How does the upper middle class afford college?

Paying for College
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<p>Though the University of Rochester says they give scholarships up to full tuition, if you look at their merit scholarships page, you’ll get a sense of the competitive nature of these scholarships. From what I have read and observed anecdotally (on CC and from the experience of some friend’s kids), getting a $20K scholarship from Rochester means you are a very competitive candidate. Look here for details: [University</a> of Rochester : Financial Aid](<a href=“http://enrollment.rochester.edu/financial/undergrads/scholarships.shtm]University”>http://enrollment.rochester.edu/financial/undergrads/scholarships.shtm)</p>

<p>People have been very forthcoming with information, FlowerGirl145. Is there a reason why you have not felt comfortable sharing what your in-state options are?</p>

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<p>*Also, about the University of Alabama, the more I read about the Honors College, the more I like it. Just one question…I see that there are several campuses, but which one houses the Honors College? </p>

<p>Also, I am fairly politically liberal, and keeping in mind that Alabama is one of the reddest states, would that be a problem for me? I definitely do not want to limit myself to others who are exactly like me, but I also want there to be a decent percentage of the student population who share the same views and values that I do.*</p>

<p>The University of Alabama is only ONE campus. It’s in Tuscaloosa and it’s the Flagship. The other schools UAB and UAH are totally different schools …like UCLA is a different school than UCSD. They are part of a system (like the UC system), but each is a stand-alone school. </p>

<p>the Honors College is amazing and run by a seriously student-focused faculty. The Dean and his staff know their students. The classes that are offered in the Honors College are unique, LAC-like, and mind-expanding. The topics range from War Crimes to Common Book Experiences to Medical Ethics to Arts and Parody to Middle-Eastern Culture, etc. </p>

<p>UA and Tuscaloosa are fairly middle-of-the-road politically. The Congressperson for Tuscaloosa is a Democrat. Tuscaloosa is a very lovely mid-sized city (population 100,000) and quite diverse. You’ll see women in head-scarves, saris, pink hair, as well as the more run-of-the-mill folks. </p>

<p>Bama was “Obama Country” during the last Presidential election, and may be so again this fall. The profs are liberal (as profs nearly almost always are), and the students are all over the spectrum from liberal to moderate to conservate to “I don’t care either way”.</p>

<p>The color of a state is irrelevant for colleges. After all, the “blue states” are often only “blue” because of the lopsided political leanings of its super large cities (like Chicago or NYC). The rest of those states consist of mostly red counties, which contain many universities as well. So, going to a school in a “red” or “blue” state doesn’t mean a whole lot about what the atmosphere of the particular school and its city will be.</p>

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<p>$100 a college for an application (mentioned above) is on the extreme high side. </p>

<p>Many less selective colleges have free online applications. If you sign up on their email lists, or go on a campus tour, some additional colleges will offer send you a link for a free application. Most colleges I’ve looked at charge around $30 to $40 for an application, with an occasional one at $60.</p>

<p>Some colleges will accept test scores listed on the high school transcript and don’t require the scores to be sent directly from the SAT or ACT. You get 4 free college test score reports from each taking of the SAT or ACT. If your score doesn’t change much, you don’t need to resend the score. Each additional college after the first 4 for an official SAT or ACT report is $10.</p>

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<p>Flowergirl145: I have read this entire thread, and one question I have not seen is: How much are you willing to contribute for college? You say that you have worked in a lab for many hours during the week and during the summer: Do you earn any money from this? If not, why have you not asked for a small stipend or salary? If you are a contributing member of the team they should be willing to pay you. You also say that you teach music lessons, well private lessons in the Northeast (where I am located) cost on average $80.00 a lesson, proficient students earn approximately half of that to teach. That can add up pretty quickly as a nice income. What have you managed to save? Have you thought about giving up some of the “niceties” like additional music lessons and asking your parents to save that money for college? Exactly what are you willing to sacrifice financially? It sounds like your parents have given you all the advantages…maybe you should stop whining about their finances. Many, many families are struggling with the issue of college expense in this economy. Your parents have given you a firm commitment of $7,000. Work with it.</p>

<p>Your parents have done their part by giving you a great education in a private school now, you have started to do your part by investigating generous merit based awards. Continue this investigation, set up a spreadsheet (as others have suggested) and DON’T underestimate the universities that guarantee scholarships. Work everything out in black and white and then present your plans to your parents in a mature way.</p>

<p>Kudos for getting high grades and statistics, but know that there are many high stat kids who do not get into their dream college (Harvard). Yes, you have some impressive EC’s as well, but the competition is stiff. You have to be realistic and not naive, you can aim for any college you like but be prepared with your financial safeties.</p>

