<p>Sorry for the late reply, I had to dodge a herd of rampaging buffalos…</p>
<p>[url=<a href=“http://www.tulane.edu/~finaid/idxstaff.htm]Staff[/url”>http://www.tulane.edu/~finaid/idxstaff.htm]Staff[/url</a>]</p>
<p>^ Find the corresponding counselor based on your last name.</p>
<p>I met others at DT yesterday who were still waiting for financial aid packages. I sympathize with you because it is tough to make decisions without knowing your true options. And the clock is ticking…</p>
<p>We have been waiting patiently but today I finally called and gently inquired if they had any clue as to when our aid package might be ready. She seemed annoyed by my question. The answer: They have NO IDEA when they will finish, but they are done with about 80% as of today.</p>
<p>Nothing new to report except that we got the same info when we called - the 80% done, by next week Monday or Tuesday and the student will get an email with instructions to check Gibson.</p>
<p>I received my financial aid earlier today. This is what I have so far.</p>
<p>Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan for 3500
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan for 2000
Federal Work Study for 3000
Perkins Loan for 500
Pell Grant for 4100
Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant for 3000
Louisiana TOPS 2770 [Incoming stipend of 800]
Tulane Scholarship of 2600
Presidential Scholarship Award of 25000
and Tulane NOLA Award of 1037</p>
<p>I’d like some opinions on my plan.
My ultimate objective is to attend Tulane for Four Years without incurring any loan debt. Thus…
I was planning on taking everything besides the first four, since I’m a Louisiana resident and don’t need to pay for Room/Board/Transportation. That leaves me at 38507, which is just enough for the Tuition. </p>
<p>That makes me wonder…in NOLA (No Loan award) Loan’s description, it says Tulane is pleased to award you a No Loan Award (NOLA). This award, along with other gift aid and your determined expected family contribution, assures that you will not need to borrow funds to meet your budgeted tuition, fees, and transportation costs. Most other scholarship awards you receive from Tulane or other sources will be considered as a resource towards meeting these costs and can impact your NOLA amount. Refer to Tulane’s website for renewal policies governing your NOLA award. </p>
<p>Then is the NOLA award supposed to just make up the difference to reach the Tuition costs of 38,300, and does it stop there?</p>
<p>Question 1: Does the NOLA doesn’t cover the fees?</p>
<p>I should be able to make do without loans even if it doesn’t…but
I’m worried is that the tuition is going to climb over four years, and I was wondering if the NOLA award will climb to reflect this rise.</p>
<p>Question 2: Does the NOLA award make up the tuition difference if student is deemed eligible based on need and meets requirements for renewal? </p>
<p>Question 3: What is “Miscellaneous Fees” and does it mean anything if I already have health insurance?</p>
<p>My Valedictorian scholarship of 5k/ small scholarships are expected to pay the fees that I may come upon.</p>
<p>Would there be any problems in this plan?</p>
<p>Does anyone have any thoughts?</p>
<p>What is your EFC, LamTram?</p>
<p>My son received his Financial Aid package Friday. Our AGI is below 70,000 but our contribution (including loans) is 26,800. The problem is that our home (which we have lived in for the last 20 years) is paid for. Has any one tried to negotiate FA? My son has been wanting to go to Tulane for years and he’s in but the $ is a problem.</p>
<p>People have successfully negotiated FA sometimes. As is often said, what have you got to lose? They won’t take any away from you, so there is no place to go but up. Just go in with the realistic expectation that they do expect the family to cover as much of the cost as they feel is realistic, and you home is an asset they would expect you to use. Most people, understandably, don’t like that, but all schools are the same in that regard as far as i know.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>mafhav-, fallenchemist is right as to private schools taking your home equity as an asset into the financial aid equation, however state schools generally do not. FAFSA does not include home equity in its findings whereas Profile/CSS does use it. State schools use FAFSA alone in their determination of aid and the privates use both FAFSA and Profile plus they often have their own set of rules unique to their particular school which is why EFC from FAFSA and the actual award from any given institution is different. It is truly a maze, and is why it is important to cast a wide net for academics as well as financial aid (if that is an issue for an applicant). Good luck with your appeal.</p>
<p>Thanks for that more complete and more correct answer, 4safrontman. I wasn’t familiar with state schools and made the (obviously erroneous) conclusion they did the same as the privates. Good to know.</p>
<p>EFC around 1400, AGI of 43k</p>
<p>fallenchemist- You are more than welcome. I truly appreciate all your excellent info on this thread and the others you contribute to.Thanks!</p>
<p>Anyone else still waiting? I feel like our family has been forgotten.
