While we’re very pleased with the $12,000 year merit award, we just need more help in order to make Maryland possible. Does Maryland offer any need-based awards to help offset the cost?
If you submitted a FAFSA, you will probably be offered the standard Federal Student Loan ($5500). I don’t know if UMD gives Grants.
My son was only offered the Loan, and no merit scholarship. I thought he had the stats to get some merit aid, going by others who have received aid.
UMD is at the top of his list, but we are OOS so the cost is quite steep. Is there any point to calling them and discussing merit aid at this time?
We also thought our son would get merit aid…his college counselors assumed it was a given based on past history, but he didn’t.
Check this link for more info about grants, loans, and such: http://www.financialaid.umd.edu/aid/types_of_aid.php
There’s also more on the financial aid website about need-based aid, I think.
@14wjs14 Seriously? That is crazy! I looked back and saw your stats and am shocked that you didn’t get a merit scholarship. I would call them tomorrow just to at least force them to look at your records again. One of my kids had not received any merit (his scores were competitive with students receiving the President’s, but not as high as your scores). I decided to call UMD (I think it was the financial aid office, but can’t remember for certain which office) to see if they could look at his file again. They told me basically that there was “nothing they could do”… “it was super competitive that year”,… blah, blah, blah. The next day he received a one time $1500 scholarship. I’m not sure if it had anything to do with my call or that it just came much later than all the other scholarships. Grant it, it wasn’t a huge scholarship, but it all adds up. At this point, I can’t see how a phone call can hurt.
@14wjs14 I think last year some of the presidential merit awards were not sent out until later in March. Hopefully your son will still get one!