Dickinson vs Conn College

My d really likes both Dickinson and Conn College. She’s interested in applying ED2 to increase her chances, however she’s hesitant as she’s being sensitive to me being a single mom and paying for college - she wants to see all offers . She definitely qualifies for merit scholarships but does anyone have experience of which school may be more generous in meeting financial need?

CT is upfront that they offer little in merit. Dickinson will be better in this regard.

Your daughter is right - you should not be applying ED2. She’s not comfortable with it - and for a parent, that’s all you need to know.

I don’t know your stats, finances, and otherwise - but she wants to keep you from getting in over your head, and she’s right. Dickinson will be better. However, let’s say it’s not good enough - and there are other schools she gets into that are even more affordable for you.

Not getting her in debt or yourself over your head is a much smarter move. So let her apply RD and give her a big hug!!!

btw - no one “qualifies” for merit - it’s totally subjective - and while there may be criteria, unless it’s publicly stated like U of Alabama or U of Ariona, you don’t know what it is. Private schools like Bradley and Hofstra will estimate it for you - on their NPC.

And many of us believe if you apply ED, you are less likely to get merit aid. If you think about it, they’re a business - and if they have a customer locked in, why would they provide a discount?

Yes, some EDs get merit aid - but you read about a lot more unhappy ED students in regards to scholarship than anyone else.

Good luck.

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OP: Your post writes about both “merit scholarships” and “financial need” as if they are interchangeable terms; they are not.

Are you in need of substantial financial aid ? If so, then Conn College is not a school to which your daughter should apply ED.

Have you & your daughter researched colleges on the basis of affordability ?

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Have you run each school’s NPC? Both meet full need, but calculate need in their own way.
Both require CSS Profile, so if bio dad is in the picture, each school will require his financials.

https://npc.collegeboard.org/app/dickinson
https://conncoll.studentaidcalculator.com/survey.aspx

Here are average net prices by income level (for students who received Fed Title IV aid):

Conn College:

|Average net price by Income|2017-2018|2018-2019|2019-2020|

|$0 – $30,000|$19,893|$18,732|$13,178|
|$30,001 – $48,000|$13,525|$13,877|$13,979|
|$48,001 – $75,000|$25,704|$21,075|$16,044|
|$75,001 – $110,000|$29,499|$29,738|$27,748|
|$110,001 and more|$43,364|$46,140|$45,734|

https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=conn+college&s=all&id=128902#netprc

Dickinson

Average net price by Income 2017-2018 2018-2019 2019-2020
$0 – $30,000 $14,656 $11,046 $12,729
$30,001 – $48,000 $12,472 $12,662 $12,027
$48,001 – $75,000 $19,937 $18,152 $19,300
$75,001 – $110,000 $28,802 $24,027 $25,420
$110,001 and more $41,945 $41,667 $41,387

https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=dickinson&s=all&id=212009#netprc

If the NPCs are affordable, it can make sense to take the (likely) ED2 acceptance rate advantage. If the financial aid package is not affordable, you can get out of the ED contract. Not ideal, but not wrong. Here’s what the Dean of Admissions and Conn College said in an NYTimes article yesterday:

“Any student who applies, is admitted ED and finds the financial aid award (need-based or merit-based aid or a combination of both) to be unreasonable has every right to withdraw their application at Conn and pursue higher education options elsewhere,” Andrew Strickler, the dean of admission and financial aid at Connecticut College, said via email. “I fervently support a student’s ability to discontinue their candidacy at Conn under these circumstances.”

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Thank your your insightful feedback, both comforting to hear - as it does align with my thinking but then the feeling “what if I’m not being supportive enough” kicks in, and valuable information.

Thank you so much!

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I would add I hope you have an assuredly affordable safety….perhaps one of the publics in your state or an out of state that is very cheap (western Carolina ,UNC Asheville , UAH, Truman state for small/medium) or one of the many large state schools such as Bama, Zona, Ms State, Mizzou and so many others that can be super inexpensive for the super smart student.

Don’t fall in love with any bcuz no matter how great the fit, the most important component to fit is $$. I hope the $$ work out at her favorite two but make sure you have a school to pivot to just in case. There are many schools where most kids can be happy at and you have a daughter who you’ve raised well, to be value conscious!!!

Btw @Mwfan1921 brought up a wonderful thought about Connecticut. Hadn’t seen that b4. It even notes this on their website. Great learning !!

I’d call and ask who defines ‘adequate’ - perhaps in that case it would be ok to apply ED but I’d really a) make sure it’s the TOP choice and b) seek assurance on their flexibility- ie who defines affordability.

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If she wants to “see all offers” then ED is NOT the way to go.

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I only think ED should be used if: 1) an applicant has an absolute top choice AND 2) the family has run the net price calculator and the finances seem to work and there is no need/desire to compare offers between colleges.

It does not sound like the above holds true for your D.

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I agree with @happy1 , when a family applies to a school ED, there is already an assumption that this is their number one choice and if accepted they will attend and withdraw all other offers.

There is also an assumption that you have already done your due diligence in how to pay for college over the course of 4 years. Part of ED is that you don’t know if what you are getting is your best offer or if you would have gotten more money from someone else.

Unless your D’s other parent is deceased, you have adopted as a single parent, etc. the NPC, will not be accurate for you because both schools require the Non-custodial profile if you are separated, divorced or never married.

Unless you are eligible for a non-custodial waiver, her non-custodial parent must submit his finances through the non-custodial profile regardless of his willingness tp pay. If there is involvement by the non-custodial parent and s/he is not willing to pay for college, then these schools may not be an affordable option. If you have an uncooperative non-custodial parent, then you need to look at schools where your D is a candidate for great merit, or schools that do not ask for non-custodial information (using the non-custodial profile or their own forms. Vanderbilt and UChicago are two schools that do not require financials from non-custodial parents.

I agree with @thumper1, if you want to see all offers then you need to apply RD.

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Dickinson’s highest merit award used to be $20K (when my DC applied RD a couple of year ago), but I think it is $30K now. So if your D receives the highest merit, that leaves $44K.

In addition to merit, they gave my DC a generous grant. Run the NPC - it was very accurate for us.

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Thank you so much!

Very helpful!