I’m currently a junior and Syracuse is my top school right now. I really want to attend, but I’m worried about the price. We estimated my parents’ EFC at around 25k-30k although they will pay none of this. How generous has Syracuse been with FA and merit? My parents will not cosign any loans so I will not be able to borrow anything more than the federal loans. I am worried about not being able to pay if I do get into Syracuse.
If your parents are giving you zero money, you can’t search for schools based on where you’d ideally like to go. You have to focus like a laser on price.
If you are a top student - grades, scores, awards - you might be able to get a full-ride scholarship to a school that offers that type of award. See link below. Next best option is a full tuition scholarship in a low cost of living area where you can house and feed yourself on a student loan and a part time job. Otherwise, you will need to work and start at community college. Will your parents at least let you live at home to save money or do they intend to completely cut you off at 18?
Scholarship list link http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/
@AroundHere I have already begun to search for financial safeties. I believe you were one of a few who gave me some advice on one of my other threads. I was just curious because I would love to go to Syracuse if it turned out to be affordable. I wanted to know what others had experienced with the financial aid at Syracuse.
Even if you got a 30,000 merit award, it would reduce your need based aid, not your family contribution.
There are a couple full tuition awards on their website if you think somehow your application could be one of the best they get the year you apply. That would still leave you over 15K in room and board and expenses to live on campus.
http://admissions.syr.edu/scholarships/
It sounds like the parent money talk didn’t go well at all if they are not paying anything towards college.
@AroundHere I got them to run a few NPCs which surprised them, but they still say that they have nothing saved up to give me and that they will not be able to help out. My mom seemed really shocked to learn that they are expected to put 30k towards my education, but considering my dad is looking towards retirement in the next year or two, they will not be helping me out.
I’m sorry, @carmen00 You are definitely not the only one this happens to. At least you found out before spring of senior year.
You should encourage your parents to look around for money, though. Just because they don’t have 30K, they might have more than zero if they think about it. For example, if the American Opportunity Tax Credit survives Trump, they can get a 2,000 tax rebate on money spent for tuition each year. Can they save any money after you leave home (for example grocery bills go down with no teen to feed, maybe they pay for you to have a music lesson or other extracurricular, etc)? They might be able to send you a monthly allowance, or agree to keep paying some expenses like cell phone, keep you on health insurance, at least until dad retires, etc. Also, do clarify if they expect you to move out, even if your affordable choice turns out to be a school you can commute to. If there is a college in your town that meets your needs, you might be able to make the finances work by living at home.
If you do not currently have a paid after-school job, you need to find one, and work all summer, too. Money gives you options. Save every cent you can.