<p>yeah gal but my weighted gpa is 4.7 or higher.
12 APs and 3 college in high school all A’s in those classes.</p>
<p>so i think that helped me.</p>
<p>yes i should clarify that that type of money was seen by kids with SAT of 1400+</p>
<p>yenrod, it’s my understanding from the fu website that the additional funding is need-based on top of the merit (i.e. people with merit already may get additional based upon need). Is that what you find?</p>
<p>Sandra…well, that is very impressive! Congrats to you, you deserve it!</p>
<p>Last year, my S, a RD applicant, was awarded the Loyola scholarship. His GPA was UW 94 and W 98 (9 AP courses) and his SAT was 1960 (650CR, 620M and 690W). He is the type of kid that if you have a conversation with him you will come away thinking he is brilliant but none of his standardized test scores (SAT, SAT II, AP) were fabulous…solid, but not overly impressive. So anyway, we saw the scholarship listed online and thought $8k is very nice but doesn’t really cut the bill down much. Our EFC determined that we did NOT have need so we thought that was it but when we received the package, we learned that he was also awarded the Tuition Aid Award which was even more money than the Loyola Scholarship. </p>
<p>I met with a FA counselor at the Spring Preview and I was told that the awards would NOT change annually and were based on a “formula” of GPA and SAT. There was no “need based” requirement for this award…we didn’t have “need” as they saw it anyway which was confirmed by FA offers from all the other schools he applied to, some of which offered merit scholarships and some that did not. </p>
<p>Now my S is a Theatre major which meant auditioning and being accepted into a very competitive program. Fordham was his top choice and he demonstrated quite a bit of interest and because of his application process which included auditions and an interview, “they” got to know him and he was invited and sat in on a class. He was also a professional child actor in NYC so his EC’s were outstanding given his intended major. Basically, his stats were probably secondary when compared to what he would bring to the Fordham community. So why do I mention all this? For a couple of reasons. </p>
<p>First, again. It is just too early for you all to be anxious about what scholarships you or your child did or did not receive from Fordham because there are other awards available and clearly not all of them require SATs over 1400. Will kids with uberscores come away with money? Possibly, but don’t count yourself or your child out just because they aren’t in that 1400+ group. I am sure there will also be some 1400+ students who come away with very little because it is obvious that Fordham is their safety school or perhaps because their application presents nothing more than impressive stats. </p>
<p>Second, some of these awards require a demonstrated need. But some of them don’t. The bottom line is that YOU JUST CAN’T PREDICT WHAT YOU WILL GET UNTIL YOU SEE IT IN WRITING. </p>
<p>Third, if you are truly interested in attending Fordham, I recommend that you go to the open house, meet face to face with a FA counselor, schedule as many visits as you can and meet with the faculty of the departments you are interested in. If you can’t visit, then see if you can set up some telephone meetings and/or write to them. As gb always says, “Fordham wants kids who want Fordham.” Let Fordham get to know you…without becoming a pest or reeking of desperation! </p>
<p>You are all only partially complete with the FA process…there is still more to do. You should have already filed the CSS profile and you will be happy to know that you probably won’t ever have to file it again if you attend Fordham. But you still need to file the FAFSA. File it in January using your estimates from the CSS and then update it when you file your taxes…and file early this year! </p>
<p>If Fordham states that FA will be available online after 1/25…then figure you probably won’t get your package until February. Some people might get it on the 26th but YOU probably won’t! 
