Financial aide/scholarships

College Majors Musical Theater Major
1

<p>What should I be doing right now as far as researching or in general preparing to apply for financial aide? </p>

<p>I know my S has to retake the SATS or the ACTs his score just wasn't high enough, 1660 with writing on the SAT. He has a 3.84 GPA on a 4.0 scale, with a 2 AP classes this year. He had one last year, scored a 3 on the AP English test. I'm not even sure I understand how much academics comes into play with a MT major, I've read many threads but I'm still confused.</p>

<p>I'm late on this..very late, maybe I just didn't want to face it I don't know but I know that was stupid. I am single, he's my only child and I have no assets. Long story short there is no college fund. I bought my first house about 1.5 years ago.</p>

2

<p>It is different for every school, but ALL will require the FAFSA so start gathering the info you need for that now. Read the financial aid sections of each schools web site because some schools require more. Most schools will give some combo of need and talent and academic aid. Know which schools are more likely to give aid - that info is all over CC.
Also think seriously about how much debt you and your son are willing to take on…</p>

3

<p>MTMajorCook, take a deep breath :slight_smile: I’m single too, with five kids, and have less than no savings (I don’t own a home). It’ll work out. Just make sure he knows that he has two hurdles: getting in, and then paying for it. That is, there are two safeties you should be aware of, acting/academic and financial.</p>

<p>The only thing left besides the application is for him to take the SATs again.If you can afford it, for the SATs have him tutored by a good tutor (there are many bad ones). If you can’t, he should practice as much as possible, making sure to take practice tests under timed conditions and to see where he went wrong in the questions. Princeton Review or the College Board are the two best books in my opinion. (I don’t work for them!)</p>

<p>He should have strong thoughtful applications; for instance, his letters of recommendation-- make sure he asks people who are familiar with his work and who are comfortable writing strong ones. When he applies he should apply to a lot, in my opinion, because that maximizes his chances. (Although he should not apply to schools he has no interest in) Look for schools that have good endowments and also that have policies about being need-blind or who try to avoid loans. And of course, programs that have good tuition to begin with. They will say on their own website what their financial aid philosophy/policy is. To maximize his chances, as I said, he should apply to a range of programs–safety, reach and match should be theatre, academic and financial As far as how much academic is counted, it depends a lot on the school and the program. His grades are good though and so are his SATs. I don’t see his grades outright excluding him from most schools (for instance, if you got had a 2.0 GPA you might not get academic admission to certain BFA programs, so you’d be out based on that).</p>

<p>I don’t see how you were stupid though. He’s the student, and he’s the one taking the tests and so on. In our case, there are programs we could not consider because the costs were prohibitive and they were unable to give strong financial aid in grants. But for most schools, I would worry about that <em>after</em> you get admitted. You never know how much they will award you. It is based on a wide variety of things that often can’t be predicted beforehand. Good luck!</p>

4

<p>Don’t be down on yourself!! connection has shared some great perspective. I do think that academics - while not important to all schools for admission - can really make a difference when it comes to scholarships. That said, beyond trying to up the SAT score and keep grades as high as possible, Calliene is right about the FAFSA - it is a lot of work (and to me, that financial stuff is confounding and overwhelming)…so start thinking about that. Then focus on getting in, and pick your schools carfeully so you have ones where you might be more likely to get help.</p>

<p>DO NOT WAIT to start looking for any and all scholarships. Our school guidance office has an enormous list, and by the time I really started to focus on it, many due dates had passed, and we were just too busy with audition season to have time for the others. Start with your school guidance dept and then use the internet to search as well. And once you have your acceptances, don’t be afraid to contact the school and ask if there is anything more they can do.</p>

<p>You can do it!!!</p>

5

<p>If your son has not taken the ACT have him take it; some students do better on that then the SAT. Meet with your school’s guidance/college counselor soon to look at scholarships and financial aid. And if your state has state schools with good programs make sure he applies since costs can be lower. It will work out.</p>

6

<p>MTMC, BREATHE!! Don’t be hard on yourself at all! I’m in the same boat but I’m crazy enough to have faith that everything will work out as my child walks toward her dream. Don’t leave any scholarship unturned, especially those with essays. A friend’s daughter graduated this year and was a very poor student. She may have seen one B her entire high school career yet she got three scholarships and a grant. Why? Because she applied! Her straight A, nothing but AP courses sister who also graduated this year got NOTHING because she didn’t apply! It really will all work out!</p>

