<p>Hi all,
I just wanted to share my story in hopes that it will save someone from wasting an application fee in the future. </p>
<p>I am from a firmly underclass family–my parents had 12 children and attempt to raise—and homeschool—them on under $30k/yr. Their income is obviously a deciding factor of my ability to pay for college. I moved out at 18 and haven’t looked back. I spent the last three years (I had developmental classes to take as a result of my subpar homeschool education) at a community college. I’ve worked nearly full time each semester to put myself through school, but after rent and bills my savings haven’t amounted to much. I graduated this May, Summa Cum Laude (3.9 GPA), with an Associate of Science degree.</p>
<p>I applied to American for Fall 2012 transfer, and was shortly thereafter accepted to the college and invited to the honors program. I was very excited, and eagerly read up on campus life and spoke to current students and faculty. That is, until I received my financial aid package—nearly two full months (!) later. Aside from a PELL grant (the same for any school applied to) and a merit based scholarship for $12,000, I received $0 in institutional need-based aid. Nothing. I was hoping for need and merit based aid, but it seems that merit based aid for transfer students is very limited, and need based aid is all but non existant. If I’d have known that the financial aid office wouldn’t have even considered my financial circumstances, I wouldn’t have applied.</p>
<p>I really liked American, and I’m sure it’ll be great to those who can afford it. I, conversely, am grateful that I was also accepted to Georgetown, which does meet full need—I’ll be attending in the Fall. :)</p>