Life is funny that way! And you are all EA so keep in mind, the package could increase after the RD packages go out as yenrod pointed out. </p>
<p>Some will be very happy with their package. We were because for us it meant the difference between our using their interest free monthly payment plan as opposed to having to take out Plus loans. But make no mistake, Fordham is STILL a very expensive school. </p>
<p>Some will not be happy with their package and sadly will not be able to attend Fordham due to cost. You can try to appeal but don’t expect any dramatic changes. Yes, keep talking to the FA office, be nice about it and maybe together you can figure out a way to make it work. But for some, Fordham will remain out of reach because it is just too expensive. To them I say, do NOT put yourself in debt for an undergraduate education. Go to a school that you can afford and excel.</p>
<p>Just because you applied EA does not mean you should deposit early. This is a decision that needs to be carefully weighed and enrollment deposits are not due until May 1st. Take your time and be sure you have all the information you need. I congratulate you all on your acceptance and I wish you all the best of luck as you narrow down your choices! :)</p>
<p>^^^I know. I know. I wrote too much already. But I just wanted to add that Fordham is trying to put together their next class, Class of 2015. And so their acceptances AND their FA/scholarship packages are going to reflect their needs for THIS class and this class only in light of the already attending Classes of 2012, 2013 and 2014. This is where the process gets random and unpredictable. You may end up with a scholarship and be very surprised or you may feel that you deserved one and didn’t get it so don’t take it personally. It’s just the way it is and there are many factors beyond your control. Be assured that you can be happy and do very well wherever you end up! :)</p>
<p>sandkmom:</p>
<p>your story is compelling but it goes to show the variants and quirkiness of Fordham. My D1 had 9AP’s, scored all 5’s on the exams, had an SAT significantly higher than your son, had a GPA significantly higher than your son, had amazing EC’s, but didnt come from one of the favorite local high schools that Fordham favors, but from a nationally ranked public school in the south. We didnt get scholarship money, because she was below 1400. We got grant money. She is not a theatre arts major, so perhaps that is the reason…in other words, the honey pot looks for certain people from certain schools and locations and majors. Further, your son is a male (obviously) and they represent a minority of incoming students and so perhaps there is more money for boys than girls.</p>
<p>I don’t begrudge anyone the money they are offered. I only wish there was more objectively fair and just decisions made with some degree of uniform standards. </p>
<p>While we love Fordham and have had a tremendous experience there, one of my biggest pet peaves and my most intense criticism of the university is with Admissions/Financial Aid. Our story is not uncommon. We know of many cases where overt favoritism is what got people money (local favorite schools), and still yet people we know at Fordham struggling under the weight of student loans, plus loans. If there was rhyme or reason we would not be so infuriated, but there are so many apparent arbitrary and capricious decisions. We are happy for your son, but you openly stated you didnt have financial need, yet got all sorts of scholarship money thrown at you. While we know people with financial need that didnt get what they needed and had to find gap financing, or in some cases, had to go elsewhere. </p>
<p>I know Admissions is overwhelmed. They have more than doubled the applications received in six years. And they havent changed much on how they operate…so its just mass confusion and its sort of like the way we used to think about buying cars from Detroit: if you bought a car built on a Friday, you were out of luck and got a lemon. </p>
<p>This is coupled with the fact that Fordham tuition has doubled in the last 10 years. For the same education as someone got 10 years ago. </p>
<p>If I were running the program, I would strive mightily to make it more just and fair, showing NO favoritism to children of legacy, or any particular school. We would publish a rough estimate for all to see in advance, that a certain level of high scholarship, SAT level, gpa, class rank etc will likely get you X amount of scholarship money. Below that and its Financial Aid, and let people make their own decisions before applying. Many colleges do this already. I also wish Fordham had the money to do what Davidson College and many other schools are doing: a commitment to no student loans. ZERO. They give you a grant and leave it at that. </p>
<p>If Fordham is to achieve its goals of becoming a national university in the top tier, it must reform Admissions and Financial Aid.</p>