In the meantime, thanks, everyone, for posting during this unbearable wait. I learn at least a little bit from everyone.</p>
<p>Lam Tran</p>
<p>I think part of the reason that you have not received answers to your questions is because the No Loan program is new. Tulane only started this program last year, so I’m not sure how many people have experience with it. WHen I first heard of it, I was under the assumption that it was no loans for the cost of attendance not just tuition and fees, but when I look at the financial aid link now it clearly says “tuition and fees” (last year the link was not on the financial aid page, it was an announcement under prospective students)</p>
<p>Anyway, I will try to answer the questions that I know the answers to…</p>
<ol>
<li> Does the NOLA award include tuition and fees</li>
</ol>
<p>Your package IS a no loan package for tuition and fees. Workstudy is part of your no loan package, which would bring the total to 41,507 not just the 38,507 in grants and scholarships. (Tulane’s website shows tuition and fees is 41,888 so you are actually short 381)</p>
<ol>
<li>Will having my own health insurance reduce “miscellaneous fees.”</li>
</ol>
<p>No, purchasing health insurance through the school is an additional cost not included in the cost of attendance.</p>
<ol>
<li>Will the NOLA award increase as tuition increases.</li>
</ol>
<p>My guess is that if Tulane continues with this program and family income and need remains the almost the same, your tuition and fees will be covered without loans. The actual amounts could change because you may get a smaller or larger Pell, SEOG (always a variable amount), Tulane need based schoarship, or the maximum Louisianna scholarship could change over time. So, it may not necessarily be the NOLA scholarship that increases.</p>
<ol>
<li>Your outside scholarships of 5K+</li>
</ol>
<p>These need to be reported to Tulane. THis is where it gets tricky, and I’m not sure what will happen. My son had 8K in outside scholarships the first year and 11K the second year. These amounts did not affect his “gift aid”, because Tulane first applied it to his “gap” and then reduced his loans and workstudy. </p>
<p>In your case, my concern is that your letter clearly states that “Most other scholarship awards you receive from Tulane OR OTHER SOURCES will be considered as a resource towards meeting these costs and can impact your NOLA amount.” so, I am wondering if your NOLA amount will be eliminated because of your outside scholarships. </p>
<ol>
<li>Workstudy</li>
</ol>
<p>Even if you are turning down the loans, you may want to consider keeping workstudy. I know you live locally, so you may already have a job, but if you don’t, workstudy helps if you are looking for a job on campus. For example my son got a job tutoring inner city children that were bussed to Tulane. He made $9/hr. which is above minimum wage. It was two hours a day and he could decide how many days he wanted to work.</p>
<ol>
<li>ACG</li>
</ol>
<p>WHen I look at your award, I see that there is no Accademic Competetive Grant included. Sometimes the financial aid offices add these later. I imagine you are qualified, and I think it’s $750/year.</p>
<ol>
<li> Finally</li>
</ol>
<p>I am assuming that when you applied for financial aid that you said you would be commuting from home. If this package was based on living on campus and you change your mind, the package can change.</p>
<p>I wish I had a lot more “definitive” answers, but as I stated not many of us are familiar with the no loan program. Make sure you send notification of your outside scholarships, you will receive a new package and have a clearer picture of what’s going on</p>
<p>jjcddg - You are right, at least for me. I have no information regarding the very intricate ins and outs of this and similar programs.</p>
<p>I do think on #2 though that he was asking if having his own health insurance reduced the fee that Tulane charges to maintain the health center and provide various services separate and apart from insurance. The answer is no, all students are charged that fee whether they have their own insurance or get it through the school.</p>
<p>Again, thanks for posting. Otherwise we are operating in a vacuum here.</p>
<p>jjcddg, I’d like to first thank you very much for your earnest reply. I’ve come upon a few things to clarify these questions after a brief conversation with the Financial Aid office lady, who is very kind, I might add.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>That’s correct, though simply being given the NOLA does not require Tulane to meet your complete tuition and fees. Though for the most part, qualifying for the NOLA, according to the lady, usually qualifies you for enough NOLA to meet your tuition and fees. [She got a bit iffy there] It depends on Tulane’s own personal ‘estimator’ of your financial need, which is to be expected.</p></li>
<li><p>Health insurance is mandatory. Health insurance could be paid from your miscellaneous fees, as could any other purchases that you charge from your A/R. If you have a personal health insurance, then you don’t have to go for the school health insurance. </p></li>
<li><p>Qualifying for the NOLA in Freshman year allows you to be reassessed every year. Whether it meets the tuition and fees obviously depends on financial need, as do all need based awards.</p></li>
<li><p>It is Tulane’s 5k scholarship for State Residents, which comes in the Summer, after graduation. Tulane is aware I am eligible as it has sent me an email regarding my eligiblity already. Though, I guess I could call at some point to ask how it would effect me. Thoughts?</p></li>
<li><p>That seems like a possible option.</p></li>
<li><p>ACG, that’s what I’ve heard as well.</p></li>
<li><p>I called the Financial Aid office and they reassured me that everyone’s COA includes Room and Board, in the case that someone is commuting from a residence that they rented off-campus. The only thing I would have to worry about is if they actually charge my A/R with dormitory costs. They are already aware of my UG Commuter status and will not reduce financial aid if I choose not to take the room and board. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>These are all responses that I’m sure everyone could have guessed. But it’s just a clearer restatement, just in case someone needs it.</p>
<p>Gibson just updated to say that they reviewed a form that they received in February and has been pending review since then. It is pathetic how glad I am about that shred of evidence that aid will be posted (soon?)!</p>
<p>So I recently got my financial aid package and it was surpringly low, especially in comparison to the other packages I got from other school (manily from SMU and Fordham and even my instate financial aid at UMass-Amherst [which gave me almost identical aid as Tulane]). My concern is that on my gibson account, my CSS Profile status never changed from “Received” and is still dated in February while all of my other documents changed to “Reviewed and Completed” dated on April 7th. It also never said “received and Pending” as all my other documents did before the “Reviewed and Completed” change.</p>
<p>My question is is it possible that my CSS profile never got reviewed???</p>