<p>My parents refuse to pay for any of my tuition for college.
I might be able to pull together scholarships, but I'm not sure I'll get many.
Because I have so little funding would it even be worth going to a higher end private school since I'll just accumulate major student loans in the process?</p>
<p>Do you have the grades, GPA, SAT/ACT scores, activities and recommendations that would make you a competitive applicant for those higher end private colleges? You can't get the financial aid unless you get accepted.</p>
<p>AND if you are competitive for those schools, you should also look at schools that are not as well known or recognized that might offer you merit aid.</p>
<p>^ Ok, good point. :)</p>
<p>It was just one of those random thoughts/questions Ihad to get out.</p>
<p>Also many schools, Emory, RICE, Vandy, Amherst and Williams (there are plenty others) will give you substantial fin. aid packages if you qualify.</p>
<p>What are your stats like? Are they competitive for some of the schools like Wash U and Vanderbilt that offer a very limited number of full ride scholarships? Is there anything about you that would make you stand out in their ultracompetitive merit scholarship pool?</p>
<p>Do you qualify for any need-based aid? Your parents would have to fill forms and provide their tax info for you to be considered. Are they willing to do this?</p>
<p>I've got two daughters at Harvard and a family income around $100K. After financial aid, they each pay about what they would for room and board at a public university in Georgia, after getting tuition waived under our HOPE Grant for having above a B average in HS.</p>
<p>Just curious--how did you qualify for financial aid making 100K?</p>
<p>The fact that gadad has TWO in college -- and that the college is Harvard (with its Financial Aid Initiative) -- helps:</p>
<p>harvard is the most generous of ANY college.</p>
<p>BUT, the OP will still need to file a FAFSA to find out his/her EFC even if parents have no intention of paying it. If there is a big EFC, then the OP should look for schools with MERIT aid</p>
<p>If your family's income is about 60,000, you can go to Harvard and Princeton for free, and many other colleges I think. It's what the admission officer told me. So prestigious schools usually have better financial aid because financial aid is a very important factor in deciding college's rank.</p>
<p>"Prestigious" schools are not more generous with financial aid because it affects rankings. (In most cases, it doesn't). Rather, it's because they've got the money and can afford to be generous. Schools like Harvard and Princeton have huge endowments that are the envy of most other schools.</p>
<p>It's just my mom and me. My mom makes around $25,000 per year. We do have income from life insurance, although I'll only be recieving about half of what I'm getting now, by the time I apply. </p>
<p>I think I fit within the $60,000 bracket.
That makes me feel better.</p>
<p>As for what makes me stand out, I'm very into music, and although this in itself really isn't that intersting being a female tuba player with some intersting experiences under my belt helps give me the chance to stand out a bit more.</p>
<p>If the OP applies to these competitive schools with the fabulous financial aid, that OP will not only have to file the FAFSA, but also will need to file a Profile in most cases....even if the parents have no intention of helping out. The school(s) will determine just how much help the family would be expected to provide.</p>
<p>Musical...it's your mom and you for FAFSA...but if you have a dad (e.g. if parents are divorced) he will have to file a Profile also (as a non-custodial parent).</p>
<p>im applying to brown and parents combined income ~50K a year</p>
<p>think ill get enough fin. aid?</p>
<p>I think Harvard will require a contribution from the student in the form of work study or summer earnings.</p>
<p>there are very very few schools (but it does happen) that will pay for EVERY student expense (including travel).</p>
<p>Harvard</a> College Financial Aid Office - Determining Need</p>
<p>I had a dinner with Deans of admission from Harvard few weeks ago. He told us that Harvard is free (tuition+room&board) for those family with <60,000 income, and 10% contribution for those between 60,000 and 100,000.</p>
<p>
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10% contribution for those between 60,000 and 100,000.
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</p>
<p>Be a little careful with these calculations, they address income but not savings and investments. My D attends a school with a similar FA policy and we pay substantially more than the 10% due to the fact that I saved for sending my kids to college (not complaining, just relating information ;)).</p>
<p>My parents were divorced, but my dad is now deceased. I don't have to worry about the non-custodial parent aspect.</p>
<p>Please understand that even if you have the best stats in the world, it is still a small possibility you will be admitted to one of those schools. The acceptance rate is less than 10% and you would be competing with some of the world's best and brightest. You need to apply to a safety as well. Frequently if you have high stats your state U will provide good merit aid. Look into that as well.</p>
<p>^ I know, I just wanted to make sure it was worth applying to the prestigious ones due to the money aspect.</p>