Financial Aid Situation/Questions

Colleges and Universities A-Z Bryn Mawr College
1

<p>I’ve been really excited over the prospect of being able to attend Bryn Mawr in the fall, except my parents and I got into a really big argument over money this past weekend. They didn’t even congratulate me on my acceptance, they just asked about the cost and looked at what money I was awarded. In total it’s about $21K, but the other $30K we’d have to pay out of pocket would put an extreme strain on us. I figure I’ll try to convince them to co-sign loans with me, and I’ve received a $4K scholarship from a contest, but I turn 18 so late that if they don’t co-sign with me (my sister is in debt and I have no one else living here who is willing to do it) I don’t really have a choice but to go to my state university even though I really want to attend Bryn Mawr. </p>

<p>So I thought I could gather up money from my job, my bank accounts, and outside scholarships to help pay for the first year of Bryn Mawr in a way that my parents would contribute only as much as they’d end up paying for my state university… </p>

<p>I was wondering if, after freshman year at Bryn Mawr, there were more scholarships given to students through applications, recommendations, etc., in hopes that I could keep attending Bryn Mawr without completely straining my parents. </p>

<p>Also, I read in the financial aid package that you could send in financial awards from other institutions to Bryn Mawr and they may reconsider awards? Has anyone ever done this and received more?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance! I hope to see you in the fall :]</p>

2

<p>If your current financial aid award would not allow you to attend, talk to the financial aid office. You have nothing to lose and so much to gain! My financial aid offer was revised back in the day, so miracles do happen occasionally ;)</p>

<p>If that does not work, I would agree with your parents though. As hard as it is to make this choice now, you don’t want to get yourself into too much debt for an undergraduate liberal arts degree. Bryn Mawr does not have scholarships for returning students (aside from $500 literary contest awards and stuff like that); your aid is more likely to go down than up in the future.</p>

3

<p>What is the best way to talk to the financial aid office? Should I go there in person/call/email? My mom will be in the area (without me though) in a few days, so she was wondering if she could just stop in and talk to them about my financial aid offer.</p>

4

<p>So the $15000 anniversary scholarship isn’t renewable?</p>

5

<p>It is renewable, a total of $60K throughout the four years.</p>

6

<p>Just curious, what are the conditions for renewal?</p>