7

<p>Okay, not to be a Debbie Downer here but many of these schools are very expensive. Sure, scholarships are possible but many are stingy and most are very expensive even after scholarships. You need some financial safeties and you need to be realistic with your child about what is possible and what may or may not be affordable. It would be awful to get into a top program and not be able to attend. Just the audition process is very costly.</p>

8

<p>It’s great that he will tale the ACT or retake the SAT. Just as a heads up, many kids who are good students but it’s not reflected on the SAT1, do better on the ACT, so he should give that a go. </p>

<p>For most schools and programs, being a performing arts major, including MT, the academics still have bearing on the process. Though some schools do have arts scholarships, it’s a long shot to get one that gives a lot of money. My son was a MT major, and he got many scholarships offers but the biggest dollar amount was $5K. and that was for a school that cost about 10X that amount He ended up at his state school where the $3500 award made a nice dent in the cost. Academics played a role in getting that money too, though the performing arts major netted him a thousand dollars more. </p>

<p>You should run your financial info through an EFC estimator to see what the least is that you are expected to pay with government aid involved. The problem with the FAFSA EFC is that I don’t know a single school that guarantees to meed need as defined by EFC. Unless you are very low income, the only guarantee in terms of federal money are loans, $5500 for your student to take (some of the interest maybe subsidized), and Parent Direct loans (PLUS) that charge about 7.9% interest that starts accumulating immediately. Not such a great deal.</p>

<p>The fact of the matter is that MT programs are highly selective as it is. Looking at the top schools with well known programs, there isn’t a one that guarantees to meet full need even by their own defintion of need. Michigan, has a top drawer program and does guarantee to meet full need for in staters, but no such guarantee for out of staters. Also when you are talking about PROFILE school, bear in mind that they look at things many times like non custodial parent’s finances if there is one alive, and if you have your own business that’s often heavily counted, as well as primary home ownership. FAFSA does not look at those things (larger businesses excepted). </p>

<p>So you can’t count on getting accepted, can’t count on getting aid if you do get accepted, and most of the schools with MT programs do not meet full need of their students. This is also not a field for which one wants loans. My son is a working professional, considered successful as he meets his own rent, but the truth is he lives hand to mouth and we help out with handouts here and there, and he lives locally, though not with us. That he has no loans,nor do we, on his account makes it possible, barely. If you have not saved in the past, and don’t have extra income now, don’t count on having the money to pay back loans, and your son is likely to be a “poor, starving artist” which not at all romantic in reality and the lenders are not going to be a bit impressed with that. He doesn’t need that monkey on his back.</p>

<p>My suggestion is to get some schools that have good strong programs on your list–the MT forum here is great for giving particulars of various programs. But also look for alternatives that are affordable. Some of those local schools may not have true MT programs, but strong theater and music programs where one can cobble together something. Going for a masters in MT with grants which are more available for grad students might be a smarter way to go. SO look locally, look for schools that have good to kids graduating from your son’s high school with his stats, look at the state schools. </p>

<p>It’s a rough go. Money is in short supply at colleges when it comes to giving it out, and MT programs have far more student waiting in line for a spot than many other programs so they aren’t hurting for lack of students.</p>

9

<p>Re the SAT versus ACT. I tutor for these. I recommend pre-testing with both tests to see which suits you better, then exclusively study that one. It is lately trendy to take both, but I feel that is a waste of resources and time, especially since it’s easy to tell which one is better for you. You can get sample tests from your school and simply take a practice test in each, then score it. You can self-assess which one ‘feels’ better for you too. The ACT is very heavy on science, has higher level math content, there is more text reading, and the lay out and emphasis is different from the SAT.</p>

<p>actingmt, yes, that is what I was trying to say. You need academic/acting safeties as well as financial safeties and need to take the attitude that you will have two hurdles as opposed to one in getting in, and that you may have to turn down a school because the finances are not practical. I’ve written this before–my older daughter got into RISD, her top school at the time, but without any financial aid grants, only loans. So she had to decline. It was a blessing in disguise but didn’t feel like it at the time. On the other hand, you cannot tell beforehand which schools will give you the need based grants. I’m happy to share that both my D’s are going to top schools each for less than the cost of our in-state university. </p>

