<p>Hey!
I'm a high school junior, and I'm trying to get ready for the college application process. I think WUSTL is the perfect school for me. I am in love with this school. But the problem is, money is a big factor in my college decision. WashU is expensive, and my family is quite middle class. Cost is especially important because I want to go to medical school as well. I'm expecting to be a NMSF, so I know I have some college options that would be a lot cheaper. My question is: can I expect to a get good financial aid package from WUSTL?</p>
<p>The main answer that I’ve gotten is not to expect much from WUSTL. However, I think that they’ll be looking at each student on a case-by-case basis and that you can’t rule aid out just yet. The best thing to do is to send in the special scholarships they’ll mail you about, which are very competitive but it’s better to apply than not. I didn’t read the letter in time and realized that I wouldn’t be able to send in teacher rec’s on such short notice. The best thing that you can do is to focus on your grades, extracurriculars, volunteer work, etc. rather than to think about aid since WUSTL is a competitive school to get into.</p>
<p>The general consensus is that WashU meets 100% of need… and if you feel they haven’t and can explain why, they generally up their offer.</p>
<p>I saw this on the wustl website. </p>
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<p>does anyone know how wustl defines low income? and, if a famliy’s income is above that threshold, does wustl cap the loans at a certain level, then provide grants for the balance as is done in wustl’s competitors such as NU, eg?</p>
<p>[Financial</a> Assistance?Helping You Afford the Best Education](<a href=“http://admissions.wustl.edu/FINANCIALASSISTANCE/Pages/default.aspx]Financial”>http://admissions.wustl.edu/FINANCIALASSISTANCE/Pages/default.aspx)</p>
<p>I don’t know their definition of low or middle income but I find the following, also from their website, encouraging:</p>
<p>“Washington University has eliminated need-based loans as part of its undergraduate financial aid awards to students from low- and middle-income families. This initiative and its goal of helping families with the most need will not lessen our desire, responsibility, or ability to work with all families to ensure they have the financial resources they need. We remain committed to a flexible and personalized approach to delivering financial aid to those who need it most.”</p>
<p>I guess what is most important is how they define “need.” Anyone know how WUSTL treats home equity?</p>
<p>My daughter is currently a sophomore at WashU. She would have NEVER been able to attend without the need-based scholarship they awarded to her. We are a family of 4 with income of $125K (approx). My daughter’s scholarship covered slightly over half of her expenses (tuition, fees, room & board). Be sure to apply for financial aid and scholarships. All of the scholarships are NOT advertised. The one my daughter received was not and it is renewed every year, based on our income.</p>
<p>As I recall, if your EFC was as much as $50K, you could expect some need-based aid from Wash U for the 2009-10 class - if you applied for aid.</p>
<p>Akward,
What were our daughters stats, if you don’t mind sharing? Just wondering how outstanding a candidate you need to be to receive scholarship. Thanks for your input!</p>
<p>If you are accepted, you will receive need-based aid (as long as your EFC makes you eligible) in regardless of your merit, so stats are irrelevant.</p>
<p>Your merit is only considered in the merit-based scholarships (which require separate applications), which are separate from need-based aid, which is automatically considered for anyone who selected the option on the common application.</p>
<p>Generally, I think for WashU, financial aid does not play too big a factor in admitting the student. (until they almost run out of money anyways, which is rumoured to be around the last 10% of RD applicants)</p>
<p>memema, I was told by the Financial Aid office that they use the Profile EFC.</p>
<p>Can2010</p>
<p>I heard it was closer to the last 1% of applicants.</p>
<p>So if financial need plays a factor in admissions towards the end, would it actually be better to apply ED? Do ED admits get the same financial aid?</p>
<p>If you don’t receive any financial aid and you really need one, just call the Financial Aid Office, explain the situation, and they tend to be really helpful and many people I know who did this end up with financial aid. After all, WashU is pretty rich</p>
<p>I believe Can2010 is right, if accepted, you’ll get the need-based aid, regardless of stats, if your EFC warrants it. My daughter’s stats were the average for acceptance at WashU. ACT 31, 3.84 GPA, top 10% of her graduating class, several AP courses, governor’s school, couple of extra-curricular activities, interest in Chinese language (that’s her major). Her hook - AA Female. By the way, my daughter applied RD.</p>
<p>Oh, and I think $60K or less you get “no loan assistance packages”. Similar to Harvard, etc.</p>
<p>There is a lot of good information available on the web site of the Project on Student Debt. For example, here is a link to a table that summarizes institutions that have taken a pledge to eliminate/reduce loans in aid packages:</p>
<p>[Project</a> on Student Debt: Summary of Pledges: Eligibilty Guidelines and Basic Provisions](<a href=“http://projectonstudentdebt.org/Type_and_Coverage.vp.html]Project”>http://projectonstudentdebt.org/Type_and_Coverage.vp.html)</p>
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<p>So if one’s family income is greater than $60k, one will have loans without a cap - ie, very large loans potentially ?</p>
<p>also, ak, what is a AA female? and what was your EFC?</p>
<p>Roderick: So if one’s family income is greater than $60k, one will have loans without a cap - ie, very large loans potentially ?</p>
<p>also, ak, what is a AA female? and what was your EFC?</p>
<p>I think that is a very broad statement to make - I don’t know what the maximum loan amount would be per family.</p>
<p>AA=African American
EFC was over $40K her first year</p>
<p>I’ve found Wash U to be generous with financial aid–I receive a non-merit scholarship package worth around $52,000 per year (no loans–just Wash U scholarships/grants and a small Academic Competitiveness and Pell Grant). Of course, this could be simply because of my family’s very low income.</p>
<p>Also, a benefit about study abroad–as I understand it, Wash U provides the same financial aid package for your semester abroad (and charges the same tuition as if you were studying at Wash U). However, prices for housing and food are much lower in the programs I’m looking at compared to the current prices here; fortunately, the financial aid office won’t lower my aid when taking this into consideration. I’ll just receive a refund that will cover my airfare and personal expenses there.</p>
<p>Definitely speak to the Financial Services Office if you have any questions about the process! Everyone I’ve worked with is really accomodating</p>
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<p>[College</a> Search - Washington University in St. Louis - Washington U. - Cost & Financial Aid](<a href=“College Search - BigFuture | College Board”>College Search - BigFuture | College Board)</p>
<p>Home equity is ignored</p>
<p>My family makes upwards of $200k and we got a few thousand knocked off. This might have been because of how we explained a tricky financial situation that we are currently in, but nevertheless, we still got some fin aid.</p>