Financial aid question

Colleges and Universities A-Z Bryn Mawr College
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<p>Heyyy guys! I’m waiting on my packet from Bryn Mawr, only I have to send a couple more things -_- Anyway, I REALLY want to go to Bryn Mawr. I really do. But the thing is, is that my parents make $200k+/yr. I really want to go but seriously, unless you’re upper class, spending over $40k/yr on a school with no aid is kind of tough :\ Especially since my brother will be in college in a couple years and all.</p>

<p>I’ve been accepted to another women’s college, Hollins, with a decent scholarship that makes it half the price of Bryn Mawr. I was getting myself psyched up for Hollins because I’m a fatalist and thought to myself, “Bryn Mawr is going to reject me,” but now that Bryn Mawr hasn’t, I’ve shown my true colors and now I know I DEFINITELY want to go to Bryn Mawr. Not that I wasn’t sure before, it’s been my top choice for awhile now but. Yes :slight_smile: And not that I wouldn’t be happy at Hollins or anything, but it doesn’t fit me as snugly as Bryn Mawr…</p>

<p>Anyway, everyone I’ve spoken to has raved about Bryn Mawr’s great financial aid packets. Do I have a chance at any aid? Period? XD And I know this probably won’t work, since they’re not short of amazing students but I know how great Bryn Mawr is and all, but I was wondering if I could use my other financial offer to negotiate for a better package? I really want to go to Bryn Mawr, I’m seriously so happy right now.</p>

<p>I know I’m probably not eligible for work study (I don’t really get who gets the opportunity to do work study… it’s based on need, am I correct?) and all that stuff, but I want to find a way to go there and. Yes.</p>

<p>And another thing :\ My parents told me that they’d pay for me to go to college and whatnot and I’ve known that. They’re fine if I go to Hollins as it’s about $20k/yr. But my dad is a bit of an ******* and told me that if I go to Bryn Mawr, he’d only be willing to pay $10k/yr. And, I know, it doesn’t make any sense but my father is kind of a jerk (which is why I’m going to school 13 hours away ;)). The rest would have to be loans since I won’t get any aid because my parents are capable but unwilling to pay for it XDDDDDDDD It’s seriously the funniest thing, though, I think at least :wink: Ahaha XD</p>

<p>I really hope this isn’t coming off as an, “oh pity me, look how badly I have it,” post, because it really isn’t to be. But I just wanted to know how much Bryn Mawr would be willing to help me in my situation… I mean, they don’t exactly have a shortage of students wanting to attend there XDDDDD I dunno. I kind of lost the point of this post, to be honest. But if you have any advice or opinions or anything, it would be greatly appreciated.</p>

<p>Thanks guys! :)</p>

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<p>If you feel comfortable, please do message me for my email address and we'll talk. I'm a current student, so I can attest to this, and I can offer some advice.</p>

<p>Please send communication to admissions letting them know about your situation. Bryn Mawr is one of the best schools I know of for making exceptions for cases that the FAFSA might not cover. My father makes an income that is quite high, but I have almost all of my tuition covered by financial aid.</p>

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<p>Oh- and anybody works on campus who wants to. Period. Almost 80% of the student body holds a job, and anybody can get the 8 hours required for work study.</p>

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<p>Wow, anyone can work on campus if they so choose??! Oh, that's great to know!! And I will definitely email you!! :D Thanks a ton!! :)</p>

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<p>Joycelene! I was reading your message and I'm a little freaked out by the bizarre similarities between our situations...I am also deciding between Bryn Mawr and Hollins. I never thought that I'd be accepted into Bryn Mawr so I was ready and willing to send myself to Hollins in the fall, but the moment that I got that acceptance e-mail, the whole situation changed. I LOVE everything about Bryn Mawr and I would give my left leg to go, but money is a huge issue for my family. I did recieve financial aid, but my mom would still have to pay around 20k and I know that taking out 20k worth of loans would be an unwise decision. On the other hand, Hollins is a great school, they gave me a wonderful scholarship, and I love the campus- but I just don't get that same feeling that I get whenever I go to Bryn Mawr. It's a frustrating decision!!! Are you going to the Bryn Mawr open house in April? I'd love to meet you. Sorry about any spelling errors in the post, I just got so excited after reading your message.</p>

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<p>Wow, we ARE incredibly similar!! Very creepy o__<em>o You wouldn't have happened to have been at the Batten Scholar weekend, would you? That would be even creepier o</em>o</p>

<p>So far, the verdict is no from my parents in terms of the open house :( I'm distraught over this as I really want to visit (I have, but over the summer) and meet everyone!! ARRRG.</p>

<p>I feel exactly as you do!! I love both schools but I think Bryn Mawr is the better fit for me. But there are a ton of things I love about Hollins, it's just that Bryn Mawr is the school best suited for me. I just don't know! <em>sigh</em></p>

<p>I hope things work out well for you! And hopefully we end up picking the same school and will be classmates next year! :D</p>

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<p>My husband is also not particularly supportive of the idea that we'd be paying full cost of BMC experience. I'm trying to run interference for my D, and I find no "easy to discover" info on what options D might have to assist her parents in making BMC a solid choice. So Shanabelle, would you mind sharing either publicly or privately, some ideas? Also, I see reference to Batten Scholarship. Are some of you lovely posters going to a co-ed boarding school in the middle of some cornfields, equidistant from Chicago & Indy, by any chance??</p>

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<p>In terms of financial aid, keep an open discussion with the office and explicitly describe your situation, guys. I would get no money if one looked at my FAFSA, but the admissions office made it possible for me to go.</p>

<p>Any student who wants work study can do it. Freshmen work in any of the three dining halls, or Wyndam Alumnae House, and have the option of working more hours at an additional job second semester. I work 11 hours, as well as all of my other extracurriculars, so it certainly is manageable. For me, this work study goes towards my personal costs during the year: books, and flights home being the bulk of them.</p>

<p>I suggest that you don't discount the loan options available to students. </p>

<p>On a purely sentimental note: I absolutely, without a doubt, love Bryn Mawr. A lot of my friends had to make that same tough choice, and everybody ends up at the right place, but... I'm grateful that I am where I am. So please, educate yourselves about aspects to BMC in addition to the cost. And if it is the place you WANT TO GO, send a letter with additional information accounting for your circumstances to admissions/financial aid. It certainly won't hurt.</p>

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<p>Joycelene, I did go to the Batten Scholar weekend and I loved it! (my name's Bailey btw) It's too bad you can't come to Bryn Mawr this month though :(
Shanabelle, thanks for your post; sometimes I get so caught up in the financial stuff that I forget about the actual colleges, your post really calmed me down. My mom filed an offical appeal to the financial aid office this morning so I'm hoping the college will be receptive.</p>

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<p>AHH! Your name sounds familiar. If you can recall from that weekend, I would be the only Asian girl who was there. I'm pretty distinctive lol.</p>

<p>Yeah, it's a shame :( I'm really ticked; it's not like I'm asking to go across the country and visit a zillion colleges like all my other friends! I'm just asking to visit one school for one weekend. Grrr.</p>

<p>I have such a difficult decision. Meh. I haven't received my financial aid packet yet, being as I submitted it late... I'm so impatient.</p>