I read on another website a comment that Bates has a reputation for “bait and switch” when it comes to financial aid, meaning the amount they provide falls drastically each year (even if your financials don’t change). Can anyone here who has experience with Bates’ financial aid over four (or three) years comment on this?
I’m thinking (hoping) this was just a one-off situation, but since it’s one of my daughter’s favorite schools, I would like to know if anyone had a bad experience. Thank you!
I can definitively say that was not the case with my daughter, a '17 grad. We were very pleased with Bates FinAid. Almost as good as our other child’s Ivy package.
Absolutely not the case.
Thank you both so much! So good to hear! Glad it can stay at the top of her list!
Not our experience, either (son also a '17 grad).
Mom of ‘15 grad.
Bates did increase my son’s “student contribution” each year, but not by much. This is more because they expect kids to earn more each summer. It amounted to about $1k increase. We just paid it. He used his summer earnings and job on campus to pay for his books, entertainment, etc. We also had income increase each year, so while our FA increased a little, tuition increased more. Still, 4 years and it cost us in total $80K.
I must say that he got an excellent FA package - more than we ever expected with our income, and more than our EFC suggested we’d get by about $15K/yr.
Is there ever a chance of getting more money from Bates when the EFC looks like we can afford to attend? My dad may be laid off and that would change everything, but the lay off may not happen until just after May 1st. So worries and scared and not sure what to do. Any ideas, assistance would be greatly appreciated.
@wantoknow987 call the FA office and talk to them. You will find they are very helpful.
@hviewer , a good friend’s daughter is a junior at Bates and that has not been their experience at all.