Interesting Phone Call

<p>So last night I got a call from the President, Mary Sue Coleman. I was absolutely shocked when I answered the phone and it was her. I do however, think there may be a correlation with the fact that it was at 6pm, on Ivy release day, (which I did get into Cornell). She was asking about what I wanted to study and whatnot, talked about the research I'm doing right now, and everything, wanted to know if I was going to be able to go to the admitted student days in april, as well as congratulating me on getting the scholarship. She also wanted to know if I had any questions about financial aid or anything, and said that she had a financial aid officer there that could talk to me then, but she also said they would be able to call me later if I was busy right then (which I was).</p>

<p>Right now, UMich is absolutely unaffordable for me. Even with the 10k/yr scholarship, it's still 35k a year. Not gonna happen if I can pay 25k to go to McGill, or the same or less to go to Cornell.</p>

<p>I'm thinking of asking for In state tuition when they call, and tell them that's the only way I'll really be able to seriously consider (and if I got that, it would seriously consider itself up to the top of my list) going there. How likely is it that they'll be able to provide that for me? Doubtful? Or do you think that since the president herself called, maybe she was gonna have them reoffer financial aid to me, since 5500/yr in loans is practically worthless.</p>

<p>If the president calls you that probably means you could get your tuition down to in state. What are your stats btw?</p>

<p>32 ACT, 36 Math 34 Science 29 Eng 28 Rdg
94.89 Weighted GPA
10 AP's
Native American (that might've done the trick, haha)
Good EC's, 150 hrs physician shadowing (I wanna be a doctor), research this semester as a volunteer, then paid during summer, StuCo secretary, NHS, 3 years of school baseball.</p>

<p>Chemistry or Neuroscience major, not sure yet.</p>

<p>I'll probably just have to be quite candid with them when they call and say look, this is what I've gotten from other schools, what can you give me that beats them. Idk though, I hope I can get that Instate tuiton, because I'd almost certainly go (pending I didn't hate the campus when I visited), but at the same time it's not my number 1 school, it's my number 3, and I've got pretty good financial situation at my number 2, and I should get my FA back from Cornell (my number 1) soon.</p>

<p>But who knows, they very well may laugh in my face when I ask for in state tuition.</p>

<p>edit: double post</p>

<p>If you really want to go to school for a good price, you can most likely get a huge fund from outside scholarship, being native american and having such good grades. Also, when asking for a cheaper tuition, don't directly tell them i want instate tuition, but say, I can't afford the out-of-state tuition, could you perhaps lower the cost of attendance to that of an in-state student.</p>

<p>Wait a minute, Z...SERIOUSLY, I believe if you can verify native status that you receive FULL TUITION paid at Michigan. Check into it asap.
Cheers,
K</p>

<p>I believe that is only at Dartmouth, kmccrindle.</p>

<p>Actually, I just checked where I saw that before. There is or was a Native Tuition Waiver program at U Mich but it <em>may</em> be restricted to people who are residing in Michigan, AND the state-funded program was in jeopardy last year or the year before but I don't think the state actually axed it.</p>

<p>So for Z, he or she is not residing in MI...but it might be worth inquiring about because who knows, there could be a funding link elsewhere or some kind of reciprocity plan. Restricting a native tuition waiver to MI state residents seems odd to me considering the treaty being honored would be in connection to bands that would typically transcend a particular state boundary. Then again, the US is very weird when it comes to how its treaties were devised...(when in fact a treaty is upheld at all : )
As long as I've lived in this country I have still not figure out its native affairs.</p>

<p>If Z. has also applied to McGill, he or she may want to investigate Canadian treaties and whether there's any band-related link. In Canada, education is or used to be a treaty entitlement.</p>

<p>If the president called you, I think you could definitely get them to lower your tuition. I would just be sincere about the fact that you really can't afford to go there for 35k a year, but that love the school. Good luck.</p>

<p>Well I'm a he, and I'm a Texas resident. My mom looked into that Native full ride thing a while back, and it's only for Michigan residents.</p>

<p>I'm pretty sure I'm going to Cornell regardless, but if they call I'll definitely see what they can do for me.</p>

<p>Dartmouth doesn't give full rides for Natives, it's just a part of their charter to educate many of them. It didn't get me in though, but I didn't really like the vibe I got from the school.</p>

<p>As far as in Canada, they only care about Inuit/First Nation tribes based in Canada, which my tribe, Cherokee, is not. I am a registered Indian though, which I thought would've been a huge plus, but it didn't get me nearly as much as I thought it would've. </p>

<p>I'll definitely talk to them, if they call, and see what kind of offer I can get, but it's gonna have to be phenomenal to make me pass up Cornell. I know Michigan's got the money, but we'll see...</p>

<p>A call from the president????? wow...how did that happen? I think you can definitely lower your tuition.</p>

<p>You cannot afford $35k to attend Michigan but you can afford $35k to attend Cornell?</p>

<p>Anyway, I agree that given your profile, you should be able to drop costs substatially. You should write Mary Sue an email thanking her for the call and explain to her your interest in Michigan but at the same time, stress your financial dilemna.</p>

<p>Also contact the office of financial aid and see if there is anything that can be done.</p>

<p>Z., Cherokee is part of First Nation in Canada, especially in western provinces such as Alberta. Also represented at First Nation original assembly. However, the issue is likely that you're living in the U.S., and as such, not registered with native affairs in Canada. If you were Canadian I believe you'd be covered by the treaty.
Regardless, good luck! You have some awesome choices!
And Alexander, I believe he said he was awaiting financial aid package from Cornell, so actual cost is presently unknown.
Cheers,
K</p>

<p>kmccrindle:
if he was a resident of Canada, McGill would only be 1,500 a year. All canadian citizens pay only 1K to go to McGill or any canadian college for that matter.</p>

<p>Thats not true at all. Im a canadian citizen and the tuition at ubc and toronto is 4000 plus around 9000 room and board</p>

<p>Yes, Shay, don't know where you got that from. My s. is a perm. resident in the U.S. but still a Canadian national and his Canadian citizen tuition rates vary from school to school. UBC is the cheapest date in the whole country at $4k a year because the provincial government funds it heavily...most are closer to $7,000 by the time you have the fees included, plus $8 - 9k residence. Granted, those are all better rates than any out of state or private school...but also remember the endowments and infrastructure in Cda does not always compare (which is not to say the education is necessarily inferior...they did alright by me : )
So...it's not quite the land of milk and honey of the $1k tuition, in fact, even the community colleges (which are like jr. college here) are more expensive than that : )
Cheers,
K</p>

<p>yea sorry,</p>

<p>if you are a quebec resident, or a French Citizen, then tuition at McGill is 1500.</p>

<p>Ok well I never got a call back from the financial aid office like they were supposed to. I think that reflects kind of poorly on the school. The president tells me she will have a financial aid officer call me back the next evening to talk about it, and no one does.</p>

<p>Oh well, Cornell gets my tuition money. It would have been nice to at least see what I could get from UMich but oh well.</p>

<p>ZFanatic, did Cornell give you a generous package?</p>

<p>Very. It was cheaper than if I went to McGill, and I had a 6k/yr bursary there. 32k in grants I think it was.</p>

<p>I wanted to see what Michigan could do for me, but I wasn’t going to wait forever. The personal attention I had received from Cornell made it my first choice, but I was definitely willing to consider Michigan, they just never followed up.</p>