I am considering graduating after my junior year so that I can go to The Clarkson School and get federal financial aid. With the courses I’m planning to take, I would have enough credits (22) and the required number of credits for each class* to graduate.
The main thing I’m worried about is that if I decided to graduate early, the PSAT I’m taking in the fall would be the one that counts for NMS, and also If I wanted to take the SAT enough times to get the best score I can, I’d probably need to do it this fall/winter or at least soon. (same thing with ACT). If I take the PSAT in 11th grade even if I’m graduating, will that qualify for NMS, provided the score is high enough?
Also, there is the little issue with my math/science, and even though I’d have the three in each required for graduating, I would still prefer to be able to take the hardest course load in order to present myself as a strong applicant.
*Note: I would have all the math/science, FL, art, health, and career&finance by 11th grade, and along with English/SS and electives I would have 22 credits, but on this little piece of paper GC gave me it says that I need 4 years of English/SS, but for the advanced regents diploma it only requires English/SS up to 11th grade, so if I have the credits and the regentses, wouldn’t I be able to graduate?? Imean, I’ll have to talk with GC (ugh, it is torture waiting to back to school so I can talk to her-BTW one of y friends’ mom is our GC. How unfair is that for me/lucky is she??), but if anyone knows anything it would help!
You need to check on NMF thing carefully. Looking at old threads it seems as though you can still be considered if graduating early but only if you do a PSAT in next to last year. If you are currently going into junior year and decide to graduate early you would be considered for NMF after your first year in college, which may be of little help if you want the benefits that come from schools like Alabama that give great merit money for NMF. This info looks a little old, but you need to call NMF people with specific questions.
Why are you in a hurry to get out of HS? Does the Clarkson school give anything for NMF? Do you know that you’ll get enough financial aid to afford this?
I feel like something like The Clarkson School would be up to my level a little more. I feel restrained in HS like I can’t reach my full potential. I don’t think TCS has anything for NMS, but it’s just one of those nice things to have. With federal aid, plus merit aid, plus I just got $4000 off tuition there for a summer camp plus my savings, I could make it happen. I could get a job, too.
The Clarkson school costs $34k/year just for tuition. Room and board is another $6k/year. Can your parents pay that? If you earn a high school diploma before enrolling there, you’ll be considered a college student. I think that means you’d be applying directly to Clarkson. I’d check their requirements – usually 4 years of English are required for admission. If you get a high school diploma through your local district while at The Clarkson School, you’ll be ineligible for federal aid.
You have to show high school equivalency to get federal aid. So if you graduate this year (after 11th grade) you’ll be eligible. But federal aid maxes out at ~$5k/year federal Pell grant (for incomes of ~$80k for married people) and a ~$5500/year federal student loan. The Clarkson School costs $41k/year. How will you pay for it? Do they offer enough aid to cover the costs that your parents can’t?
I’m going into 10th grade. I’m just planning ahead. They have really good merit aid. What’s a Pell Grant? My parents are divorced and I’m not married, so would I qualify?
Clarskson University’s largest grant is $15k/year. IF you were awarded that, it leaves $26k/year to pay. The estimated contribution is based on the parents’ income and marital status. Private schools will likely ask for both their incomes. Do you know how much your custodial parent earns? If it’s more than about $40k/year you probably won’t qualify for Pell. Can/will your parents pay $41k/year? Can they pay $26k?
About 30K/year. Other parent=$0. I’m talking about The Clarkson School. it’s a 1-year program for seniors and I might not even go to Clarkson University after, so it’s basically one year I have worry about right now.
I am not sure you adequately researched this. IMO you would need to answer the following questions:
– How would you fund the year at Clarkson?
– Would you still be eligible for QuestBridge if you do a year at Clarkson?
– Would you apply to colleges as a freshman or a transfer after this program? If you would have to apply to other schools as a transfer it would severely limit the chances of merit aid.
–What is the history of people who have gone through this program – have the stayed at Clarkson or transferred elsewhere?
–Other than leaving HS a year early what would be gained?
Federal aid+merit+savings+I will work+scholarship from this summer camp
I'm looking into it. I asked Questbridge and I'm waiting for a response
At least at Columbia, I would be a freshman. I will check other schools' policies promptly.
Most stay at Clarkson, but it's optional. Many, and I mean many, people have gone to the Ivies and similar schools from TCS.
Networking, access to research facilities, graduating college a year early if I stay/go somewhere else as a transfer, get away from very difficult home life, etc.
The COA is $46k/year, and you seem to be depending on federal aid. At MOST, that’s $10,500, and $5500 of that would be a loan. The website says students apply for the same financial aid as Clarkson University applicants. The maximum grant is $15k, and it’s not guaranteed. You’re likely looking at a net cost of $36k/year. A question on the website in post 3 asks if it’s a day or boarding program and the answer was “boarding.” There’s no mention that boarding is optional, so plan on a COA of $41k and go from there.
As a high school graduate you have 12 semesters of federal aid. Whether or not work study would be a part of it depends on your family’s income. I don’t see mention of your parents in your plans for paying. Parents are first in line to pay for school. Clarkson doesn’t seem to meet need. Can/will each of your parents pay ~$20k/year?
So I did some math. I would have ~$12,000 left to pay. Hypothetically, I could make up the difference with work study or another job, money that I save up over the next couple of years, and scholarships from places besides Clarkson.
Look, this is a valuable investment, no? I’m willing to work to make this happen.
Work study, IF you get it and IF you can actually find a job, might be $1200/year. It won’t be $12k. If you earn $12k by working the next couple years, I think it will add ~$1200 to your EFC.
If you’re in NYS, why not explore the free tuition program? Are there any SUNYs you can commute to from home?
If you look at The Clarkson School awards and grants page, it says “If we think your admission application shows outstanding promise, you will automatically receive a financial aid package, made up of the awards below, that will total at least $30,000”
Now, I KNOW this is not guaranteed. Nobody has to tell me that. I know it’s stupid and optimistic, but I calculated the “best case scenario”
It’s The Clarkson SCHOOL, not Clarkson University. it’s one year (in place of your senior year) and I’d probably go somewhere else from there.
I know a job won’t get me $12k. I said It would help reduce the cost, albeit slightly.
I understand it’s The Clarkson School. They seem to be partnered with the University, and the aid they offer is the same as they offer undergrads.
Looking at the best case scenario isn’t helpful. You shouldn’t graduate from high school with fewer English courses than you need for college because some school offers a lot of aid that you may not even get. What are your SAT/ACT scores?
