HELP! Decision Dealine Is Tommorow!

Applying to College
1

<p>I'm torn between two places at the moments, here is a little bit about both sides. </p>

<ol>
<li>Belmont University
(If it's too much to read you can skip the second paragraph) </li>
</ol>

<p>I've been planning to attend here because it is close to home (so I won't have to live in a dorm), is partnered with my dual enrollment courses in my high school (so credits will be counted), and most importantly, offers a great program in what I intend to study. The problem is, their staff is terribly unorganized and has caused my acceptance to be pushed back three months and my financial aid status is still up in the air. My guidance counselor worked there and she was the one who warned me that Belmont was the most unorganized place she has worked at. Heres more to the story...</p>

<p>I sent in my application in December, and it wasn't until my school sent my transcripts out twice, both by mail and fax, and made multiple phone calls that my transcript was finally considered and I was finally accepted in March.
After that, I didn't receive my financial aid or my verification letter until April. I sent my verification in, but It wasn't until I called last week, that they found my letter. When I called financial services, they contacted the verification counselor, who said that she had to rummage through a pile of letters to find it, and that she would call back. She never did and when I called them once again the next they, there was still no progress. Another day passed and I made the same routine call only to hear that I was missing my personal tax information. I followed their instructions and sent an email immediately. This Tuesday I finally received an email that said my email was finally forwarded to the verification counselor (I would have guessed that they should have given me that department's email initially). It wasn't until today that my financial aid was in the bracket to be processed, which would not likely be finished by tomorrow.</p>

<p>I'm just very frustrated that my financial assistance is in the hands of these irresponsible people. But the thing is, that's not the case with their education. Belmont is my number one choice but I know I won't be able to afford this University without financial aid and there is no telling how much it's going to be.</p>

<ol>
<li>University of Tennessee (Knoxville)
Though I would get everything paid for, I would have to live in a dorm and their program is not as renowned/accredited. </li>
</ol>

2

<p>The only reason I’d go to Belmont in these conditions is if you were admitted to the Music Industry (etc) program.
Note that living on campus is actually better for students - better grades, better involvement, and a better experience (there have been actual studies on this).</p>

3

<p>Living on a dorm is something most students want to do freshman year. It is a great way to make friends – everyone is away from home and looking for new people to hang out with. An awful lot of students who live at home only do it because they can’t afford to stay on campus. Are dorms the swankest living arrangements? Of course not. But it is so much easier to get absorbed into campus life and build a social life if you live in the dorm.</p>

<p>You will have to wrestle with that FA department every year at Belmont. And sometimes schools that are really disorganized at one thing have a lot of problems in other areas.</p>

<p>What is the specific area of study you are looking at?</p>

4

<p>As I understand it, your concern is not generally with Belmont’s incompetence (which is frustrating but ultimately manageable), but with not knowing your financial aid for Belmont by the deposit deadline. If that’s the case, deposit at Tennessee to be sure you have somewhere to go and ask Belmont for an extension, which they should certainly offer you under these circumstances. Then if their aid turns out to be adequate, withdraw from Tennessee. You might lose your deposit, but if you feel that strongly that Belmont is the right place for you, it would be worth the loss. </p>

5

<p>Thank you everyone for your input. I decided it was worth a try and successfully got an extention. I also asked for a discount on Belmont’s deposit fee and I’m waiting for the answer. Thank you for enlightening me about the benefits of living in a dorm, I will consider that after I receive my financial aid pakage for Belmont.</p>

6

<p>You got an extension for UT and a discount on Belmont’s deposit fee?</p>