<p>I am not being harsh just realistic.</p>

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<p>Wow rochester gives data to the extreme.</p>

<p>[Untitled</a> Document](<a href=“http://enrollment.rochester.edu/financial/undergrads/meritprofiles.html]Untitled”>http://enrollment.rochester.edu/financial/undergrads/meritprofiles.html)</p>

<p>its very elightening.</p>

<p>Profile 1 (need met, but no scholarship)
Taking 25-50% of the most rigorous courses available
GPA 3.3 – 3.9 (not weighted)
SAT Reasoning exams range 580 – 710
Percent of students in this range who interviewed: 40%
Applied for need-based aid: 62%
Qualified for need-based aid: 34%</p>

<p>Majors: Biology, Psychology
Locations: China, New York State
• Volunteers at a local nursing home (38 hours/year)
• Writer/contributor to school newspaper
• Sports: softball (2-3 years)</p>

<p>Profile 2 ($7,500 scholarship)
Taking 33-50% of the most rigorous courses available
GPA 3.5 – 4.0 (not weighted)
SAT Reasoning exams range 610 – 680
Interviewed: 49%
Applied for need-based aid: 75%
Qualified for need-based aid: 48%</p>

<p>Majors: Biomedical Engineering, Economics
Locations: East Asia, Mid-Atlantic US, New England
• Treasurer for student government
• Mentor/tutors reading after school
• Babysits younger siblings
• Model UN, Math Club</p>

<p>Profile 3 ($9,000 scholarship)
Taking 37-55% of the most rigorous courses available
GPA 3.5 – 4.0 (not weighted)
SAT Reasoning exams range 650 – 720
Interviewed: 51%
Applied for need-based aid: 68%
Qualified for need-based aid: 36%</p>

<p>Majors: Biochemistry, English, International Relations
Locations: California, Canada, Great Lakes US,
Middle East, Southeast US
• Community service: volunteers at the library, local animal shelter (70 hours)
• Rochester High School Award winner as a junior
• Performance: Drama/ theatre “Anne Frank” leading role
• Film Society, Problem Solving Club, Fencing
• Works part time retail sales</p>

<p>Profile 4 ($12,000 scholarship)
Taking 40-60% of the most rigorous courses available
GPA 3.6 – 4.0 (not weighted)
SAT Reasoning exams range 690 – 770
Interviewed: 52%
Applied for need-based aid: 75%
Qualified for need-based aid: 48%</p>

<p>Majors: Film & Media Studies, Mechanical Engineering, Political Science
Locations: Europe, Northwest US, Southeast Asia, Southwest US
• Community service: Volunteered building homes with church group, Big Brothers/Big Sister Program(100+ hours)
• Varsity swim/JV baseball
• Leading role in two high school musicals
• Boy’s State/Girl’s State/HOBY participant
• Literary magazine editor, school newspaper and National Honor Society
• Small farm assistant/researcher</p>

<p>Profile 5 ($15,000 scholarship)
Taking 50-67% of the most rigorous courses available
GPA 3.7 – 4.0 (not weighted)
SAT Reasoning exams range 700 – 800
Interviewed: 59%
Applied for need-based aid: 68%
Qualified for need-based aid: 52%</p>

<p>Majors: Linguistics, Neuroscience, Optics
Locations: Great Plains US, Rockies US, South Asia
• IB Diploma Candidate
• Eagle Scout/Girl’s Scout Gold
• Community Service (125+ hours) volunteers at a local hospital, Big Brothers Big Sisters
• Coaches basketball & soccer for children with special needs
• Instrumental : private piano lessons for 6 years
• President of Pan-American Student Forum
• Rochester Combined Admission Program (GEAR)</p>

<p>Profile 6 ($20,000 scholarship)
Taking 50-67% of the most rigorous courses available
GPA 3.5 – 4.0 (not weighted)
SAT Reasoning exams range 650 – 800
Interviewed: 53%
Applied for need-based aid: 84%
Qualified for need-based aid: 57%</p>

<p>Majors: Chemical Engineering, History, Philosophy
Locations: Africa, Americas, Rochester City Schools, (random in US)
• Valedictorian
• National Merit Finalist
• Varsity letters in soccer/basketball/track
• After volunteering in a cardiology unit conducted independent research on antimicrobial materials
• President of World Hunger and Awareness Club
• Community Service (150+ hours) hospital, nursing home, tutor
• Proficient in Spanish & French languages
• Prosecution lawyer on champion Mock Trial Team</p>