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<p>No offense, gb, but it sure “sounds” like you do. In fact, it “sounds” like your D’s stats were better than my S’s and it ticks you off because you think that my S got $$$ even though we didn’t “need” it just because he was from a favored local school, was male and was accepted into the Theatre major. And you think your D didn’t get the $$$ simply because she was below 1400. Maybe. But he didn’t go to a favored local school, he went to public school and only 9 kids applied to Fordham out of 500ish. He’s the only one attending…it’s NOT a “feeder” school. So MAYBE he just put together a more compelling overall application/essay in spite of stats “significantly” lower then your D…remember they DO review holistically, and perhaps THAT coupled with the fact that they got to know him through his auditions, interviews and visits was what got him the $$$. WHO KNOWS? But I didn’t post his stats for you or anyone else to bash them. I posted his “compelling story” to counter anyone who says that all the $$$ goes to the 1400+ group. And hello, have you not heard of scholarships for athletes? I am fairly certain they don’t ALL have above that magic 1400 SAT threshold. </p>
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<p>Again, it “sounds” like you think it’s unfair that my S, who BTW is NOT a legacy, got $$$ and your D didn’t and that there had to be a reason for it but not one that was necessarily just or fair or didn’t show favoritism, and to that I say go jump in a lake, to be polite about it. If you need to justify your D’s not getting the $$$ to get through the day by saying it was because she got less than 1400, so be it. But for someone who is always saying how important it is to let others know the truth about Fordham, you sure have issues when it comes to someone else’s truth. </p>
<p>To everyone else, again, I say wait and see what happens. You might get the $$$ and you might not. If you do and Fordham is the right fit for you, you will be very happy here. But if you don’t and it just doesn’t work out, there IS a place for you and you will do just fine.</p>
<p>@sylvan</p>
<p>I found that the scholarship increases oftentimes exceeded ‘demonstrated need.’ This indicated that merit was more important than need. I’m sure there are also situations at Fordham where need is the primary determinant of additional scholarship funds. </p>
<p>My point is that you can’t eliminate Fordham from the list of possibilities because of money until regular decisions come out – while it’s unpredictable, there’s the chance that what Fordham has awarded you will drastically change.</p>
<p>This is the same for pretty much an non-binding early admissions program: unless full, official financial aid was disclosed with admissions offers, than you must wait until regular decision time to know exactly how much the school will cost. It can be either very disappointing or very exciting.</p>
<p>Good grief…this isnt personal sandkmom. I am certain if you were in my shoes that you would be ticked off at Fordham. I know a lot of people at Fordham and the stories are all over the place. I am here to tell you, Fordham admissions/scholarshipcommittee/financial aid play all sorts of games. Seen it over and over. Its their money and nobody has a right to any money. Its a gift. We are grateful for what we got, but when we hear stories about kids with lower stats from favorite LOCAL schools getting a lot of money, its troublesome.</p>
<p>And please…my D had a score very near 800 on the writing section and wrote a SUPERB essay and had stellar recommendations, because one college in the midwest wrote back to her school to commend them on presenting such a well crafted recommendation. </p>
<p>Again, I am delighted you got the money you did, and I am glad he is putting it to good use in theatre. </p>
<p>My point here on this board was to be honest with all incoming applicants to let them know that just because someone gets a Dean’s Scholarship with a 1400 SAT doesnt mean everyone will get one, and that the scholarship will be substantially raised later on. </p>
<p>If I had my druthers, all scholarships would be need based. Its most equitable. If you dont need the money, then let someone who does need the money have it. That is my opinion. So called “merit aid” is a lot like the book Animal Farm: We are all equal here, only some are more equal than others.</p>
<p>You can disagree with me all day long. Fine. Your choice. But I think if you were in our shoes you would feel precisely the same way. This isnt about you or your son. I was responding to your remarks in the context of helping applicants get a fair picture of what to expect. And yes, I’ve been around long enough to understand athletic scholarships, including Title IX, but those are an entirely different pool of students and funds. I don’t know if the theatre program has separate funds for it, entirely different from Rose Hill. It is what it is.</p>
<p>Again, I remind you, a kid from our high school last year was offered a Dean’s Scholarship at 1400 SAT’s, and had to go elsewhere because they wouldnt budge on increasing it. </p>
<p>A neighbor kid here goes to Juilliard. So we are very familiar with the theatre crowd, music crowd and dance crowd. </p>
<p>Best Wishes this Holiday Season.</p>
<p>For the record, I agree with sandkmom. Merit scholarships are an important tool that Fordham has at its disposal to improve the quality of students that attend the university. It would be perfect if Fordham had the type of endowment which would allow it to meet every student’s need-based aid, but life isn’t perfect.</p>