<p>Another tip: It is easiest to do the Fafsa and Profile if you have your tax returns, so if you can, do the tax returns in January.</p>

10

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<p>For what it’s worth, Northwestern University has need blind admissions and does guarantee to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students.</p>

11

<p>Great advice from everyone. Especially from cptofthehouse - you don’t want your son to have loans when he graduates in such an unpredictable field. </p>

<p>A tip regarding scholarships . . . go to the guidance counselor’s office at your son’s school and ask to see an updated list of scholarships. Many schools now post those online, so you can browse what they have available. I actually browsed all of the schools’ websites in our town as there were different scholarship listings at each. Ask the counselor, who hopefully knows your son a little at least, if there are any scholarships for which he would be qualified. </p>

<p>Apply first to LOCAL scholarships - ones with less competition for funds. He will be more likely receive those over the “Coke essay” type awards. Not to be discouraging, but a lot of scholarships are “one shot” deals . . . be on the look out for those that are renewable. </p>

<p>Register on fast web dot com for scholarship alerts. We found two really great scholarships via their website that my daughter actually received. When you register (free) they ask questions to help funnel scholarship notices to your son’s account. </p>

<p>MomCares’ post reminded me of something . . . somewhere on CC there is a thread of posts about just that - guaranteed 100% meeting of demonstrated financial need. Maybe some super-sleuth like Em’s Dad can find it. :slight_smile: It was a general post for all college majors, not just acting or MT</p>

<p>Best wishes!!</p>

12

<p>Momcares is correct about Northwestern, they guarantee 100% of demonstrated need and make a very expensive university pretty manageable. My H and I have been happy with the affordability of this great school with our musician S and would love it if our MT daughter could go there too but it is a VERY tough school to get into.
Also, the MT program is going to be changing in the near future (not next fall but maybe Fall 2015). Right now they have certificate in MT which students audition for after they get to the university but there is talk about changing it to a major which I’m sure they will have auditions for before kids are accepted.
Bottom line, Northwestern is a great school financially if you have the grades/scores.</p>

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<p>MTMajorCook, right now just do your homework and research the average aid for each school, their process for determining financial eligibility, etc. DON’T GET STICKER SHOCK! While some of these schools are expensive and some offer better financial aid packages than others, nobody is paying the sticker price. As others have stated, you will file the fafsa early in 2014 as soon as your tax info is available and it will be based on your 2013 income tax return and some other information. Any government financial aid (federal and/or state grants) will not be determined until after you file the fafsa. However, when your son gets acceptance letters from a school, some of them will either have a tentative financial aid package with the acceptance, or will follow up with one soon after acceptance. Those packages will have aid from the institution (scholarships, grants and the guaranteed student loan). Some add in another loan amount for a parent plus loan right off the bat, which you can accept or deny. Some may also estimate your fed and state aid once they get your fafsa info, but you won’t get official financial aid packages until late winter or spring of 2014. Just make sure you differentiate between money you don’t have to pay back, and loans. </p>

<p>I also agree with actingmt in that some really expensive schools, even if he is accepted, may never be within reach financially. That’s a reality. My S was well aware of that possibility. </p>

<p>Also look for private scholarships. There are sites that list them. There are some scholarships in your local area. </p>

<p>Make sure you have your son apply for the Gene Kelly Awards scholarships, but that will be in the spring after he is signed sealed and delivered somewhere. If he does end up getting in and choosing Point Park, they have a Gene Kelly Award scholarship too for kids who participate in the awards who are going to go to PPU, as I am sure you know. That’s just gravy, as all the financial aid stuff will be determined by then. But as a nominee as a junior, no matter what happens senior year with nominations, the Kelly scholarships are worth a shot.</p>

14

<p>I’m not sure “not having loans” even in an unpredictable field, is realistic for many people. Loans vs. No loans is not a black and white proposition. Sometimes they are a necessary evil. Perhaps deferring some of the expense, especially if there are no other critters going off to college after this one, is the only and/or best way to get it done, if a parent feels they will be able to help with the loan payments. Not a lot of the expense, but a small percentage of it. It all depends on what a person can afford to do out of pocket every month while the student is in school.</p>

