HC Financial Aid

Colleges and Universities A-Z College of the Holy Cross
1

<p>I've turned in my application already, and I don't think I'll qualify for academic scholarships, but I won't be able to attend HC without some financial aid.</p>

<p>Is financial aid at Holy Cross good? I know this is sort of a subjective question, just any info. would be helpful.</p>

2

<p>HC is one of a small number of schools that offer both need-blind admissions and full-need for U.S. students. The following schools state they are need-blind and full-need:</p>

<p>Amherst College
Beloit College
Boston College
Brandeis University
Brown University
California Institute of Technology
Claremont McKenna College
College of the Holy Cross
Columbia University
Cornell University
Cooper Union
Dartmouth College
Davidson College
Denison University
Duke University
Georgetown University
Grinnell College
Harvard University
Haverford College
Johns Hopkins University
Knox College
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Middlebury College
Northwestern University
Pomona College
Princeton University
Stanford University
Swarthmore College
University of Chicago
University of Miami
University of Notre Dame
University of Pennsylvania
University of Richmond
University of Rochester
Vanderbilt University
Wake Forest University
Wellesley College
Wesleyan University
Williams College
Yale University</p>

3

<p>Be very careful with this. HC tends to tell you one thing and do another. If they give you financial aid they say if your circumstances change they will redo your award but this does not happen. Be careful with merit scholarships. That will really weigh on you to get unbelievable grades. They go over your financials with a fine tooth comb and are very unreasonable to deal with. We have dealt with other colleges without any problems. Good Luck.</p>

4

<p>Well i havent had any problems yet… i got a nice financial aid package… i am paying less than if i wouldve gone to my state school.</p>

5

<p>My D is currently a junior. She received a very generous package which has been consistent each year. They do meet 100% of need–institutional method.</p>

6

<p>Thanks to erock and mecamp–one question—when you say recieved 'financial aid" is it all loans form Holy Cross or ‘free’ money as well?? Its my sons 1st choice and we are very nervous that he will get all loans in HC claim to “meet 100% of need” .<br>
I noticed that not many acedemic scholarships are given (music and the classics only)
I would REALLY apprecaite your help!!! from one parent to another.</p>

7

<p>well i can answer this. I got a financial based grant…and only a few thousand worth of loans</p>

8

<p>If u dont mind me asking what were ur stats?–my son is a good canidate --not the top of the heap?</p>

9

<p>What does “institutional method” mean??? I have never heard of that term? Thanks !</p>

10

<p>If it isn’t too personal a question, what were incomes like for the “good” financial aid awards? </p>

<p>I think my parents are around 120-140k but I have another brother in college, and my dad had been umeployed for almost 9 months due to the recession.</p>

11

<p>Institutional method is the amount of need the “institution” determines you need after going thru your CSS Profile. Federal methodology is the amount determined based on the FAFSA</p>

12

<p>The first year, her efc according to fafsa was 4k. Her first year HC award consisted of a very large need based grant and small perkins and subsidized stafford loans. The package left us with a contribution of 5k. </p>

<p>At that time, we had three in college. We now have two in college, and our income has increased some. These changes were reflected proportionately in the subsequent years’ awards. There were no surprises at all. I have been able to accurately estimate, based on our fafsa efc, what the HC financial aid package will be each year before we receive it. They have met the 100% each year.</p>

13

<p>Secondonein:</p>

<p>D’s stats: GPA 3.8 UW
Did not submit SATs
Excellent recs-- 3 teacher(one alum), employer, and gc
Essay–very good
Lots of ECs </p>

<p>She also showed a tremendous amount of interest. She went to every program offered:
tour, open house, overnite visit, interview/resume workshop, diversity forum. She also interviewed on campus. She applied ED.</p>

<p>Hope this helps–Good luck!!!</p>

14

<p>Thanks to everyone…you were VERY helpful—</p>

15

<p>I would suggest seeking out and reading a July 23, 2008 Boston Globe article on the subject about a family struggling with Holy Cross Financial Aid.</p>

16

<p>I read that article, but it covers more schools than Holy Cross. The loan and financial crisis has hit a lot of schools. I paused when I read,
“In addition, some other loan money is becoming available - albeit close to the due date for tuition bills. For instance, the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority, recently said it will have funds available to make private loans this fall, at fixed rates”
If they meant private loans for students, I’ve never seen that, but that would be great if it were so.
It’s very hard with awards, the fine print is hard to read sometimes when it seems workable at first on paper. One time or endowed scholarships usually have stipulations, merit awards,not always, but many times have GPA requirements, sports awards, you can’t get hurt, grants, you can’t earn more money, etc. You have to really understand the implications and sometimes you are just overwhelmed.</p>

<p>Link to loan site:
<a href=“http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/04/02/agency_has_300m_for_college_lending/[/url]”>http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/04/02/agency_has_300m_for_college_lending/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;