<p>D is my first to go to college - her 1st and 2nd choices are small LAC - 1st being 36,000/year, 2nd being 28,000/year. Our EFC is 13,500 (don't really know where they expect that all to come from though...) I'm starting to panic that we will not be able to make these colleges a reality. She's been offered $15,500 at the first and $12,500/year at the 2nd choice. That's still a long way to go. She can go to plan C, a mid-american college for no tuition - but it's larger and she really has no interest/attachment to this school. But in my husband's mind it's "free" tuition wise and he's starting to put the pressure on whether we can afford either of the first two. I don't want to crush what she has worked so hard to get at (yeah, I know you've heard this all before...) </p>
<p>For those of you who have been thru this process with perhaps an older child recently, can you post what a fin aid packet looked like for you? I know this varies from school to school, but I'd like to have a better handle on what to expect. </p>
<p>Also, was anyone able to "open for discussion" the amount offered with a desired school (i.e. get them to find more $$$ to offer). </p>
<p>Any help in trying to relief my anxiety would be appreciated!</p>
<p>If they really want her, they will meet the rest of your package above the merit aid with grant. If they want her, they will meet the rest of your package above the merit aid with grant, $1800 in work/study and a $2500 loan. If they are okay with her attending, they will meet the rest of your package above the merit aid with a small grant, $2000 in work/study, a $2500 subsidized loan, a PLUS loan of $4000 and a gap of $5000-$8000.
(Okay, I made up all the numbers.... and, if she got a merit scholarship, that means they do want her to attend...) But this will give you an example of preferential packaging w/needbased aid. HTHs :)</p>
<p>I'd say it depends a lot on the calibre and endowment of the school. Have you checked college board to see what % of need they usually meet? You can also glean a lot by where your daughter is stats wise in the school's admissions pool.</p>
<p>A lot of second tier schools give a merit award as a "come on" discount and then don't meet need.</p>
<p>I believe they meet 96% of need. Her GPA and test scores are probably in the top10% at least. I'm told they have a very good endowment pool to draw from...I hate waiting...!</p>
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I think I hear what you're saying anxiousmom - have you had this happen to you?
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Yes. We lucked out with DD and she got a FA package that meets all need above our FAFSA EFC with grant and scholarships. (no loans or workstudy.) But next year..... next year we will have two in college, possibly at that college, and DS will likely have loans and workstudy in the package. (But that college does meet 100% of need, and will cap student loans so that he graduates with no more than $14,525 in student loans.) He also might end up going to our flagship school, because it's strong in his major, and will cost us a lot less year 2-4 when we only have one in college. We're waiting to see how the numbers look :eek:</p>