<p>I'm a transfer applicant for U of Rochester. Today, one of the admission officers I spoke to when I was on their campus called me back, giving me good news that I've been admitted by U of R, but they're having a hard time closing the gap between what they can offer and what I need. I don't qualify for FASFA because I'm still in line for permanent resident status so I pretty much have to rely on merit-aid to survive through paying for college. See the good part is that they didn't downright reject me because I only wanted and could afford 26K a year. The guy asked me to call him back so we can work through the whole financial matter issue. This can be pretty sensitive, and it's critical whether or not I can attend the school. I so much want to go there that I visited the campus before Thanksgiving day and had my transfer interview. After that, I took a tour around campus led by a student and then I spoke to the other admission director about some questions I had. It seemed like everything went well... I was hoping to get in and get at least 15K but my heart sank when I heard that I was only awarded 5K originally. Could anyone give me some insight about negotiating the package with the school? It's my dream school and I really desire to be in there. It just felt right to be on their campus. Now I stepped one foot through the door, just need the other one to complete the process. Any input will be helpful. Thank you so much!</p>
<p>Do you understand their position?
Do you understand the position of citizens and PR's</p>
<p>If you can afford $26K in cash/yr, you are already far ahead of almost all your cohort whether citizen, PR, or non citizen. </p>
<p>Can you stretch your $26k into loans?
GL</p>
<p>I'm already paying 25K(cash) a year to Tulane. All I need is simply around 15K or 16K from Rochester and then I'm all set. My parents are already super generous about taking money out of their own pocket to finance my education and I don't want them to help me pay like 38K for an undergrad degree, and plus it's not an Ivy. I love U of R because of they have a prestigious economics and mathematics department and I'mn an econ/math major so I definitely wanna go there. Plus my aunt studies and works at the George Eastman House in Rochester and she lives there, definitely a plus if I can attend UR. Any input, folks?</p>
<p>
[quote]
My parents are already super generous about taking money out of their own pocket to finance my education and I don't want them to help me pay like 38K for an undergrad degree, and plus it's not an Ivy.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I am sorry but your rationale sounds a little flawed. The net-net is if you don't have the money, you cannot attend school. Don't let this be the hill that you are choosing to die on. </p>
<p>From the schools point of view, your parents are the first stop as far as paying for your education. There is a big difference between </p>
<p>[ol]
[li]what the school says you can afford to pay and </p>[/li]
<p>[li]what your parents feel they want to pay and the type of school they want to pay for.[/li][/ol]</p>
<p>The real disconnects comes where the school does not care about # 2 placing you on the down side of this power dynamic because no $ no school.</p>
<p>You have to choose your battles. If you want to go to U of R the first talk needs to be with your parents. Toss the trash thinking of it's not an ivy out of the windowand hang up the pipe dream Both of you have to deal with the reality what you educational choices are (Tulane or U of R).</p>
<p>It is going to be very hard for you to get outside scholarhips as an upper classmen and the school probably is not going to give you any more $$ because they want to woo freshmen (merit aid is usually pretty limited as an upperclassmen at many schools so U of R is not out of the norm). You say that you don't want them to help you to pay $38k, but do you want them to watch you sit out of school?</p>
<p>I agree discuss it with your parents, see if there is any way to get loans but otherwise get in touch with fin aid people and talk to them earnestly. If your family has trouble closing the gap, financial officers have plenty of power to reconsider your award. Just remember to be humble and not demanding.
Good luck!</p>
<p>To be frank, at that level of schools, going to your state school is probaby the best choice.</p>
<p>I want to attend U of Rochester so much since they have one of the finest econ and math department. Plus, my aunt works in George Eastman House which is right in Rochester. I can have a home in Rochester. Plus, it doesn't matter where I go since I don't qualify for in-state tuition anywhere since my permanent resident application is still being held up.</p>
<p>question: Will you be attending U of R as a mid year transfer student?</p>
<p>Is there any way that you can commute for the rest of this year (bummer I know) and get a work study job on campus?</p>
<p>If you attend spring term and do well, can you revisit getting an increase in your scholarship (this is the question you need to ask FA) for next year?</p>
<p>Would you be eligible to apply for a RA position for next year (at some school's it would be free room and board) if this is the case at U of R, it may just be enough to tide you over.</p>