financial aid

<p>so i got my need based estimate today and it was rather disappointing. uchicago was offering nearly 3x (8 grand vs. 24g per year) as much. is there any way i can negotiate and get georgetown's bumped up?</p>

<p>hey! I've been waiting on my FA packet but to no avail---where do you live that you got it so early?</p>

<p>never mind! new jersey. ha...ha.</p>

<p>I got mine yesterday. Gave me 37k/year plus a 3k/year John Carroll scholarship.</p>

<p>I don't believe you can negotiate it since it's need-based.</p>

<p>tlesc01,</p>

<p>if you don't mind, could you share with me your EFC that the FAFSA showed? Georgetown is AMAZING, and I've been accepted early. I would really like to attend but it almost seems as if the money issue is overruling my parents. I've gotten in to a lot of schools (Duke, JHU), but in terms of realistics, I've narrowed it down to UNC-Ch or Georgetown (because I love it that much). </p>

<p>So I can either choose to be really happy and poor at GU, or well off with money and sad at UNC. Any ideas/suggestions/advice?</p>

<p>ferrel, I am in almost the exact same situation. I'm waiting on my FA offer (hopefully it will come today!), but no matter what they offer, I am going to Georgetown. The costs might be staggering, but there is no way that I am going to pass up the amazing education and experience that 4 years at Gtown will provide. My government teacher said "If there's one thing you go into debt for, let it be your college education." For me, it is worth it. I didnt work my ass off for four years of high school to let money stand in my way, you shouldn't either. You deserve to go to Georgetown, and I say, GO! We can be in debt together.</p>

<p>gtown's a great school but its hard to justify spending 2x as much over schools like uchicago or northwestern.</p>

<p>My EFC from FAFSA was 7709. Georgetown gave me a 7710 contribution (they tacked on an extra dollar? lol). Hopefully that gives you some perspective.</p>

<p>I really am honored that such a great college has been made affordable to me through need-based aid. It can really help you or really hurt you, I just happened to be on the good end.</p>

<p>Out of that 37k/year, how much are loans?</p>

<p>That is all grant money, so around 40k in grant money. They factored in 2000 for a work study and a 3000 Stafford loan as well, so total package: 45k/year.</p>

<p>you rock. thanks for all the help. Hopefully I'll get my package today.</p>

<p>shapeofhome- holler. Now I just have to convince my parents that debt isn't as bad as they think.</p>

<p>Has anyone got any idea of how will they send the financial aid notifications to the internationals? I seriously hope they inform us throgh emails like they did with the admission decision. Any notifications through postal service may take weeks to come to my place.</p>

<p>I think it's all by mail, buddy. :(</p>

<p>Mass. here and still nothing.</p>

<p>I got mine today. In NC.</p>

<p>27k scholarship, 3k work/study, 3k loan. Expected family contribution is around 20k: still not enough to sway my parents towards Georgetown. I really wish it were. :(</p>

<p>Is there any way to appeal for more money? I got $20,300 a year, $3,000 loan, $3,000 work study for a grand total of $26,300. The thing is my brother also goes to college so the combined costs will be overwhelming for my parents.</p>

<p>Hopefully I can get more, no? Maybe at GAAP?</p>

<p>JDorian, just as a head's up, the atmosphere of GAAP is not aimed towards that at all. I was there last weekend and basically, unless you take the initiative to seek out your individual financial aid counselor or schedule to speak with him/her, there are no opportunities during GAAP to interview your way into more $$$. Especially in the coming weeks since all the financial officers are busy getting packages together for RD acceptances.</p>

<p>I would try sending them a letter.</p>

<p>When you guys are choosing your schools/financial aid, you should factor your graduate education into the costs. If you're an aspiring politico, you will not go very far in DC without your Master's degreie, even if you have graduated from Georgetown (ie, Georgetown students are a dime a dozen here). And trust me, if you want to work for the government, or government consulting, or non-profits...that education is not going to pay for itself anytime soon.</p>

<p>I received about half tuition in financial aid my freshman year. My two older siblings graduated from college last year and overnight my financial aid went from half-tuition to zero (not even subsidized loans or work-study). So another factor to consider is, your need now does not mean that will be your need or your financial aid package two years from now (though this works both ways-- if you have younger siblings who enter college, you will get a BETTER deal). </p>

<p>Don't get your hopes up on the appeals process. Barring extreme circumstances, you will have done a lot of work and it will probably be in vain.</p>

<p>Depending on what you're studying, you can recoup your student loans relatively fast-- if you want to go into investment banking, are a business or econ major, basically any field with QUANTITATIVE skills..</p>

<p>Just be aware that in taking on a huge financial loan burden you dramatically limit yourself in what you can do after college. You may not want to do the Peace Corps or go volunteer abroad right now, but who knows how you will feel in three or four years? Those options will be closed to you if, six months out of school, you are making loan payments of $700 a month. </p>

<p>I have had to change plan mid-course and am now graduating from Georgetown early. I have a lot of loans. A LOT. I don't regret coming to Georgetown because I think that at the end of the day it was worth it-- it's a personal choice that you yourself have to make because you will be the one that lives with it, not your parents or friends or fellow students. On the flip side, I have missed out on a lot of activities here on campus because I was working 25-30 hours a week off-campus and graduating early. I've also put myself in a significantly less flexible financial position for the next twenty years (as I prepare to graduate, I'm thinking long-term...cars, mortgages, kids...that stuff is not going to be in the picture for a LONG time now).</p>

<p>hoya - excellent post. So many students post thinking it is no problem to take on $70 -100k of debt - even $200k. it is good to read a post by a real student about the debt (some of the students get quite vituperous towards meer parents trying to point ot the pitfalls of such debt - I was called a housewife who spend my time getting manicures by one charmer :rolleyes:)</p>

<p>I thought for peace corps you could delay loan payments - but that is probably federal loans now that I think of it.</p>

<p>my efc was 20k and georgetown only gave me 10k package, including 3k loans and 3 k work study. needless to say i'm disappointed that i still have to pay ~40k. we tried appealing to no avail, unfortunately.</p>