<p>D is a senior. Has applied EA to FCRH. 3.82 GPA, ACT= 28. Great teacher recommendations. Not tons of ECs, but those that she has done are of good quality such as Nat. Honor Soc., involved in dance nearly all her liife, Spanish exchange (fluent in Spanish), part-time employment. Likely to start as undecided, but gravitate towards international affairs with a minor in business and/or minor in Spanish. Based on the estimates using the Fordham cost calculator we will maybe receive some financial aid, but are lookiing at out of pocket tuition, room, board of +/- $42-$45k. </p>
<p>D just recived notification of admission from another local Catholic University along with $90k merit scholarship. Our out of pocket for tuition room and board there would be about $22-25k per year. </p>
<p>Merit award at FCRH seems remote given her stats. At the risk of being premature since FCRH admission is not certain, can anyone comment on the value of FCRH vs the cost of FCRH?</p>
<p>Its highly subjective and one has to consider the strength of programs and faculty and alumni connections and internships. Not everyone can come to the same conclusion.</p>
<p>Fordham is an awesome school on many levels. Its New York. </p>
<p>Most schools dont require any final decision until April. Sit on the award and admission and see what happens.</p>
<p>I concur merit money at Fordham unlikely. But they do give grants if you filed CSS and FAFSA.</p>
<p>Its expensive. That is a fact. </p>
<p>Is the other school Jesuit? Where is it?</p>
<p>Sovereign, I’d rather not name the school that offered the merit scholarship. </p>
<p>She is applying to Fordham, Fairfield, Seton Hall, Manhattan, Drew and Barnard. </p>
<p>I’m trying to stress to D that the application process is just that, a process. That she should make her best case to schools that she likes, try not to fall in love with any one particular school (fall in love with all of them if possible), get as many options as possible, then be a smart consumer with the understanding that cost and value can be different concepts. </p>
<p>You’re a great booster for Fordham. I respect that as much as you talk up Fordham you never talk down other schools. </p>
<p>I respect the Jesuits. Jesuit adds value in my opinion.</p>
<p>Fordham is probably worth $5000 more per year than all except Barnard, which is probably worth $5000 more per year than Fordham.</p>
<p>$10k/year, things are up in the air. $20k/year is an easy choice, unfortunately. I don’t know if I would have liked a non-Jesuit Catholic college. But college-choosing is like a good marriage: most of the falling-in-love should happen after you enroll. Props for doing the college dance sensibly.</p>
<p>Appeal financial aid everywhere; it can only help.</p>
<p>Applegrinder, thanks for your input. We plan to appeal all financial aid awards, but I’m trying to think about what the bases for an appeal could be. I don’t foresee any job or income losses (knock wood). Would you suggest using merit awards from one school to try to get another scholl to increase non-merit aid? Without getting into details we did have a health situation several years ago with another child that required tapping savings that would otherwise have been available for college education. Obviously we’d do the same thing again and we are gratefull for a good outcome, but there was a financial hit. Could this be a basis for an appeal of a FA award? Any suggestions you have would be appreciated.</p>
<p>Even Miracle Max would call that health situation a noble cause–sounds like it could be worth a try.</p>
<p>Dunno if Fordham would match merit aid with need aid. I think it’s unlikely except against Barnard. Still, you never know until you ask.</p>