<p>I'm not asking to be chanced, I'm asking what I can do to improve my chances of getting financial aid. I'm a junior, so it would be a little early for that anyway. (so I'd be class of 2016 in Rensselaer)
I'm from NY, so I know it's going to be more competitive than if I was outside of the NE region
Academically, getting in is not a problem. I checked my Naviance and am above their curve based on PSAT scores and weighted average (took and 5'd AP World and AP Envi Sci last year, in AP US, AP Lang & Comp, and AP Chem this year) However, I'm a little weak on the ECs - I didn't really join clubs until sophomore year. Now I'm a part of mathletes, and my school's French club, plus an unofficial science and engineering club and an official electronic media club. I'm in NHS, and I also am a boy scout (attended the 2010 National Jamboree), and have about 50-50 chance of making eagle before early application date (if I work at it, I can do it. about 65-35 to have it by normal application date). I live about two towns away from the CSH laboratory, and have gone to the camp there many times - I'm considering taking an internship there this summer if I can.
I'm also in science research, which is a class my school offers which is independent 1-1 with the teacher. I am going to look for a mentor to teach me computer programming this year, since this is something I've wanted to do for a while.</p>
<p>So, how can I improve my chances of receiving financial aid, since if I'm accepted I probably won't be able to pay for it without any ($50,000 per year after room, board, and books is a lot of money! I might be able to do it on loans, but I don't want that much debt over my head.), and I don't fall into need-based range. I know from Naviance that they have merit-based aid, and they give it to a lot of the students. This school is one of my top picks (I looked at MIT, but they don't give any merit-based aid, plus it's much harder to get into, all for a very similar education) so I would like to both get in and get financial aid there. I have heard of the Rensselaer medal, and my school does award it, but I don't know how much help it would be, or even how to go about applying for it.</p>
<p>yea i’m almost in the same boat as you, but it’s tough, i actually just got accepted, and the cost of attendance this year is rediculous! it says on my financial aid package $57,208, I got a decent amount of financial aid i guess, but it’s still well over $30,000 for me… I need to see if there’s any way I can possibly get more aid, because idk if my family can afford it, any suggestions?</p>
<p>My impression of RPI is that it is relatively easy to get a $15K merit scholarship (either RPI medal or similar award) but after that it is mainly financial need. You can save a lot more by living off campus junior/senior year and by cooking your own food. Food plan seems to be the most overpriced item (though that is true for most all colleges). Not sure how the Frat/Sororities food bills run.</p>
<p>ps, definitely let your school counselors know your are sincerely interested in the RPI medal. That may help sway their decision. It is different at each high school though. If you don’t get it but are pretty qualified for it, you’d probably wind up with a comparable merit award of $15K if they really want you to attend (my son’s perspective from his friends).</p>
<p>Just a comment re: the medal program. The $15K award does not reduce your EFC, although it may reduce things like work study. </p>
<p>We have a $25K EFC. I was under the mistaken impression when DS received the medal last year that we would therefore only have to pay $10K, but this was not the case. Instead, DS received $11K in grants plus a laptop scholarship in addition to the $15K medal money. We still have to pay about $25K.</p>
<p>While we were disappointed when we realized this, it is actually the same way most schools handle merit scholarships - they reduce the amount of loans/work study built into financial aid packages, but don’t often reduce the EFC.</p>
<p>DS was a high stats kid (SAT 2360), so your mileage may vary. I would also agree with the comment above that you should let your guidance counselor know if you are interested in the medal. While DS was high stats, there was another kid in his school who got a 2400 on the SAT and was an Intel Finalist. It’s likely that kid would have been awarded it if we hadn’t told the GC, even though that kid was not interested in RPI.</p>