<p>gb, how do you not see the difference between personal and not personal? You took MY kid’s stats to say that your D had better stats and surmise that he got the $$$ because he was male, a Theatre major and from a favorite local school. THAT is what you call personal. And then in your next post you suggest that my S could not possibly have had a more compelling overall application because your D had close to an 800 on the Writing section even though you indicate in a prior post that SAT’s are not much of a predictor of success in college. I agree with your sentiment of “please” although not quite the way you mean it. </p>
<p>I, for one am tired of your posts claiming to be honest with all incoming applicants yet suggesting that you are the end all and be all on all subjects all the time. And I DO disagree with you all day long on a NUMBER of subjects. As for THIS particular subject, YES, it’s Fordham’s money and they can give it to whomever they choose. And they chose to give it to my S. And they chose NOT to give it to your D. It is what it is. It’s a gift and you claim to be grateful BUT…</p>
<p>I suggest you get over it. Your D is graduating in May. You have gone on and on about the wonderful scholar that she is and the great education and transformational experience that she has had over the last 4 years at Fordham. You have much to be grateful for without any “buts…”</p>
<p>And thanks, happy. It isn’t always easy to jump into a catfight! :D</p>
<p>Sandkmom: I could care less what you think, truthfully. Have a great four years at Fordham. I can assure you, I am also very tired of your drama.</p>
<p>Also to GB: I had a nearly 800 writing section score and received nearly a quarter of the tuition in merit aid. However, you are wrong saying there is a 1400 cut off line. I had a 1360/ 2140 with no need at all and was not from a favorite local school and still received that money. I am a history major so no favoritism there, and no, not everyone here is equal. A kid who has worked very hard through high school to get a high GPA or study hard for the SAT’s deserves the reward of merit aid. It is an incentive to do well, not a right everyone should have.</p>
<p>Looks to me like they are looking more at GPA than SAT scores. My daughter’s unweighted GPA is somewhere around a 3.7 (3.99 weighted on her school’s scale) but she has a 1410 two-way, 2140 three-way, and she got no scholarship. She has 4 APs (2 4 and 2 5s) and 5 more this year. Very good extracurriculars with a competitive sport with international competition and lots of community service. Go figure.</p>
<p>Wow…looks like some people on this board need to get a life…</p>
<p>I can’t speak on the Dean’s scholarship (the person I know who got it had both perfect grades and great SAT and ACT scores), but for the Semifinalist scholarship, I know that not all semifinalists get it, and I don’t think I got it from GPA. I had a 2160 (740r, 690m, 730w) SAT before my second testing (1520/2280 after), but the 1430/2160 is what Fordham got, but I only had a 3.63 GPA. Maybe having a ~3.95 GPA for dual enrollment and Junior and Senior year helped, but I think test scores were important.</p>
<p>However, with any scholarship, if there are applicants with similar scores and grades, it came down to the intangibles. Essays, recommendations, activities. Perhaps some of these simply appealed more to the admissions committee. That doesn’t mean that one person’s essay is innately better, just that it was more subjectively appealing to a certain group. However, I do believe that there was a 700r/700m requirement for scholarships. Or at least I thought I saw that on their website.</p>
<p>Unfortunately there is no exact formula to the scholarships/tuition awards given out not just at Fordham but at any university. It is impossible to compare students without knowing every last detail of each application. With my S we were surprised at the scholarships he received at some schools and we were equally surprised that he didn’t get scholarship money at other schools. In the end every family has to accept the facts they are given, look at the alternatives and try to make the best possible choice for their situation. Good luck to all.</p>
<p>I’m not really complaining–just surprised. Fordham was fairly high on her list, but it won’t be anymore without any offered $$. She has received nice offers from a couple of other schools around this same ranking (or a little higher) and has been accepted to much higher ranked schools without scholarship offers so, without any offer from Fordham, it will drop out of contention. That’s ok–she has lots of other good choices.</p>
<p>(And just for clarification, her exact scores are 730r, 690m, 720w–I guess I added wrong before, because her two-way is 1420)</p>
<p>Lenny, if you are eliminating Fordham solely based on money, I’d wait until March/April to officially remove it from the list. With your daughter’s stats, I’d be very surprised if she didn’t get at least something in the end. There’s no guarantees, but I know Fordham really surprised me around regular decisions time.</p>