<p>Well, we got ours today and I will say I was shocked. And not in a good way...</p>
<p>As you already know, I'm in the same boat. What the hell happened?</p>
<p>Son got his last week, and we are rather pleased. Not sure what anyone got, but son got in the neighborhood of $21000 which means we have to come up with $20000 a year. It is a lot for us but could have been much worse. So, we are happy. Ithaca College just went to the top of his list.</p>
<p>We just got ours yesterday ... not good news. They didn't even meet our D's financial need as determined by the FAFSA. And we have another child in college. We're very disappointed. Oh well ...</p>
<p>Jollymon, I think a lot depends on your child's intended major. I cannot foresee letting my Music Ed studying D graduate school with over $60,000 in debt and still have to get a graduate degree within 5 years to maintain NYS certification. That would be an impossible financial situation for a teacher starting out. I cannot put myself in hock for that much either as we have one entering school as soon as this one leaves.</p>
<p>Nerbsmom, IDK what is going on. My D's friend who has a father who is unemployed (the parents are not together) and a mother who makes less than I do and great sports and academic stats got a similar aid package to my D (leaving her about $15K in the hole). She was devastated, this was her first choice school. She is an OT major and said that Utica College (which is local to us) offered her way more money than Ithaca. So sad to see all of these dreams crushed. Both girls admitted to crying for at least an hour after receiving the package.</p>
<p>Ithaca gaps freshmen 12% on average, and underclassmen 14%. We got a package from them 2 years ago, but my son decided to go elsewhere. He almost attended Ithaca, but it would have been a real stretch. They did not offer our son the best package, but they were far the worst. They did offer him one of his better FA packages, but that is also bc he didn't get merit aid.</p>
<p>I was also taken aback by the financial aid estimate. </p>
<p>They met our FAFSA-derived need (only barely) but that figure is not what my parents are actually ABLE to pay.</p>
<p>When my mom and I go up to visit, we're going to try to schedule a meeting and show them that we blatantly can't afford $15,000 - and that our PROFILE shows it. </p>
<p>Luckily, they only saddled me with $1,500 of student loans -- the rest (minus family) was scholarships and grants. Glass half full, I guess.</p>
<p>Our Ds package was what we expected. They met our "need" up to what the FAFSA stated. Unfortunately, most of that was her presidential merit scholarship. It is so frustrating that the merit scholarships are lumped in. With that, what is the point of these kids working their butts off. In the end it really doesn't help them out. We really wish that the merit came off after the FA. Certainly would have helped us a lot! It is her first choice so we are going to find a way to make it work.</p>
<p>Yes, I am beginning to think that filling out the optional CSS Profile was a waste of $25. I don't see where it made any difference.</p>
<p>My Dh was kind of like you HamtaroFan (glass half full), he said he felt that what she received was a lot of money and we should be grateful. We are, don't get me wrong, but being grateful does not make us any more capable of writing a check for $15K. I don't know many people that can. </p>
<p>And some may say, well mortgage your home, take it out of your investments but ok, say I did that. Four years down the road, "Sorry, honey but your sister's college depleted all of our home equity and retirement money. There is nothing left for you and your brother, well, your brother will have to join the army if he wants an education."</p>
<p>Sorry, just very sad right now. The world teaches kids to work hard, put school first and they will be rewarded. My D has sacrificed a lot over the years and now I wonder if she had not tried so hard would we have the same situation?</p>
<p>Just praying now for a miracle or for about 10 of the zillion scholarships she applied for to come through...</p>
<p>I only got nine grand a year in merit scholarship, and then with my other aid we are still expected to pay over $28,000 a year. I got better offers to better schools. I don't think I could even consider going here unless I get the leadership scholarship. </p>
<p>On another topic, I HATE THE FAFSA. I think it blatantly ignored the fact that my parents will have kids in college nonstop starting in 2008 and ending in 2020.</p>
<p>PreMed: The Leadership Scholarship and a couple of sizable outside scholarships are pretty much the last straw of hope we are holding onto Ithaca wise. How many Leadership scholarships are there? I was shocked my D was not given a Presidential scholarship though.</p>
<p>I'm really surprised. Their website and materials (we went for a visit) all emphasize how much money they have, especially for minorities. I still haven't received a package.</p>
<p>MomOf3Stars - on the Leadership app it says they can offer up to 60. I would like to think that I have a fairly good shot, but you never know.</p>
<p>That's just it Premed123, you never do know but I hope we find out soon. Another that my D was hoping to be considered for was Premier Talent, I am not sure if that one has been awarded yet or not although she feels she doesn't have much of a shot. I did see after I posted that they offer up to 60 of the Leadership and that is pretty good odds but after my D has been posting on the Ithaca site boards she has noticed that a lot of the kids who have been accepted have really great stats. </p>
<p>Does anyone happen to think that this is just a really competitive year? My D also applied to NYU and they are reporting record numbers of applicants and Syracuse is reporting the same. I am starting to think that what is going on is a classic case of supply and demand, these schools have more than enough kids applying this and don't need to pursue the good students like usual bc they are so plentiful. Let's face it, I am sure that Ithaca in particular has plenty of kids waiting to go whose parents are more than happy and able to write that fat check next August.</p>
<p>Yes, I think our kids this year are part of "the bubble", one of the largest classes ever. Record number of applications everywhere. The competition is tough.</p>
<p>Well, I'm reconsidering my disappointment with our FA award. It seems to be on par with what the other schools are offering my D. These poor kids are going to graduate "up to their ears" in debt!!</p>
<p>nerbsmom, I agree. It felt like this for us 2 years ago. I don't know where it will end both for parents, and students. We feel so stretched, and the debt amount for young people is just frightening. That all said, not that it helps pay any of the bill, I found Ithaca very much in line too. They came in on the better end of average for our son. Still, it was going to be a burden. I took 5 out of 10 schools off the table because of money, and Ithaca just made the cut (more reasonable than 5 other options), but I was also a bit relieved when my son chose another school. It was close.</p>
<p>Northeastmom, where did your son end up deciding on?</p>
<p>premed, James Madison U. I know, it is completely different than Ithaca. When it came to decision time, he really wanted the traditional college campus experience with football,etc. He also wanted small classes. JMU really fits what he was looking for.</p>
<p>If you didn't receive TAP on your package, and you should've, it is probably a mistake. I called Ithaca right after I received mine and they corrected it to include TAP.</p>
<p>northeastmom, if you don't mind my asking how did the aid offer from JMU compare to Ithaca's? Were they on par? I'm curious how state schools for OOS students compare to the private schools.</p>