<p>I just got off the phone with the financial aid office at Syracuse and needless to say it didn't go as well as I had hoped. In essence I gave one of the greatest sob stories, quoted lines from the daily orange, and also explained that I thought SU met 86% of students needs. Unfortunately the financial aid office is completely rigid, the package you were offered is final. According to what the representative on the phone said, "The only way your package will change is if one of your parents recently lost their job or there was an unfortunate death in the family." I was also informed that I was one of the many who called to complain about the financial aid package, and that there is just nothing they can do. There is no appeals process, no matter how many times you call or write. With the recession, I understand that they're hurting but I don't think they understand how much we're hurting. It seems like my dream is slowly vanishing. I never would've imagined that we would enter a time where getting into the school doesn't pose the difficulty, but rather affording the school is the problem. I'm completely distraught, I thought I would vent and also just inform the rest of you CC'ers that the package you received is final...</p>
<p>I’m so sorry Knight! I know how excited you were to get your acceptance! I hope you can work it out, but if not there are many good schools out there!</p>
<p>Thanks skanmom, unfortunately much of my excitement has deteriorated because I’ve been forced to face the reality of the situation. I worked so hard to get into Syracuse and to turn it down would just crush me. I’m going to do my best to figure it out, but at the end of the day my parents will make the final decision. If I wind up not being able to afford it, I’ll wind up in a SUNY which isn’t bad but not exactly what I wanted. Best of luck to your daughter, hope she hears back soon…</p>
<p>Hmmm…
My best friend goes to Syracuse and one of the things she told me is…
“the financial aid office has money… if you need it you need to go there and ask for it…”
She pretty much told me that if you need the money they will give it to you… so there must be ways… She got extra money.<br>
I asked her about this when I was concerned about applying because of the cost. She’s a poli-sci major with a minor in newhouse… although I doubt that matters.<br>
But she did say there were ways to get more money.</p>
<p>First thanks a lot for your post, this information would be very helpful if you gave me just a bit more information… Ways to get money is extremely broad, do you know exactly what these ways may be?? Like I said, the office said that all packages were set in stone. So any further insight would be much appreciated…</p>
<p>Well, knight03, there are more good colleges out there. Don’t be upset about it. Anyways, i got the same answer from their aid office. However, one thing they told me was that the aid also based on what major or (which school) you got in, which i think is little bit unfair.</p>
<p>Money is the deciding factor right now between Syracuse (top choice) and Rutgers (second choice)…and right now i’m leaning towards RU because it costs half as much…</p>
<p>this sucks. i didnt get any financial aid.</p>
<p>All she said to me was you can go to the financial aid office and get more money even if your financial aid package doesn’t look to good…
I’ll ask her for more detail…</p>
<p>im right now thinking of going to Stony Brook instead of Syracuse.
Though Syracuse may have a better ranking than SB, Syracuse costs too much. If i go to SB, i don’t need to worry about financial aid thing…and besides…i heard some news that SU’s applicant pool is not as competitive as last year…thus SU may let some people who don’t really work hard go into their school…
SU’s college ranking looks nice but i am afraid that admitted so much kids with average acamedic standards will lower its ranking next year…
still can’t decided…</p>
<p>My sister goes to Stony Brook… she hates it…
She’s in her 3rd year… and is looking into Columbia and NYU for grad school…
What is your intended major?</p>
<p>i think the SB’s campus is not as good as SU’s.
My major is Biochemistry in SB and Chemistry in SU…</p>
<p>"Though Syracuse may have a better ranking than SB, Syracuse costs too much. If i go to SB, i don’t need to worry about financial aid thing…and besides…i heard some news that SU’s applicant pool is not as competitive as last year…thus SU may let some people who don’t really work hard go into their school…
SU’s college ranking looks nice but i am afraid that admitted so much kids with average acamedic standards will lower its ranking next year…
still can’t decided… "</p>
<p>Ranking really doesn’t matter so much, its about the strength of the program. No one is going to look down on you for going to SB or think you’re any smarter for going to Syracuse. They’re both good schools, and its likely that your future employer will only care that you have a degree. Its about what you put into it. Could SU’s ranking really slip that much in a year? It just sounds a little ridiculous to worry about something so trivial. If a school is a good fit for you, go to it and don’t read so much into such things.</p>
<p>knight03-</p>
<p>Syracuse was also my first choice school, and I was just accepted into Newhouse. I know that the financial aid will make my final decision, though. I did an interview at the time of my application, and my interviewer has not offered me any suggestions for the financial aid situation. In fact, his greatest goal was to get me to spend MORE money to visit Syracuse. I just can’t justify spending over about $30k for Undergrad + $15k for room & board. Jeesh! You aren’t alone! Interesting posts :)</p>
<p>I wrote this long post and then my schools wonderful internet shut down… but in a nut shell… </p>
<p>The people I spoke to at SU said all you have to do is go to the FA office and tell them you need more money. Maybe its different for them because they already go to the school, or because when they’re asking people have declined awards already. But everyone I spoke to has gotten more money by just going to the FA office and telling them they need more money and they are given scholarship, loan and also grant options. I am not sure if it matters that all the people I know who go there are NYC residents but I doubt TAP is making much of a difference because they would have been offered that already. </p>
<p>I know that probably is not helping you as you need the money now, but it seems they are giving the extra money to already admitted students.</p>
<p>That’s sort of what I figured but I don’t think my parents would be crazy about me taking that big of a risk. I need the money physically before I go there, or else I’m in the same situation as I’m in now though. It definitely can’t hurt to let them know this though, thanks a lot cdiamond I really appreciate it…</p>
<p>Yea, I would be in the same kind of situation if I don’t get enough FA.<br>
I’m transferring from SUNY to a private University. I hoping since SUNY pays for everything I will get the same a SU, but I’m still awaiting my decision.</p>
<p>Right now the financial aid office is getting every complaint under the sun. Trust me on that one. This is a very bad year. What may get you a bit of consideration, is to accept the offer AND the Stoneybrook acceptance. THat means you will be losing an deposit, and you cannot do this if either school specifically prohibits this. You high school will not like this idea either, so it is wise to keep mum about this. If the school specifically prohibits this, again, you are breaking rules. Then in the middle of May, when the turmoil has gone down and some people that were offered fin aid and admissions at Syracuse have decided to go elsewhere, you go visit fin aid and give your best case personally. Find out from students who the best person is at Fin Aid to approach. You then let them know that you cannot afford to go to SU unless you get more money. If they have the $$s, they just might cough it up, as they are now down to the students they are counting on, and have a better idea of how much money if any is left.</p>
<p>Best of luck to you cdiamond, I hope everything works out for you… Thats a really good idea cptofthehouse, I may just do that. It sounds like something that just may help me beat the system and get to my dream school. Thanks for that.</p>
<p>Thanks, and yes that is a good idea, which maybe why the students who go there are able to get more money. They are asking for it after everyone else has accepted or declines their awards, possibly freeing up a lot more money.</p>
<p>not like the scholarships, the grant is dependent on your and the school financial situation. Even you get more aid in grant through bargain thi year, you may not get it next year. What are you going to do if you get no aid next year?</p>
<p>SU don’t have a medical school and its faculty in Biology/Biochemistry field is not strong in research comparing to SB.</p>