<p>My guidance counselor suggested I send a letter to Tulane's Office of Financial aid before financial aid decisions come out to have them consider my circumstances when they give out aid. Has anyone else appealed for financial aid at Tulane? I've heard they're kind of stingy with aid that's not merit aid (which they are very generous with :P) so I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions/insights about this. Thanks!</p>
<p>I don’t think you should do anything until you actually see your package. They might surprise you. You don’t have to say on here of course, and you probably mentioned this to me and I have forgotten, but is there something particularly unusual that won’t show up on the FAFSA/CSS forms?</p>
<p>Yeah, my guidance counselor highly recommended that I draft a letter and send it before aid packages come out so they can keep it in consideration while they make my package, rather than appealing when most of their funds have been alloted to students or other things. And no, it isn’t really seen on the CSS or the FAFSA.</p>
<p>Well, I suppose it couldn’t hurt actually.</p>
<p>Im still trying to figure out how this whole financial aid business works. Some schools meet your need with mainly grants while others give mainly in loans. Tulane I think is the latter. That being said… the Tulane website says that once need is established, one of the forms of aid is in gifts (grants I assume?) that can be merit based. So…above and beyond the Presidential Scholarship, would it be possible to recieve more merit funds to to make up the difference in cost between the need and expected family contribution?</p>
<p>Oh yes, that is possible. I think the way to look at it is if you get the Presidential, it is like they added $25,000 to your income, except it is completely targeted to Tulane. Of course the better way to look at it is they will calculate your EFC like everyone else’s, but then they will add the $25,000 to it, or (same thing) subtract the $25,000 from the total cost of attendance (COA). So let’s say the COA without merit is $53,000, and your EFC is $10,000. Your COA is viewed as $28,000, leaving $18,000 for the FA (if they do 100% of need). That $18,000 can be any combination of grants, loans and work-study that is appropriate for your situation, at least as determined by Tulane. Beyond that I don’t know much.</p>
<p>Ok. Let me put it this way. If they wanted her(which they do since they offered her the Presidential) and our expected family contribution was lets say 23k (just saying;) that would mean that the need would be 30k. Minus the Presidential. That means that there would be 5k as need. Would she likley get that in “gift” or loan? In other words, because she is an extremely high achiever.</p>
<p>I am afraid you have exceeded my expertise, lol. I really don’t know what the typical disposition of these kinds of situations are. If you think about it though, it would be great if you posted the actual outcome when you know it. I always like learning more about all facets of the process.</p>
<p>Well thankyou Fallenchemist anyway for all your help. I have read every one of these posts for the last couple of months and feel very informed about Tulane. Just hoping for the Deans Honor. Then I wont have any financial aid questions at all!</p>
<p>I can so relate! That really was a huge day for us. I will be hoping for you as well.</p>