<p>Sorry for repeating some other posters’ advice in my post. I guess I should read all the posts first!</p>

<p>Also, this is down the line, but once you get financial aid packages, do not hesitate to call the financial aid offices at schools and ask for more (non-loan) money. Pour it on, but be diplomatic. All they can say is no.</p>

15

<p>Having no idea where your S wants to go etc. I will say that Texas State is aggressive (if you get into the MT program, you get instate tuition, etc). My D goes to Florida State and they have a limited number of 50% out of state tuition waivers. This makes a huge difference in a stellar program. There are probably others out there that have some type of program like these, although these are the two I’ve heard the most about.</p>

16

<p>Just to be clear, though: A college that “guarantees 100% of financial need,” no matter how generous they are, is talking about a) what they decide your financial need is based on Fafsa <em>and</em> Profile and b) including Federal loans in the student’s name plus work study. </p>

<p>My EFC in Fafsa is very small, and I have two kids in college now, but I am still expected to pay quite a bit out of pocket, and that’s not including my D’s loans in one school plus work study. It is still the same price as an in-state university, so it is wonderful, but it is not what most laymen would call ‘meeting 100%’ of financial aid. </p>

<p>Again, I’m <em>not</em> complaining about the colleges’ generosity at all!! We are very, very grateful. But I just want people to understand that ‘meeting 100% of financial need’ is not necessarily what you might think it is.</p>

<p>Also, Profile is much, much more detailed than Fafsa, and nearly all these types of colleges require it. Just to give you a heads up.</p>

<p>Bottom line: prepare for financial safeties.</p>

17

<p>And I don’t want to be a downer either, but keep on the back burner in the worst case scenario file that going to one of these programs is not the only road to success in the business. I would hate for your son to GET IN, not be able to afford it, and feel like his dreams are over. A successful actress friend of mine went to college with me at a small liberal arts college with no MT program or BFA at all. Cost was not the issue for her: her parents just wanted her to do liberal arts. Yet she’s been in 3 Broadway Musicals and has made most of her living in off Broadway or touring musical theater. If your son is really motivated he’ll find a way to do it if he takes whatever opportunities he can and keeps his eye on the ball.</p>

18

<p>Thank you for all the replies. I will search obsessively for scholarships and get him on the ball applying. And he’ll do some prework and take the next ACT available. I will also tell him to reach out to the GC, so far he’s hasn’t been any help but maybe this is a topic he’ll have more knowledge in. S’s spanish teacher called me, she wants us to look into Julliard in Spain. That sounds a lot cheaper LOL!</p>

<p>Looks like Penn State is our best bet due to the in state residency discount. There is no way around loans for us. I’ll pick up a second job, its not easy but I’ve done it before to earn cash other things he wanted to do, I’ll do it again but this momma isn’t getting any younger lol!</p>

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<p>MTMajorCook, don’t think that because Penn State is in state that it is your son’s best bet. Let me repeat this sage advice i got from a friend who was the director of admissions and financial aid at a small private Pennsylvania college: DO NOT GET STICKER SHOCK!!! Wait until all the facts are in before jumping to the conclusion that Penn State will be the best financial option.</p>

<p>Penn State starts out lower when you add up tuition, room and board, but the state schools (in Pennsylvania anyway, not sure about elsewhere) do not have the same endowments as the private schools, so they do not offer the same types of institutional scholarships and grants as many private schools, especially the ones in direct competition with Penn State (that is overall, not in MT or drama). </p>

<p>So at PSU, tuition, room and board is roughly 26K. Minus the guaranteed student loan you are at 20.5K. At a private school that starts out at 41K tuition room and board, your son may get 21K in institutional scholarships and grants and the guaranteed student loan (14K talent award, 2K for being a smart and all around good student, 5.5 guaranteed loan…that’s not even an overstatement). State and Federal aid and any other loans will be the same regardless of the school. </p>

<p>I’m going to go out on a limb and say if your S is fortunate enough to get admitted at PSU, PPU and some other MT programs, Penn State will not end up being the only or best financial option.</p>

20

<p>OK I will stick with researching other scholarships, him taking the SATS/ACT again and see what happens. I suppose that’s all I can really do for now anyway. </p>

<p>Here’s to hoping when this is all said and done I can pay it forward and offer such good advice this time next year!</p>