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<p>charlieschm, Actually, $100 per school is a bit high but not ‘extreme,’ especially when you start talking about visits. Did you see the list of schools to which she wants to apply? The top schools tend to have high fees. (Her safeties will tend to have lower fees-- for example, Alabama is $40-- but she will probably have a few safeties and more applications to the highly competitive, lottery schools.) </p>

<p>Just as an example… Yale has a $75 application fee. The OP has already sat for one SAT so there are no ‘free’ sends (which, by the way, aren’t ‘free,’ they’re included). Anyway, because of score choice, many testers wait until their results are in before sending scores. (And I wouldn’t recommend putting scores on transcripts for anyone looking to apply to top schools.) The cost to take the SAT (which she wants to retake) is $49. The cost to take one SAT II is $44 although additional tests taken the same day are only $11. The fee for each AP exam is $87. The fee to send the scores is $10 per school. My kids’ school charges $5 for each transcript. Plus, FlowerGirl is a musician so she may want to send a cd of her playing. (Add in the cost of a cd and mailing.) Plus, $1 or so in postage for teacher recommendations unless they are being sent online, another couple of dollars for transportation for the alumni interview and thank you card. I’m assuming she has something appropriate to wear and is not African-American so she doesn’t need her hair done. </p>

<p>All of those are reasonable costs <em>without</em> including the visits you mentioned. If she were to visit the schools (which I doubt she will because her parents aren’t going to foot that bill), it would easily cost thousands to fly down to Alabama, to Virginia, to upstate New York, California, D.C. and New England and stay at hotels. </p>

<p>I realize her parents may pick up some of the costs-- but they may not. They may be so concerned that she will be accepted at a school they cannot afford and that she will move far from home that they will stop her from applying by simply withholding the $. I am encouraging her to be prepared for that response because I’ve seen it time and time again. Depending on the number of applications she chooses to submit, it will easily be many hundreds of dollars.</p>

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<p>I’d recommend not spending the money to visit the very selective colleges that are far away until after you are accepted. That will greatly cut down on the expense, because few people are accepted to many very selective colleges. </p>

<p>Visit a range of colleges that are close to you early in the process. Then save long weekends in March and early April to visit colleges that are further away - still leaving enough time for the May 1 decision date. The accepted student days are much more worthwhile and focused than the typical powerpoint and tour they give the general public. </p>

<p>Also, you don’t want to spend a large amount of money visiting a very selective college that is far away, fall in love with it, and then get disappointed when you get rejected.</p>

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<p>The no-loan cheap ivy education is a fallacy unless your household income is under $60,000. Our household income is not much higher than yours and we are expected to pay the sticker price. Sorry to dash your hopes and dreams, but this was a real eye-opener for our family. My son was given merit scholarships at every other school he was accepted at but his dream is the ivy that accepted him. Apply to top ranked public and private schools making sure to apply EARLY and apply for specific full tuition scholarships at each school you apply to -check each college website carefully for information on full tuition scholarships. If you are attending a private school, they should be helping and/or recommending you for merit scholarships -for examply the Morehead Cain at UNC or the Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholars at Vanderbilt - they are everywhere if you LOOK and APPLY EARly!</p>

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<p>Just curious - did you try to negotiate a better aid package at the Ivy? I’m asking because I know a student who used a full-ride (or full-tuition, I’m not sure which) at a non-Ivy in the so-called “top 20” to negotiate a significantly better aid package at an HYPSM.</p>

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<p>“The no-loan cheap ivy education is a fallacy unless your household income is under $60,000. Our household income is not much higher than yours and we are expected to pay the sticker price.”</p>

<p>I know a student who just turned down Columbia for a Top 75 university best known for its engineering program (the student in question plans to major in a social science). The reason for declining Columbia’s offer was purely financial. Parents are both unionized public employees.</p>

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<p>While there are good scholarships for top students and schools that are able to offer good financial aid packages, the vast majority of higher education institutions are going to expect families reporting AGIs in the $150K range to contribute substantially to their children’s educations. I’m not sure why there are so many people who expect something different. </p>

<p>Whether a family feels they are just “getting by” on $150K is irrelevant. That level of income puts a family ahead of the vast majority of families in this country. Best of luck to the OP in finding good scholarships and in lining up some true financial safeties in case those scholarships don’t materialize or are not sufficient to close what could be as much as a $45K gap between what she and her parents can come up with and what many top schools cost.</p>

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<p>What mom2collegekids says about blue college towns in a red state is interesting. That was exactly my experience at Penn State. James Carville once described PA as “Pittsburgh on one end, Philadelphia on the other, and Alabama (haha) in the middle.” But State College, where the main campus of PSU is located, is definitely not the same as the conservative towns around it. I am liberal and felt very much at home at Penn State. I’ll bet UA is the same way.</p>