Hey guys! So I got my Financial Aid from Fordham, and honestly, its not enough. I’m going to break it down for you guys, and afterwards I have some questions. Just a quick heads up, my EFC is 0 and I did both the FAFSA & CSS by priority deadlines.
Estimated Cost of Attendance $66,883/yr
Total Grants and Scholarships (Gift Aid) $37,830/yr
Net Cost (cost after gift aid): $29,053/yr
Federal Direct Subsidized Loan 3,500
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan 2,000
Cost after gift aid & loans: $23,553
Ok so once again, my EFC is 0, and my parents cannot contribute to my college education at all, so thats out the question. Fordham is my number 1 choice, so what are my options?? They didn’t put me down for work study, can I add that? Also, can someone explain work study to me? Can I appeal? I’m just very confused and need help because Fordham is honestly my number 1 and I really want to go here, but 23K is just too much to pick in loans (in addition to the 5.5K ill already take). What’re my options? Does Fordham give more money in appeals and if I make it obvious that I really want to go here? Any help will be appreciated thanks guys!
Oh and also, these aren’t financial aid related, but I got admitted without housing but they included housing in my COA, which isn’t bad because I was going to request on campus housing anyways. Should I still email and put in a request for housing? Also, can I change my major? Thanks again! Just very anxious haha.
Only you can answer whether it is worth it. Without the loans Fordham is costing you $29,000 a year which you will have to pay since your parents cannot help you financially. What other colleges did you apply to and get accepted into? Are there any state schools you can consider? Can you commute to Fordham? It won’t hurt to appeal and request housing and see what happens. $37,830 is excellent aid so who knows if you will get more. You can always get a job on or off campus. For example, they are looking for Ram Van drivers right now and there are other types of jobs available. Do you really want to work Freshman year? Yes, you can change your major. Fordham is a fantastic college but you need to consider all your choices since you will be paying the tuition back for a long time.
Are you headed to WallStreet? If so, its a drop in the bucket. Fordham has HUGE contacts on WallStreet and also at all the cable and major networks.
Further, appeal your award and see if they can increase it to help you. They often do.
EFC is always an estimate and schools look at parental assets differently than FAFSA, such as home values.
How many kids in your family? parents have to understand they have to have skin in the game as well. parental loans are available as well and have very favorable terms.
@Adamsley thanks for the reply! So the other school I can consider is St. John’s, but I would honestly attend fordham. All the other places I applied RD to, so I don’t hear back for a while. Im gonna wait for my other schools & their fin aid, but honestly I can see myself at Fordham & that’s where I want to be. I’ll appeal. Do you know the process? Also, would working as a Ram Van driver be considered work study?
@sovereigndebt hello! Nice to hear from you again! I wasn’t planning on heading to wall street, but I was hoping to attend Gabelli as a BA major with a concentration in Marketing & Communications & Media Management. Does that make a difference? Not sure on my major yet, but it’s between what I just mentioned and just normal communications (can’t decide). So do any of these majors make a difference? Would the debt be worth it? I plan on staying in NYC after grad too. And my parents have 2 kids (me and my bro, both of us will be in college). I just don’t want my parents to pick up a lot of loan because of me. I Don’t know what to do
Do you have any family that you can live with in NYC? Room and board is very expensive and if you can save on that the tuition would be very reasonable. I am not sure if being a Ram Van driver is work study but you could call the Ram Van office (located in the parking garage) and ask them. This is just one example of the jobs on campus. There are many others. For example, they were looking for some administrative assistant students at the Law School in Lincoln Center last week to work 20 hrs. a week.
I believe RamVan is work study. I also believe giving them information about your brother’s tuition and expenses and showing Fordham that two will be in school at the same time is helpful, plus their debt from that. Appeal. They may want a fax, but a phone call may do it. Don’t wait.
Some communications kids get excellent jobs and internships in media in New York. But its wicked competitive. Fordham has outstanding contacts for that. Only the best get selected. Grades matter. HUGE.
Thank you once again @sovereigndebt! I’ll give them a call first thing Monday morning. Is the appeal process usually me just writing a letter?
On the topic of communications - would it be possible to dual major between two schools? Could I major in global business AND Communications? I know double majoring is allowed but im not sure if it’s allowed through two different schools.
I understand your plight, but you did get some very nice money there. Substantially more than my DD! For my DD, she figured she could afford to have loans equivalent to her first year’s salary, but any more than that would be too much of a burden. For this reason, she turned down two top 25 schools, who gave her very little money, and choose Fordham. She will graduate owing about 40% of her expected first year salary. Also, not taking a lot of loans has given her freedom to consider multiple study abroad opportunities (still need to pay airfare!) and an internship overseas. Good luck!
thanks guys!