<p>I'm not as worried about getting in as I am about receiving any financial aid. My dad has the ability to pay for all four years, but he caps it at $20,000 a year. I'm worried that since I don't qualify for need-based aid and probably not merit either, I won't be able to attend Smith. Does anyone have any advice?</p>
<p>Sounds like you are unlikely to be able to attend Smith, and so should apply elsewhere you are likely to get merit aid (or look into the honors college at your local state university.) Smith is not going to give you more than you qualify for. (Nor do I think they should - but that’s another issue entirely).</p>
<p>Good luck to you!</p>
<p>Zebrof, Smith does offer the STRIDE scholarship ($15,000 per year), which includes not only a wonderful scholarship but also two years of individual research with a professor for the first two years, an awesome opportunity, to exceptional students who may be competitive at other top-notch schools. It’s always worth a try–nothing ventured, nothing gained!</p>
<p>[Smith</a> College: Financial Aid](<a href=“http://www.smith.edu/finaid/prospect/aid_merit.php]Smith”>http://www.smith.edu/finaid/prospect/aid_merit.php)</p>
<p>Well I actually don’t know what I need to qualify for merit aid. Do you know what I need for that? I can give you my stats if that helps.</p>
<p>Zebrof,</p>
<p>How do you know your father has the ability to pay $55,000 per/yr? Many families have had setbacks in recent years but for various reasons don’t acknowledge their financial difficulties to their children. I would first have a heart to heart discussion with your father. It’s conceivable that $20,000 is legitimately the maximum he can afford, in which case use the financial aid calculator on Smith’s website to ascertain how much need-based aid you qualify for. </p>
<p>You stated your class rank is 118/584. In order to be considered for a STRIDE, your class rank would have to be in the top 1-5 percent or possibly 5-10 percent at an elite prep. Even if you were awarded a $15,000 merit award, the merit award and your father’s $20,000 contribution would leave you underfunded ~$20,000 per/yr…unless, of course, you qualify for need-based aid.</p>
<p>If you’re correct and your father is able to pay the full cost of attendance, I would heed mini’s suggestion and look at colleges where you might be awarded merit aid based on your 2230 SAT scores.</p>
<p>N.B. Merit awards cannot be added on top of student’s federally determined need, meaning the STRIDE award will not affect the total amount of aid packages for students receiving more than $15,000 in financial aid.</p>
<p>Good Luck. This will work out.</p>
<p>CrewDad,
Thanks for all of the information! I know that he can afford it because he has a lot in assets that’s he’s using to save for retirement. He wants to have $4 million by the time he retires, so… it’s very disappointing that I probably won’t be able to attend. My only other options are to hope for scholarships out of state that I probably won’t get or stay in-state, which I know I will hate. But thanks again!</p>
<p>Have you thought about legally emancipating yourself and taking a gap year? </p>
<p>Your father’s attitude makes me feel sad for you.</p>
<p>Davidson has a full tuition scholarship; I think University of Richmond has good scholarship money, and a Curmudgeon’s daughter did very well at Rhodes. These are all lacks that have merit money available. Beloit does too. And I’m sure there are many others. Don’t give up, even though conditions aren’t ideal.</p>
<p>I know that Smith is wonderful, but look carefully. Curmudgeon’s daughter had to give up Yale, and now she is attending Yale med school.</p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>
<p>Have you considered going through a bank and taking loans out? Financially, my family is not able to pay for my college education (and I don’t feel that it’s their responsibility anyhow). I got a decent amount of aid, but I still definitely had to take out a good amount of loans. I applied to a lot of schools and got merit aid to most of them, but it’s very difficult to get anywhere over $20,000 a year with merit. That could work in your favor if you get such a scholarship along with your dad’s $20,000 a year cap, but most schools are over $50,000 a year now. I know loans may seem scary, but if you are majoring in something that can get you a high-paying job straight out of college, you should be fine. Also, I’ve heard that graduating from Smith gives you an upper-edge in the job field. </p>
<p>So, I wouldn’t give up hope on Smith yet- it really is an amazing school, and if you really want to attend, there are ways around it even in not-so-ideal conditions. Good luck! :)</p>
<p>If I’m your dad, I’m not co-signing on those loans, so the loans are a non-issue. Which I think is a good thing. Smith is a GREAT school. And like ALL great schools, not worth going into signficant hock over, which will affect everything from what kind of job you can take, where you can live, and when you can raise a family.</p>
<p>So even if you could do it (which I doubt you can in any case), I think it’s bad advice to suggest that you should.</p>