Neither of them have asked for need based paperwork.
Ok…at Franklin Poerce, it appears you have received a merit award, since their need based awards won’t be sent out until March. You need to complete your FAFSA ASAP after January 1. You can do so using estimates. I’m suggesting this because FP does participate in SEOG and that money is limited. You need as much aid as possible so apply early.
It sounds like you are eligible for a full $5730 Pell Grant. In addition, you will,get a $5500 Direct Loan in your name. You have the potential to get SEOG money but the amount is variable. With all,this, you would still have a significant gap in what aid the offer and the cost of attendance.
Your parents really are not in a position to help you with college financially.
You have applied to two very expensive colleges…considering your family finances. Franklin Pierce might be affordable…might…but it’s going to depend on their need based aid package for you.
I seriously doubt that George Mason will be affordable. You are OOS, and the school doesn’t meet full need anyway.
I certainly hope you have some affordable options in your application pile in case none of these two works out.
Really, your potential to get a full ride to either of these schools is really low. Your guaranteed aid is the Pell, and the Direct Loan…plus any grants the schools give you. Honestly…to,get to,the $45,000 plus amount is going to be an uphill climb.
I’ve applied to 8 schools. 2 of them are in state and relatively affordable. Either way, college isn’t going to be very affordable to me. I’m not looking for a full ride, I’m willing to take out loans to get the education I need. The opportunities in Maine are extremely low, and I really need to get somewhere else to get the best education. I am pretty determined on going to George Mason, so I am going to do everything to make it work.
Just keep in mind…your ability to get loans on your own is limited to the Direct Loan…period. For freshman year, that is $5500. Will you have someone who can cosign a loan!
There are plenty of opportunities in Maine…we have a bunch of very successful relatives who live there…bankers, engineers, business folks. The schools there are modestly priced compared to $48,000 a year.
One of our family members started at a community college and then got his degree from Southern Maine, I believe. It’s not a swanky school…but he now earns a huge six figure income.
Your low-income parent can’t qualify to co-sign larger loans (and those are a bad idea anyway).
So, you’re limited to a $5500 loan your freshman year.
@gtgonewrong you need to adjust your “dream school” thinking…or you could end up very disappointed if this one school becomes unaffordable.
Please consider opening your mind to other options.
I am going for journalism though, and I have had many teachers tell me that if I go to school in Maine, my chances of making it anywhere in the journalism field are dead.
I am just so in love with everything about George Mason, I cannot picture myself anywhere else.
Your chances of having a lucrative career in journalism are very low almost anywhere you go to college.
Please just have a plan B. George Mason is a VA public university. The school does not meet full need for all acceoted students. Their first and primary mission is to provide aid for VA instate students whose parents pay VA taxes to help,support the university. Your parents don’t do that.
Like I said, I have applied to 8 schools. @thumper1
Where else did you apply? Still waiting to hear from, I mean?
I am waiting to hear from:
University of Maine
New England School of Communications
American University
Emerson College
Boston University
I have been accepted to the University of Mississippi. @HRSMom
What are the 2 relatively affordable instate options?
What is the Cost of Attendance for each of those?
What do you think the chances of you getting merit at American do you think? Their FA package also doesn’t come til March!
"AU is committed to using its resources to create access, opportunity, and student success. We meet 100% of the demonstrated institutional financial need of all eligible first-time freshmen, and continue this level of support through undergraduate degree completion at AU. Additionally, for the most recent entering classes, Pell-eligible students constitute approximately 20% of the new students. "
$24,000 for UMaine
$29,000 for New England School of Communication.
I honestly have no idea @HRSMom
I believe that my stats are relatively good? I was in the competitive range for the Honors program
What do the net price calculators show for each with zero FAFSA EFC?
You need to have affordable options since your parent won’t qualify to cosign add’l loans.
These are YOUR loan limits:
5500 frosh
6500 soph
7500 jr
7500 sr
Have you run the Net Price Calculators on each schools’ website?
Please run the NPC on George Mason’s website and copy/paste the results.
^if you do this, m2ck is good at finding solutions!
UMaine: Roughly $12,000
NESCOM: Roughly $12,500