@Lyoder2051 Many colleges gap students, including some very selective ones. NYC is famous for doing so. So is Boston University and American University. In all three of these cases, they maintain they haven’t gapped you but in fact have asked you to take thousands in loans, and your parents thousands more in PLUS loans.
The other reality is that relatively few colleges have deep enough pockets to meet the full demonstrated need of all students. And even fewer do so with no or minimal loans.
@exlibris97 I see what you mean … thankfully Bard said they would extend the deadline for applying to conservatory and re-open the application, so I can apply (got to say they are very flexible).
@Lyoder2051 That’s great news! Fingers crossed for you that things work out. Keep us posted.
I’m not sure this is gapping. Regardless of EFC, some schools expect the family to pay X and the kid to pay Y from summer jobs.
$8k for Bard is pretty good. With a job and the student loan, it is doable. Plus that $8k May include a few thousand of indirect costs that you can cut out. Very few schools will pay you whole COA.
@HRSMom Possibly, but I interpreted the post to mean they did not meet their full need (and by that I mean need after EFC is deducted). I also personally consider PLUS loans as a “gap filler”. NYU offered us a financial aid package meeting our supposed need but which included over $15K in PLUS loans. To me, we were “gapped”. Fortunately, several other universities met our full need without any PLUS loans.
Just read your thread. Congrats for getting the extension. Let us know what happens. As for the $8,000, I don’t see how you can do much better. That’s an incredible bargain! If you’re a serious musician, I’d think you could earn the money. Teach lessons to kids in the community! At $40 for a 45-minute lesson, you’ll earn a lot of money. Then you’ll get a summer job too.
I don’t recommend taking more than the federal loan amount. But 8k is a reasonable ask from family and student from a $60k school.
These schools don’t use EFC. They recalculate it themselves and most want you to pay some amount and the family some amount, even if EFC is zero. This student is getting tuition and part of room/board covered. That is great.
Wait to see what else comes. If you get a better deal, grab it. But $8k should not be a dealbreaker unless part of the FA they gave you was ALSO loans.
@brantly @HRSMom @exlibris97 Unfortunately the 8k is what remains after the loans I was offered, and my parents dont’ have it. I will try to get a merit scholarship from conservatory to cover it (Assuming I am admitted of course, which is a rather big assumption).
After the loans…not good. So with those loan included as your share (meaning not grants), how much do they expect from you? (8k + loans)
Bard has been having financial issues:
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2016/08/24/bard-college-faces-liquidity-and-strategy-questions
@HRSMom It is around 16 K. However, given the fact that Bard Conservatory has more money, it seems probable that if I am admitted I may be able to get rid of all of that … although again, not certain.
Well good luck with that. I hope that is the solution and you get to attend!!
@HRSMom Same 
I will keep everyone updated regarding what happens… unfortunately, I have a few slight issues with the pree-screen, but hopefully Bard will understand… Frost School did at U M, ( I passed the pre-screen but decided not to do live auditions though).
Hello @HRSMom , @SpiritManager ,and @brantly , just wanted to let everyone know that I have passed the late preescreen and have been invited to send an video audition (I want be able the live audition do to some big competitions I’m playing then ) SO excited! I hope it all works out :D.
Congrats!
Fingers crossed for you!
Got waitlisted; O well. Although the letter said it had to do with lack of space and not musical accomplishments, whatever that means :D.
That’s disappointing, but waitlists are not rejections, especially for conservatories. It’s quite possible you’ll get good news in the end. Waitlists for conservatories definitely move so don’t give up hope. Bard Conservatory waitlists very few people - only those they really want - sometimes they don’t waitlist anyone. And there’s no doubt anyone they’ve accepted will have many great offers. It’s quite possible a spot will open up for you. And scholarship monies. Don’t give up hope. And congratulations getting this far! The hard part will be the waiting.
@SpiritManager thank you for the kind words! hopefully it will all come through. If it doesn’t, at least I have a number of other good offers to work with now.