I’ve been really struggling to decide whether I should go to UR. Here’s a break down of my FA package:
Grants and scholarship: UR $60,000
Net cost: $13,000 (work study 4000 loan 3500 out of pocket 5500)
I do think that it’s a quite decent offer but there’s much more to it that I worry about. My main concern is that I’m not planning to work in the 1st semester freshman year because I wanna make myself get used to the academic and social environment first. But even if I start working in 2nd semester, it’s impossible for me to make $4000 within one semester so my parents are gonna pay for the rest of the cost, which will accumulate to about $7500, and that’s just TOO much to afford. Also, since it takes me 6-7 hours drive (or 1.5 flight) to the university from my home, it’s gonna cost a lot more than $300 as they estimate as the standard expense. I thought of making an appeal to them but I don’t know if I should because in my case I don’t really have a “special circumstance” so I doubt appealing would work.
The thing is I really wanna go there and my parents agree to cover the cost for this year. But even if I get through the first year, what about in the following years if they offer much less aid?
Should I make an appeal? Does any of you know if they will give consistent amount of aid? (assuming my parents’ income remain constant)
Anything helps THANKSSSSSSS
What’s the other option that you’re considering? Getting 60K in aid is quite good…
All three of my lads starting working (work study jobs) their freshman fall semester and it didn’t hurt their academics or having time for “fun” (clubs, etc) at all. It might have made them better at planning out their study time TBH.
It’s difficult to know if accepting your acceptance is good for you without knowing what your other choice is.
@Creekland I got accepted to Syracuse and the net cost is $13,000. But since there’s not much difference in the cost and location between the two, I prefer UR because of their research opportunities. For Bing and Buffalo, I will need to pay $19,000 and $16,000 respectively (including workstudy and loan) which I didn’t expect to be this high considering they’re public schools. So basically my only option is UR…
60k is a lot but what Im afraid is what if they offer much less aid next year coz I heard they usually give out more aid in freshman year. And I don’t wanna transfer out in future years because of FA…
I don’t think financial aid varies all that much year to year unless your circumstances vary a lot, and if that is the case it will be the same at any college you decide to attend. The big things to consider are major changes in income and siblings either starting college at the same time as you or leaving college while you are still attending.
I agree with the PP that aid changing can happen at any school. We did not see significant changes when my son went there, but I respect that he’s a data point of one, so impossible to draw conclusions from.
Am I reading correctly that they have you at 3500 for the student loan? You can take out 5500 as a freshman. I would do that if you are unsure of working at first.
Check into some work study though and see if you can get something in an office or library. Even if it’s not a lot of hours, it could be a good start and you could add more hours when you are ready. At the very least, you could try for a shift on a weekend. Not only would be be a little needed money, but could help you get to know other students/faculty faster and feel part of the community.
You could also try working from now until you leave for UR, possibly making a good chunk of that before you even leave. Which would be helpful to have before the bill and expenses need to be paid.
Recently I realized that UR’s financial aid “is limited to eight semesters for students admitted as incoming freshmen” so basically they only offer 4 years of aid. But what I’m worrying is that what if I can’t get my bachelors degree within 4 years? (even though they have 79% 4 year graduate rate) How am I supposed to afford the cost without any kinds of aid?
I almost committed to the school but when I found out this, it really holds me back from making the decision… What should I do…
I don’t have extensive knowledge of colleges, but I know I’ve heard of more than one private school that has had the same 4 years of aid policy. Does this differ at your other choices?
Why do you think you wouldn’t graduate within four years? It’s not difficult to get the classes you need at URoc like it can be at some state schools or smaller privates. If there’s a medical reason where you think you might have to pull out for a semester or two, you can always check to see if those “count” in the four years or not.
@Creekland I believe that Syracuse and my other public colleges don’t have this 4 year policy.
The AP credits (Eng Lang and Lit) and other dual enrollment credits I’ve earned in hs, either they don’t accept it at all or an additional course is required to get the credits, which means I’d need to start from zero and that’s the reason I doubt I could graduate within 4 years… You said it’s not difficult to get the classes at UR do you mean it’s less likely for the courses to be filled? Thanks!
Just as one data point, my lad could have graduated in four years with two majors and two minors and only had to add extra credits to his semester a couple of times to make that work. He went in with just AP Stats and Psych credit, and even then, one of his majors didn’t allow Stats to count so that was one of his “extra” courses added to a semester.
He ended up getting accepted into Take 5, so he spent a 5th year there by choice (tuition free and since he was an RA his room was free too), but one has to prove they can graduate within four years to get accepted.
With getting classes, I’ve heard two things back from students at the (high) school where I work. Sometimes in smaller schools classes aren’t offered every semester - and not even always every year though that’s less common. At other (often crowded) schools needed classes fill up so unless one is majoring in the subject, there’s no guarantee to get it - even then - it’s only guaranteed for seniors. I’ve heard neither complaint from URoc. My lad didn’t have to appeal to a prof to get into any class, nor did he ever talk about knowing anyone who did.
I would think you might have to be concerned about graduating in four years if you were to change your major late or maybe if you studied abroad and those courses don’t count, but I find it difficult to think it happens to “typical” students.
I’m also not sure if they count Take 5 students as graduating in four years or five since they don’t get their diploma until that 5th year. If five, those are some of the 21% right there and that’s a volunteer thing you need to get accepted into, not a “couldn’t graduate in four” thing.
@Creekland Thanks for your comment! I have one more question, how did your son’s schedule look like when doing a double major? like how many classes/credits he needed to take per semester to graduate within 4 years?
^^^ I sent you a pm with my guy’s contact info. Specific info like that I’d rather he answer so I don’t get something incorrect… My memory 'taint what it used to be.
FYIW, my son graduated with a Mech Eng major and did a study abroad semester in New Zealand and graduated in 4 years. He overloaded classes a few semester just to take more non engineering classes he liked so really graduating in 4 years is quite achievable.
He did not double major but the Engineering course load is full of solid classes, very little fluff. With the overlap some double majors have if you map it out in the beginning, you will likely succeed.
@mutewine: my son graduated from UR in the spring in four years with a BS in Bio and a BA in PolySci. He averaged about 18 credits per semester. People are often puzzled about those two unrelated disciplines, but that’s what my son was interested in and UR was a great fit for him to fully explore both his passions.
My daughter is a senior and is also double-majoring—microbiology and public health. In fact, double- and even triple-majors are pretty commonplace there. And graduating in four years is not a problem at UR, even with a double major. My daughter also did a semester abroad, which is treated the same as any other semester by UR’s financial aid and all of the classes worked into her majors.