<p>Be sure that she asks the administration, department head or teacher if there are any smaller grants she can put in for. A good 25% of D’s expenses were paid for by cobbling together several small grants and scholarships (some as small as $500 and as big as $3000). All of them awarded through her department and not made known to the general public. A.B.A.F.M.M Always Be Asking For More Money. It can be intimidating for newer grads, but it doesn’t hurt to ask. (squeaky wheel and all that)</p>
<p>ABAFMM - so true! D3 just received a nice grant for a summer program - she thought she was writing a polite email to turn them down for being too pricey for her budget, and was pleasantly surprised when they suddenly found a pile of grant money to offer her after all. :)</p>
<p>It never hurts to ask! D’s merit scholarship was greatly increased and made it possible for her to accept the offer!</p>
<p>Thanks, all. Good advice.</p>
<p>Just looking at the timing of my last post; this daughter is in Boston, and had been at the Boston Marathon Finish Line, but thankfully for her, had left the area earlier, and was not there when the bombs went off. But it did shake up all of us. Very upsetting. </p>
<p>This daughter also was going to put in her final grad. school decision after returning from viewing the Marathon, but because of the events on Monday, ended up asking for extensions from the 2 schools left on her list. I think she has made a final decision now, but she will tell them either tomorrow or Thursday now. I’ll report on her choice after she has let both schools know for sure.</p>
<p>My hearts go out to those injured in the bombings in Boston, who now face much bigger adjustments than merely which grad. school to choose.</p>
<p>So glad your daughter is safe. I bet your daughter wasn’t the only one asking for an extension…terrible.</p>
<p>So glad your daughter is safe after the tragic events in Boston, MakeMom. (Just how evil must one be … ?)</p>
<p>@glassharmonic (post #9)
Regarding your question about financial aid for grad school: 3 of my son’s 6 MM-VP schools DID require and consider parental data for financial aid consideration. That was a surprise! I had always heard that, since grad students are considered “independent,” parental data would not be required or considered. Wrong. Even though your grad student will in fact be, by definition, “Independent,” grad schools CAN require parental data if your student wants to be considered for financial aid. And as I said, HALF of my son’s schools did so this year.</p>
<p>In fact, SFCM (one of the schools being discussed in this thread) was one of the schools that required all of the same parental data that we had to file for the kids’ undergrad educations. Granted, this year was the first year they ever required it (I think). It’s definitely the first year (for Fall 2013 entry), that SFCM required the CSS Profile for grad students, along with the FAFSA, and along with ALL parental data.</p>
<p>As for your worries about your upcoming college junior’s potential for grad school funding … Based on our experience, you should be worried. Like your D’s senior friends, my senior son and ALL of his friends experienced significantly lower financial aid awards than they had previously heard about from plenty of friends who attended the same schools in prior years. Four of my son’s schools made a big point of how tight the money is this year. That played out in the final results, too. Disappointing and difficult to manage! So, yes, I recommend you really plan ahead!</p>
<p>Daughter has made her decision, but I’ll wait to share it until I hear that she has indeed paid her deposit today. </p>
<p>I had already told my mother about my dd’s decision a few days ago, and it’s a different school than what dd had been saying over the weekend.</p>
<p>We are quite excited!</p>
<p>OK, My daughter is heading to San Francisco Conservatory of Music for a Master’s in Cello Performance. We are all very excited!</p>
<p>Oh, and they did give her somewhat more than 1/2 tuition.</p>
<p>Congrats Makemon and daughter…let me know if you have any more questions along the way.</p>
<p>For my son applying to graduate programs it was only the private schools that required my financial data in addition to the FASFA. State schools only requested the FASFA be completed. Ended up being a bit complex for the private schools as each one wanted different forms filling in.</p>
<p>Makemom–though San Francisco is expensive, there are also lots of small professional performance opportunities for young artists. Make sure your daughter makes her teacher and the administration know that she is dependable, available and highly interested in making money via these gigs. In short, she should make herself the first student they think of if an opportunity pops up. It seems obvious, but you would be surprised how many students do not understand that this sort of thing needs to be actively pursued. Good luck to her!!!</p>
<p>my daughter’s roommate gigs a lot in sf… She is a violinist… She even had the opportunity to pay at a party given by a big celebrity once.</p>
<p>my daughter’s roommate gigs a lot in sf… She is a violinist… She even had the opportunity to play at a party given by a big celebrity once.</p>
<p>A nice little gift for the new grad student:a card case with new professional business cards, with their new email address, specialty, phone number and picture. Handy to have after concerts and recitals…people DO ask for them.</p>
<p>Great idea musica</p>
<p>Makemom-our son is also a senior at BU and he too is safe. I am so happy your daughter is too and my prayers go out for all who were not so fortunate. I believe our children know each other (I was telling my son about your post) your daughter gave him a ride when he did his Yale auditions…thank you to her for that 
Good luck to her in San Francisco. We still do not have a firm decision in our family, although I feel he is leaning toward a school. When his decision is final I will post it.</p>
<p>Great ideas, everyone! DD is used to having gigs in Boston, so she’ll be very happy to pursue that in SF. </p>
<p>It’s a big relief to have her decision finalized, and to be able to move forward with excitement!
I’m guessing a lot of the questions I’ll have from here on out have more to do with the area, housing, and so on. This daughter is fully grown and responsible, so she’ll take care of things for herself; I just like to know that she’ll be safe and will thrive there!</p>