<p>Hey everyone, I was recently accepted as a transfer from an Ivy to Northwestern. Through the course of the year I realized Northwestern is where I really want to be and I worked really hard to get a 3.9+ GPA in order to give myself the best chance at being accepted. Unfortunately, today I got my financial aid award and it included just 5000 dollars in aid which consists solely of stafford loans. My EFC was 9000 and the total cost of Northwestern is 54000 which would mean i would have to take out 42,000 in loans to attend. I called the financial aid office and they told me no grants were being given to transfers this year but that if I came I would have my need met the following year. At my current school, I would only have to pay 8000 this coming year so it is hard to justify going so far in debt.
Nonetheless, I really dont want to return to my current school and I am wondering if there is any way I could get at least some of my need met. Would it be worth it to email someone else at the school? Or possibly try and schedule a meeting with someone? I am willing to pay more for a year to go there but it just has to be realistic. I am willing to write whatever or drive to evanston if necessary. Any advice would be greatly appreciated</p>
<p>you must have had a horrible experience at your home school if you’re willing to take out 42,000 in loans per year to attend. that’s just crazy.</p>
<p>Just wondering, which school are you currently attending?</p>
<p>Best odds are to see if you can defer a year, go take a year off, and come to NU in a year when they’ll give you adequate aid.</p>
<p>I’m not willing to take out that much in loans which is why im looking for advice on ways to try and get more aid. Should I keep contacting the finaid office? Maybe a diff office? I truly think if I could talk to someone with the power to do something I could convince them to make attending realistic.
I am currently at Penn
Do you think it would do anything if I showed them the 45000 in aid they are offering me for the upcoming year, could that be effective at all?
Thanks for the replies</p>
<p>Why do you want to transfer from Penn to NU?</p>
<p>NW has made their offer. They won’t change it. Stick with Penn, pay NW, or take time off and try again next year.</p>
<p>I just had a terrible experience this year and I have no desire to go back at all. The east coast was just a huge culture shock and I never felt I belonged at all. There were a lot of things I disliked about the school. I got the chance to visit Northwestern 3-4 times throughout the year and loved it everytime and it felt like the perfect fit. I just think if I go back to Penn I’ll be so unhappy I wont be able to succeed academically because this last year I worked hard with the goal of attending a diff school
DNTW- do you really think there is no chance? As in not worth even calling or trying to meet with someone? I have heard of ppl getting more aid by calling and talking to people</p>
<p>maybe speak to the Dean of Financial Aid to plead your case?</p>
<p>yea i was thinking trying to talk to the head of finaid would be the best option. Do you think it would be better to email her or call?</p>
<p>Definitely Call.</p>
<p>What about asking if you can defer your acceptance for a year, and then take the year off to work or whatever?</p>
<p>Its only three more years at Penn, I’d stick with Penn(its cheaper and has a better reputation, IMO)…</p>
<p>^^ While Penn is more well-known, if the OP is miserable at the school, why should he continue to suffer if he doesn’t want to be there?</p>
<p>This is a very tough decision. I would definitely call the financial aid office.</p>
<p>because its 42,000 in loans(for a school thats less well known)…If NU’s FA office does cover the rest of the cost so the op has to pay wat he/she was paying at penn THEN northwestern is fine…</p>
<p>I found the email of the head of financial aid so I am planning on emailing her tonight explaining my situation, my desire to go to northwestern, my financial aid offer at penn, and basically just asking if there is anything she or I can do. I am really hoping she will actually read it. If i dont hear back by tuesday, Im planning on following up with a phone call to the finaid office and try to speak with her over the phone.
I realized that even if I wanted to take out a 42000 dollar loan I doubt I could even get it, so really attending NU is impossible for me unless I get some sort of grant, I’m hoping that explaining this will help my situation.
Thanks a lot for all the advice and let me know if you think this is a good plan</p>
<p>Sounds like a good plan to me. Good luck and hope ill see you on campus this year!</p>
<p>i appealed my FA before freshmen year. they didn’t give me the full amount i requested, but they gave me enough to make a difference.
sometimes appeals work.</p>
<p>this year tho, they have me much less than that of last year - northwestern is usually not too nice about their FA’s, from what i hear.</p>
<p>I find them to be very very generous, but really mean in the office when I have to deal with them.</p>
<p>Not sure why, but my experience may be the exception. I have found the process arduous, but time well spent. We appealed the first year, and succeeded in securing more financial aid than the first offering. The next year’s aid was similar, as our earnings were similar.
Every letter, and phone conversation was kind, helpful. My approach-I treated them with kindness and respect, figuring they were always under pressure, and trying to find a solution that would work for us-and them. Maybe this approach will help you, too.
APOL-a mom</p>