Got into the safety and 6 reaches, wait-listed from 3, rejected from 3
Lesson Learned - couldn’t have predicted which of the reaches D would get into and which ones would give the best financial aid (even with the NPC). Yes, it was a lot of work filling out all the CSS financial forms and special essays. In the end, the one she is going to was number 13 submitted on the last day of the deadline. Seemed one of the furthest LAC reaches. She not only got in, but they gave the most aid. All the work and money were worth it.
7
1 Safety
2 Matches
4 Reaches
Got into all except 2 reaches where I was waitlisted.
Lesson learned: I should’ve applied to more schools, even though I’m happy where I’m going.
Desperate to find merit money, first time doing this, thought there would be more variation in merit awards. Nope! All about the same.
1 private women’s college
2 second-tier private Us (Tulane, U of Denver)
1 in-state safety
1 top-20 LAC
3 top-50 LACs
^^^^AND THIS IS WHERE WE SHOULD HAVE STOPPED.
Instead, applied to 11 more safety LACs, chasing merit. I think every app was free. Excellent merit offers at each school, but no good reason to consider a lesser school when the $ difference is a few thousand a year.
Results: 18 acceptances, all with great merit.
2 wait lists, no rejections.
Did not aim high enough, way too many safeties.
Luckily, D has several great and affordable choices. Will do it differently with the next 3 kids
However, I did not find FA to be a huge hassle. Most were EA apps. Chose top 10 acceptances/hopefuls to send FAFSA. Ignored the rest. Filed CSS at about 4-5 of the top 10. Now appealing FA at top 3. Not bad at all.
Ummm… 2, I applied to 2. Ball State at the start of college, then to IU. I got in at both places. What is a reach? What is a safety? and you guys applied to 14 colleges?!? I couldn’t afford all of those application fees haha. Why bother anyways because you really should have narrowed it down (i.e. public, 4-year, in-state universities for me only).