<p>We are in the same situation. Combined profile had our EFC at about 27K. Aid “package” gave us 11k mostly in loans and invited us to find out how we could get 48K more in loans. I think not. We really applied mainly because it was thought to be a school that gave merit scholarships. We learned differently since applying. I do wonder though about the general lack of enthusiasm on the Brandeis board since the decisions came out (look at how few posted on the results thread compared to other similarly ranked schools.)</p>
<p>Hey, I just found out why my financial aid was so low. I had made a mistake on the CSS Profile that made it look like I was going to get $40,000/yr outside aid for college. I felt that it was necessary to correct my earlier post with this post.</p>
<p>They gave me $5500 in unsub. loans and that’s it. Kinda sucky when my state school (UMA) is about 45% of the cost of Brandeis, and when other universities have given me 15K-20K of merit aid. 3.8GPA, 2260, head of 3 clubs (in 8 total), employee @ Harvard (programmer).</p>
<p>I am in the same boat as you, synny. Receiving only $5,500 in loans, without any sort of scholarship, is not only disappointing, but infuriating. I consider myself to be an excellent student, and I did not bust my ass in high school to be on the receiving end of such a paltry package.</p>
<p>Ask for a re-evaluation. I asked for it twice and now I have a scholarship of 25k.</p>
<p>When asked, they said I have to fill out an appeal form for re-consideration of need based aid. Due to my family’s assets I’m going to get $0 in need-based aid (even though we have a good amount of debt/not actual $$) – what I would need is a merit reconsideration, and they weren’t very helpful via email. I may try calling them this week.</p>
<p>I’m afraid that they are offering merit scholarships only to students who also qualify for need-based aid. If you check the website, you can see there are just a handful of merit scholarships left for students who are deemed not to have need. There is one specifically for students from a certain geographic area, for example.</p>
<p>I hope it works out for you.</p>
<p>Yesterday, DS said YES to a great university, and sent his NO THANKS to eight others.</p>
<p>I realized that seven of the eight had given generous offers. Brandeis stood out as the most unwelcoming in their package. This, from a university that says it meets 100% of need if one applies by a certain date.</p>
<p>No one should hold it against the faculty or the alums. The university is still a contender when it comes to good academics, though it has slipped there in the last twenty years.</p>
<p>But FA brochures do need to change their wording, at least for the next admission cycle.
“Meeting need” can not include loans. Loans DO NOT reduce cost; they increase cost, even as they defer it. We do not need the FA office to tell us how they can loan us money or arrange for loans. Anyone can borrow. Real Financial aid is a scholarship or a grant.
And Brandeis is not competitive this year in this regard.</p>
<p>I would recommend that any admitted student who think their financial aid package is unmanageable contact Student Financial Services (781-736-3700) to talk with a financial aid counselor about their situation. This is a human driven process and we really try to work with individuals to make a Brandeis education work for them.</p>
<p>Jeff Wong
Admissions Counselor
Brandeis University</p>
<p>The S had to say no to Brandeis primarily because of the finances…kind of difficult when need is based on an EFC above $60K (which we could not afford unless we and the S took on considerable amounts of debt).</p>
<p>Congrats to those who can make this work…Brandeis seems to be a real nice school.</p>
<p>I got a decent scholarship, then appealed and got an even better package. Brandeis really did work with my family and I on the financial aspects. It’s really a shame that I still can’t afford to go there. I’m pretty crushed…</p>
<p>To clarify:
We DID contact FA at Brandeis. They did re-consider, and made a better offer.</p>
<p>But “better” offer was (please believe me) truly, honestly, not competitive with other universities.
And the practice of FA departments of showing you “your cost” as the expenses minus grants AND LOANS is deceptive. (Brandeis University is not alone in this, but many other universities do not engage in it.) </p>
<p>Thank you BrandeisOfficial for chiming in. Some of your admits were happy with the way they were treated, and some less so. Ask yourself why so many had to “go back” and (essentially) haggle with you. Why the university claims to meet 100% of need to priority admits, and why you present loans as reducing the cost.</p>
<p>Then do it better for next-year’s admits, and do a nice university proud.</p>