Hello!
I am currently a senior in high school and I live in South Carolina. I have applied to 9 colleges and have already been accepted to Simmons college, university of South Carolina, university of Alabama, and Drexel University. However, I have been deferred from both Georgetown University and University of Michigan. Drexel has given me my financial aid package and it says that the estimated Parent PLUS loan is $37,000. We also completed the net price calculator and the expected family contribution is $11,000. My family’s income is around $80,000. With that being said, my family is not able to take out loans due to my mother’s health and we don’t know how long she will be able to continue to work. I liked Drexel because of their co-op program. I applied to most schools up north because I feel that I will have more internship and job opportunities. My question is do y’all have any advice on the whole financial aid process? I am new to this and it is kind of confusing. Also, do y’all know any other schools up north (with a nursing program located in a big city) that gives generous need-based financial aid?
Thank You!
How much can your parents pay for,you to attend college? Are you in the running for the generous scholarships U if South Carolina gives to instate students?
You don’t have to go to a $50,000 plus a year college in a major metro are in the northeast to become a nurse.
^ This.
Don’t spend extra money to become a nurse. Go wherever has a good program and gives you lots of aid.
What are your stats?
Are you a NMSF?
I don’t think a co-op program would work with the last two years of nursing school because of the clinicals.
This is not financial aid.
If your stats are good, UAHuntsville has a nursing program that may be affordable for you if you can obtain a UAH scholarship. UA’s nursing program is only 5% of the student body, so you can imagine the competition (by GPA) to get beyond the first two year courses.
Temple in philly has full tuition for 1420 sat cr and math or 32 act, and 3.8 gpa, I think deadline for scholarship is Jan 15, but not sure
Im thinking my parents are willing to pay 5k-10k max. But that’s kind of pushing it and yes, I’m running for USC instate scholarships.
My sat score isn’t really good. My score was 1100 (cr+m), GPA weighted is 4.4 and and unweighted is 3.5. I have also studied abroad twice, one through the U.S. Department of State, and received full scholarships through both study abroad programs.
The conventional wisdom is for the student not to borrow more than the Direct loans offer- a total of about 27k over 4 years. And even that can be hard to pay back on a starter salary. Parents might decide to take a few thou in Plus loans, but they have to consider just how they can afford to pay them back. And the PP start payments the spring after each loan is disbursed. On 80k, depending on other bills and their contribution to you, this could be/probably will be mighty tough.
With an 1100 CR/MATH Sat total, you will find it hard to get the generous scholarships offered at U of South Carolina.
Let me be blunt - Georgetown, Univ of Mich are out of reach - no admission; Even if you get admission - no money.
Best school are in the South - Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida for money. Most of the Aid are loan in addition to EFC. So make sure you read the fine print. With your score there are few place that offer real merit aid. Try to go to SC state school to keep you cost low.
@bk1366 yes, I know my scores may not be as high as others on here but I will not let that hold me back! I have a lot of other academic achievements going for me. I visited seven countries by the age of 16, two of which were study abroad. One full merit scholarship in Spain 2014 and another full merit scholarship from the U.S. Dept, of State to study abroad in China 2015. I came on this thread to get some helpful and encouraging advice, not to get bashed about my test scores. I have worked hard to get where I’m at, so just because I have a low test score that doesn’t define me as a student.
@b33p85 you came asking for help with financing college. Your achievements are notable for sure. But in many cases acceptances, and merit scholarships (sounds like you need both) are stats driven first and foremost.
The scholarships in the state of SC are very stats driven. Very. We are not bashing your scores…but your SAT score just might be the one thing that keeps,you from getting a generous scholarship.
But then…if you don’t apply, you won’t know.
FYI, Georgetown only defers or accepts in the early round.
Have you considered trying the ACT (or retaking the SAT)?
Your stats are similar to my daughter’s and we are looking for nursing as well. My advice is look for a direct admit program because the competition to get into the 2+2 programs is going to be strongly based on your GPA and will not correlate with the minimums they publish on their info pages that usually say 2.75-3.0. It’s generally MUCH higher, like 3.8 at the programs in our state. If you’re looking at a state school or other with non-direct admit, ask about the profile of the students actually being admitted into nursing each year so you can get an idea if it’s realistic that you could compete. We know my daughter likely cannot, which is why we’re looking for direct admit. Not bashing her ability or yours, just realistic.
I don’t know how you feel about going far from home, but if we had $11k we could spend, she could go to any school we’ve applied to so I’ll tell you her list (we will get higher need based aid than you, so our list might not translate).
Run the Net Price Calculators for Capital (OH), Marshall (WV), these Wisconsin ones - Concordia, Carroll, Cardinal Stritch, Alverno, Carthage. These will all be direct admit. Also try the NPC for Gustavus and St Catherine in MN. They aren’t direct admit but usually are able to take very nearly everyone that still wants nursing when they get to the junior year.
St Olaf is one more option to check. They are much more selective than the others above (you should get accepted at all those, it’s just a matter of if they’re affordable for your family). St Olaf also gives the best need based aid, they claim to meet nearly full need. However, their nursing isn’t direct admit. About 36 apply each year for 24 spots. Hopefully this gives you a few more options to check out.
@b33p85 Sorry to be blunt. I am not trying to put you down. All I am saying how college views your application more specifically state school which is already subsidized. Your accomplishment will be more valued in private than in state school (who go by score and GPA). But then you need to get money. For example UT Austin (in texas) use the following formula for admission. The cut off varies by school but this will give you an idea how state school calculate. I think it is similar to ivy league. They use something called AI an PAI.
The Academic Index (AI) is determined by a multiple regression equation utilizing a high school percentile derived from an explicit class rank and class size [1-(class rank/class size)]*100, and verbal, math, and writing test scores from the ACT Assessment or the SAT Reasoning Test. The equation produces a predicted freshman year grade point average.
The Personal Achievement Index (PAI) is UT Austin’s holistic approach to admissions. Admissions officers are trained each year to conduct comprehensive reviews of every completed application. All applicants are required to submit two essays. They are encouraged to include a resume detailing their civic and academic activities during their high school years. The resume, including letters of recommendation and all other items an applicant chooses to include, is then reviewed and scored on a scale of 1-6.
One example of the formula for liberal Arts College using SAT score.
The Liberal Arts Group – SAT Model
-.285 + (SAT W * .002) + (SAT M * .001) + (HSR * .009) + (SAT CR * .001)
With the family income and your test scores it is going to be hard to get enough aid at OOS public schools.
@b33p85 No one is trying to insult you.
The app process is time-consuming and expensive. I doubt that you have unlimited time and resources to apply to a huge number of schools, right?
If so, then your time and money is best spent applying to schools that you have the BEST chance of acceptance WITH adequate aid. Right?
UAHuntsville will take later test scores.