<p>So Fordham is my number 1 school, but I can't pay the price to go there.
Commuting isn't an option, as I live in upstate NY.
I'm paying for school on my own, but FAFSA isn't going to supply much aid at all.(As we saw w/ my older brother who applied to schools last yr) (At most, maybe a $1,000 grant w/ some loans)
What do you think I should do to "Get" more aid from Fordham?
Is there any chance I could get aid from "pleading" for it at an interview?</p>
<p>What is the deal on "paying for it yourself?" If your family is in need of aid, then FAFSA will indicate that and you should apply for financial aid from Fordham. If you have some strange family circumstance you can explain that, but you may need to go somewhere cheaper, like a state school or a community college for a year or two and become "independent" from your parents in every respect, and then transfer and see what happens.</p>
<p>paying for it by myself, meaning my parents aren't paying my way through college like most kids whose parents just write out a check for them</p>
<p>Well, "most kids" dont have 45k and being 18 have not worked long enough to earn it. 30 and 40 years ago a private school education was well under 10k a year and student loans were the preferred method of financing it. I had the GI Bill and student loans and NO parental support. I worked three jobs in college. But today, with costs going through the roof its impossible and UNWISE for kids to take on so much debt, so grants and merit aid are what most rely upon, or they simply choose a less expensive school. The school does NOT owe you any money. If your parents have the money and refuse to provide it, I can't help you. Apply for financial assistance and explain your circumstance, but frankly you may be barking up the wrong tree. Wanting to attend an expensive university and financing it are two different things. Why are 40,000 students at Ohio State? MONEY.</p>
<p>If your parents DONT have the money, then you may qualify for financial aid, if you are accepted at Fordham. But nobody owes you anything.</p>
<p>Life is not fair sometimes and the sooner you understand that the better off you will be. The difference is that hard work can overcome "circumstance."</p>
<p>I make my kid work as much as possible to contribute as much as reasonable and to take on some student loans to be invested in their education. But I dont expect my kid to write a check for 45k or take on 45k in student loans each year. If your parents are not on board with this situation, then that is the breaks and you will have to go to school somewhere else. MILLIONS of kids (more than 3,500,000 high school seniors this year are applying to college) face similar decisions. State schools have state funding from state taxes. Private schools must be self supporting from tuition and wealthy donors. Harvard, Princeton, Pomona, Davidson and Swarthmore are telling people they will not have to take on any student loans to attend. But you have to be admitted there.</p>
<p>What are your grades? Fordham does award merit scholarships if you don't think you're going to be awarded need-based aid.</p>
<p>And if I were you, I would do that interview and let them know exactly how much you want to go to Fordham and why you are not going to be supported by your parents. But don't get all your hopes up thinking that Fordham is going to solve all your problems. Do apply to less expensive schools and those you can afford.</p>
<p>Once you get your acceptance letter, call the financial aid office and discuss with them your circumstances. Don't plead for them to give you money though, just be upfront about the situation. </p>
<p>Also, I'd consider renting an apartment with someone in a safe area in the Bronx, Queens, or Brooklyn. Fordham awards a $5,000 Metro Grant for commuters and plus, that shaves off at least $10,000 off your tuition. I would advise moving in the city long before classes meet in order to find a job. This would also give you a perspective on your expenses and give you an idea of whether you can do this for four years.</p>
<p>It's going to be really tough paying your own way through college, especially one like Fordham. Just remember that if you find that you need to take out huge loans to make ends meet, don't do it. Burdening yourself with debts is never the way to go, even if it is for your #1 school.</p>
<p>I'm in a similar situation, bennett, I agree with the other posters that you should look at state schools. At the very least you could get some credits done at a cheaper rate and transfer after a year or two while saving on the tuition. That's what I'm doing. And who knows? Maybe you'll love the state school.</p>
<p>45K per year is A LOT of money. My creative writing teacher graduated from Fordham about 6 years ago. She paid for the entire thing herself and even with financial aid (she has 9 siblings), she graduated with over 100K in loans. She said it was a great experience but she was working full-time throughout college and says she would not recommend it to anyone. Please think about that when you're making your decision.</p>
<p>Something is wrong with that picture, charmingangel. If your teacher had 9 siblings I am sure that Fordham would have given her financial aid and substantial enough to avoid being 100k in debt. So I dont quite comprehend that situation. </p>
<p>On the otherhand, private colleges are all expensive and many dont have the deep pockets of Harvard and Yale etc so student loans are a fact of life for many students, though the average indebtedness is somewhere around 17-20k at the end of the road.</p>
<p>And if its too expensive still, then obviously state schools are the route to take.</p>
<p>"Something is wrong with that picture, charmingangel. If your teacher had 9 siblings I am sure that Fordham would have given her financial aid and substantial enough to avoid being 100k in debt. So I dont quite comprehend that situation."</p>
<p>Fordham may have given her aid but it may not have been enough. And if it's in the form of loans, she would still have to pay back that money. So all financial aid isn't necessarily "free" so to speak. Plus, my teacher paid the entire bill herself, something she chose to do in order to save the extra debt for her parents. She told my class this story because her brother graduated last year and she was talking about the school he was planning to attend. I don't know every little detail about her scholarships and loans but I also don't see any reason why she would lie about that. I just wanted to share the story with bennett so she/he could understand just how much debt she could potentially accrue.</p>
<p>"Something is wrong with that picture, charmingangel. If your teacher had 9 siblings I am sure that Fordham would have given her financial aid and substantial enough to avoid being 100k in debt. So I dont quite comprehend that situation.</p>
<p>Haha.. definitely not so. I worked at the FA office for four months and I've seen firsthand how bad Fordham FA can be. I'm sure FA at private schools in general isn't good to begin with, but Fordham can be pretty awful at times. I've begged for more money for the past three years and have been rejected every time.</p>
<p>How to ask for room and board aid? is there such thing?</p>
<p>Hi. I would definitely talk to someone in financial aid at Fordham about how much you want to go there and see what happens. Your may also want to discuss any recent financial hardships your family may have had and reasons that you cannot afford the tuition.</p>
<p>Another option is renting an apartment off campus. I know that there are so many people at Fordham right now that are looking for people to rent an apartment with them. Fordham gives all commuters a commuter grant, which would make things easier. If Fordham is your #1, I say commuting is worth it.</p>
<p>And start applying for outside scholarships right now. You never know what you might get. </p>
<p>I wish you the best of luck!</p>