<p>I just got my fin. aid package today, and I'm really disappointed...it's a pretty measly amount, and there's no conceivable way I'm going to be able to attend Ithaca, my first choice (out of the schools I got into, it's the only one i want to go to). My family genuinly needs the financial aid...so I'm wondering if Ithaca's aid is just lousy in general? I don't know how they do their calculations but something seems to be amiss. I'm planning on calling the office Monday, but is there a way to...appeal? And try to get more aid? I don't think the small scholarships I'm elligable for within my community will even touch what I would need to attend.
Thanks</p>
<p>they were pretty generous with me...i would def call and make sure all the financial aid is complete</p>
<p>I have the same problem :( Although I have stated in the fin. aid application what money I could pay the aid I recieved is too small. Why do they bother to give me some aid when they know that it is the same as not to give me any?!
Do you know if I can do anything to make them reconcider my aid package?</p>
<p>i called them today and it was disasterous. they told me they had given me all the money they could (10,000 in ithaca access grant, the most in campus employment) and there was nothing else they could do. basically, the woman told me that the need was too great to meet and it wouldn't be logical for me to attend the university because i can't afford it. i'm so upset about this-i worked really hard, ithaca was my top school, and i don't understand why they would even admit me if it was so glaringly obvious i can't afford to go and they would prefer i not. i don't know what the qualifications are for need-based scholarships but i would assume i would have qualified, so i'm looking into that. but to answer your question, no is pretty much the difinative answer i got. </p>
<p>it's good to know theres someone in the same boat, but i can't believe there's no other way. the scholarships im applying for won't even touch the 26,000 left in tuition fees per year i would have to pay at ithaca, essentially half our yearly income.
if you make any progress, PLEASE let me know.</p>
<p>In order to have them re-consider your financial aid stuff, I think you have to have your parents file an appeal stating what information they don't think was taken into account, and then Ithaca will respond with whether or not they can re-package your offer. I would call FA again and ask them about how to file a FA appeal.</p>
<p>When colleges admit kids, they want you to go there. They wouldn't admit you with the intention of not having you come. With that said, most colleges can't meet everyone's financial demands. Don't assume that since they didn't give you a huge package they didn't want you to go. Nearly no one can pay for their college tuition out-of-pocket. A HUGE percentage of students and their parents just HAVE to take out loans. It's unfortunate, but true.</p>
<p>I made an appeal and they responded me. They said that, unfortunately, they cannot give me more financial aid and I should seek other ways of meeting the costs. As I am an international, there aren't any other ways for me (including loans) and so there isn't a chance that I am attending Ithaca.</p>
<p>DEFINITELY APPEAL it. I have appealed twice and gotten more aid both times (both grants and loans). I would definitely appeal it, as you could get more aid. Also, consider that you're aid usually increases as the years go on.</p>
<p>Where are you from? and what program do you want to do?</p>
<p>If Ithaca is the only place you want to go, than you could consider doing 1 or 2 years of community college, and then transferring in. There would be a few benefits to this: Much less tuition, no room & board while living at home, when you come in as a transfer junior you would be able to live off campus or in an on campus garden apartment (which in either of these, you don't need a meal plan). And, the meal plan is a rip-off. It is like that everywhere though, it is government mandated that everyone in a dorm needs one. And it costs the equivalent of $20/day. So, there may be a solution like this that could save you some serious money. </p>
<p>It is important to know what program you want though. Some programs like stuff in park or more liberal arts programs it is easy to transfer in credit and graduate on time. Other stuff like music or business is practically impossible. I've taken some summer community college courses online for real cheap, and now could easily graduate a year early, knocking of a years tuition for the pocket change costs of community college locally.</p>
<p>I'm from MA and I would be entering into the exploratory major, with the aim of declaring a major in journalism or culture and communications. Living at home really isn't an option at this point, so as financially saavy as that would be I really can't bring myself to do it. I love Ithaca, but I could go to another school for roughly 10K less per year and then transfer (that school doesn't offer communications as a major) but the idea of entering university knowing I'll have to go through this whole process again is really frustrating. With scholarships and grants, not including loans, my Ithaca tuition would be about 21K a year for a family with an EFC of 3K a year. This makes no sense to me...and I couldn't do it without graduating 40K in debt.</p>