<p>Don't hold me exactly to this, because I do not have the financial package from Ithaca in front of me. Roughly, JMU's COA for OOS last year was running about 24k (including books, transprortation, personal expenses). Ithaca was asking us to pay about 28k out of our pockets, in addition to my son's Stafford, and I cannot remember whether he got work/study to be truthful. JMU offered nothing, except a partially subsidized Stafford. We were still ahead of the game. Now JMU has increased its tutition so that tuition, R&B this year ran about 24,400 I believe (you need to add books, transportation, and pocket money to that to get COA). I am sure that Ithaca also raised its tution and R&B too.</p>
<p>ok, I'm stupid.
What is TAP?</p>
<p>Haha you're not stupid, I was wondering the same thing.</p>
<p>TAP (Tuition Assistance Program) is only for New York state residents who are also attending a school in New York state. It's a nice plus but not worth moving to New York for -- awards are in the range of $500-$2500, depending on need.</p>
<p>~2500 a semester, though, so almost $5000 a year, if your need is really high. If your EFC is zero, TAP pays for a sixth of tuition at IC.</p>
<p>Not worth moving to New York for, like AsterMom said, but definitely not a pittance.</p>
<p>Northeastmom or others, this is my first child to go to college, but I just can't process how a family is expected to pay $24,000 a year! In real terms, does that means a monthly loan payment of $500+ a month? I just don't get it.</p>
<p>PRkid, I do not understand what loan you are referring to. If your efc is close to that amount, then this is what they expect you to pay from current earnings, past savings, and future earnings. They gap between efc and cost, don't recall the average % of need that meet (I posted it before). It is a lot of money, and a whole lot of money. I was happy when my kid chose another school because my out of pocket expense was 4k less, and my son did not need to take out that stafford loan.</p>
<p>Just reporting another very disappointing aid package from Ithaca. My D had pretty much decided not to go there (music ed/french horn), but I was still flabbergasted by the offer. Again, like momof3stars, very suprised that we did not receive a Presidential scholarship, or merit aid based on grades, of any kind. They did give her a grant, and a Flora Brown scholarship totaling about 16K for the year. The rest was Federal grants and loans and work study. That left about 16 K, which is way, way, way , way (you get the picture) over our EFC. So glad that this school had gone from her #1 choice to the bottom after auditions!</p>
<p>Diana: I'm sorry for you but I am glad this gave you a good reason for D to cross Ithaca off her list. Of late, I was frustrated to realize that D had not been offered Honors at Ithaca either. I am very sad that at a school that offers full rides for a good number of Park Scholars there seems to be little left over for music students or others.</p>
<p>Yet another VERY disappointing aid package from Ithaca-yes i know they gap=but i never really expected 2.5 times our EFC!! we have a son at cornell and each year what our EFC was was just shy of what we had to pay. this is far and away my DD first choice and ours for her but with and EFC of ~9000(for each of 2 kids in school) having to pay 24000 at ithaca is a tough pill to swallow</p>
<p>not sure what we are going to do in this case though!!</p>
<p>I know that the prof auditioning my D told them that if they didn't get enough $ to let him know, because there may be more $ available. He was concerned because other schools were "buying" their best students. Maybe it is worth a shot to contact someone!</p>
<p>You can always appeal financial aid packages.</p>
<p>I am a little confused about this whole financial aid package thing. I assumed that I would get absolutely no aid, based on my family's situation. I didn't exactly get aid, but I did get various loans that covered the full cost of tuition (in addition to my 16k scholarship). At other schools (Hofstra and Northeastern) I received maybe one small loan as part of my financial package. How do they determine what loans you get? I don't understand why it would be so different between schools.</p>
<p>There are loans that are based income: Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan, Federal Perkins Loan Then there are the non-need based: Federal UnSubsidized Stafford, Federal Direct Parent Loan - which I believe anyone can get. </p>
<p>The grants and scholarships are either Federal (need-based) or directly from the school, which can be need-based or merit. Many private schools have more money to give than state schools, therefor more scholarships, less loans.Also, if you don't qualify for their merit type scholarships, they will put down loans. I do agree with you that loans are not "aid" (unless you qualify for the need-based. low interest loans). They do have to be paid back, and that needs to be taken into consideration.</p>
<p>The letter offering loans stated EFC as $0 - so my husband, daughter and I all did a double look thinking - is she being offered a full ride? Then when we looked we saw that her "financial package" included PLUS and nonsub-Stafford - it was a little misleading.</p>
<p>I was just accepted about a week ago, I was just wondering when I could expect my financial aid package. I'm still deciding on where I'm going and I really need that information.</p>
<p>Did anyone appeal -ask for more financial aid? Did anyone get a music scholarship?</p>
<p>My D got a $6000 music scholarship. We are praying for the Leadership (along with everyone else) and probably will start appealing next week or so.</p>
<p>Momof3stars - Are you sure the $6000 was for the music audition? Was it in your financial aid letter? My husband called today and they said that music scholarships would not go out until next week(and that it was not included in financial aid package). Is it possible that you will be getting more?</p>
<p>Thanks dlbarber :)</p>
<p>This whole process is crazy...</p>