im looking forward to it too, i will be sure to update 
@dygibbs
update after retrieving the mail: i basically have full tuition covered at ursinus, but room and board would still be around 13k.
there are a few confusing things on the YSU offer but i got into the honors college (though i didnt receive an acceptance letter) so i got honors housing subsidy and tuition grant plus i got the presidential scholarship. didn’t get the first-gen scholarship for whatever reason. i have yet to hear from UNM at all and have not received FA from point park or washcoll.
I went back and re-read part of the thread. It’s not clear to me what your parents can contribute annually. In other words, is Ursinus affordable?
@Midwest67 i feel like 13k room and board is a bit of a stretch. having a dorm be that expensive is disappointing and room and board has been killing me at all my schools. i think once i get everything in im going to have to sit down and compare costs, and judge whether or not the education at ursinus is worth about 10 grand more than YSU.
Yes, the room and board (and travel and books and health insurance…) costs were a shock to us as well. Even with a full tuition scholarship, it can be out of budget.
Hang in there. There are many paths.
Check with YSU wrt the first gen scholarship. In case they forgot to tack it on…could be also that you reached the highest level possible.
Before you turn down Ursinus, you should go back to them and tell them there is a 10 grand difference between them and the next choice and see if they can close the gap for you. Worth a shot. Same with the first gen scholarship - why don’t you call and ask about it? You’ve come this far, a few more phone calls will finish the job! So impressed with how much you’ve accomplished this spring.
Adding…it can be very different at small schools (housing restrictions), but both of my kids (at big state flagships) saved significant money when they moved off campus and out of the dorms + meal plans after their first year.
i will make calls and check either tomorrow or wednesday, it is certainly worth trying. i am planning on moving off campus after sophomore year at the latest and dropping the meal plan after my first year regardless as i am on a strict gluten free diet and won’t be able to make the most out of an expensive meal plan anyway.
Ask about gluten free choices at all your colleges.
update: called YSU, turns out there is a separate application that i need to do for the first-gen scholarship but the deadline hasn’t passed yet so getting on that ASAP. haven’t called ursinus yet, i feel like when it comes to asking for more money colleges want to hear from the financial backers (aka parents) and not the dependent so i will have to wait until a bit later but it is worth a shot!
I hope when all is said and done and you are happily attending a great school, CC will let you change the name if this thread from, “I messed up” to “I persevered”! I think you are so inspiring!
thank you so much! if i get the trailblazer (First gen scholarship) and with the pell and pell match not listed on the estimate that the fin aid office reassured me will be there, i think i could attend YSU with only my federal loans, and would not have to put anything on my parents
This is my favorite thread on CC right now. Thanks for keeping us all updated on your amazing progress. Any college will be lucky to have you as a student.
I second, @Happy4u!
I third!
I am in complete agreement ^^ and I love reading this particular thread. OP, you’ve shown a lot of maturity throughout this. You said that you wanted to study journalism and field reporting, and as a former journalist, I can tell you that you have the right attitude and approach! You’ve learned from the parents on CC and did what needed to be done. You started with “I messed up” and gone on to “I persevered” so I’m waiting to see “I graduated” in a few years!
I wish you all the best.
@ACollegeHopeful3 I know you are not excited about calling Ursinus for more money, but if your message is “I’m paying for this myself with loans, etc” then a phone call from you will be more meaningful. The people in the offices at college prefer to talk to college students, not parents. They also prefer to speak to anyone who is respectful and nice in these conversations - it doesn’t have to be argumentative, pushy, or confrontational. Just lay out your situation - you love the school, but it will cost you $13k a year in loans while YSU will be much less. Is there any way that they can help you get these numbers closer. Say it nicely and they either will or won’t. But waiting risks that their merit money fund dries up. They only have so much they can give away.
i’ll call today and handle the call but mention my parent is there if they would prefer to discuss financials with a head pf household. ty!! @stemmmm
@ACollegeHopeful3 - last year CMU had a larger than excepted first year class, so depending on yield this year they might use the WL. But there are still a lot of variables.
It sounds like you are moving forward with some other options - good luck with it all.