,600 more out of pocket for her sophomore year. I called FA and discussed it with them. The gentleman I spoke with was really nice. He told me he would have the board review it and get back with me. I was not expecting a phone call back or an increase. But I was pleasantly surprised that he DID call me back and increased her FA by another $1,000. So, that meant I had to pay $600 more than her Freshman year FA package, but of course she had an extra $1,000 in loans (as I described above). So overall, I was happy with last years FA offer. </p>
<p>I am hoping to have a similar experience this year but I will just have to wait until May to see. If you have any questions, please feel free to PM me.</p>
<p>Thanks BluePoodle. That doesn’t sound too bad. I will probably wait a few days for any other responses before summarizing them for my S’s friend. The friend’s parents didn’t go to college, the high school counselor is hopeless, and the friend never comes on CC and is somewhat in the dark about the financial aid process at the different schools around the country. From what my S told me, she is planning on going to an admitted students program, and CWRU will pay her transportation costs, so she may learn more then, but then again she may just be presented with one side of the story.</p>
<p>@austinareadad,
Yes, CASE has a lot of admitted student weekend visits in March & April. We attended one for my D and it was really helpful in terms of info and just for my D to get a feel for the university. We didn’t get the transportation paid for but my D is not a low income URM either. I wish them the best in deciding. It was really stressful when you are low income to know that you are making a good decision. I had the same fear. That we could afford it Freshman year, but what about each year after. So it is nice of you and your son to help them out. Make sure to tell them to have the student stay with one of the current students. My D did that and it was really nice. They usually have something going on on campus and will make sure they get to attend the event for free with the other students. Plus they get to see the dorms, eat in the student cafeteria and get a sense for walking around and finding their way on campus with their host student.</p>
<p>^ Okay, thanks. I will be sure and tell him to convey to her the importance of staying with a current student.</p>