<p>Well, after reading the fine print, I realized that my scholarship + grant is only good for my first two years at RPI for sure. 5000 of the 17000/year is a housing grant which I'll probably lose after my sophomore year since housing isn't guaranteed after that. We contacted the financial aid office and I would have to appeal, which would take 5 days. At this point, I'm not sure it's worth it anymore. I absolutely love RPI, but after numerous arguments with my mother and now this, I've just about had it. I'm just about ready to send my deposit into RIT because I know for sure that it's a great school, and I can freeze the tuition cost (as in, whatever the cost is this year, I would pay that amount upfront for my four years there with the scholarship deducted from the total bringing it close to 80,000 total for four years). Unless RPI were to come up with an even better offer and my parents changed their minds, it's not happening. Looks like RPI will be on my list of grad. schools. Is it really worth appealing my financial aid package this late?</p>
<p>Worth a shot</p>
<p>Well- we appealed twice and both times they raised it. As far the housing grant- part of my daughter’s scholarship is considered “housing” as well- I think that’s pretty common. You are making it sound like they boot off all their upperclassmen from campus- lol. Not so- most (if not all) of the kids that want to remain living on campus find a way to do so. They are increasing their dorm space for next year by 2 buildings. I wouldn’t be so quick to discount it.</p>
<p>I talked to someone over the weekend who had a housing scholarship. She found a way to keep it and still living off campus (to save $$) by putting it towards the food plan.</p>
<p>What they told me is that if you have to move off campus because you can’t get housing, you can keep your housing grant. Plus a number of fraternities (and more this year) have tied into the school’s billing, and are considered “on-campus housing” as regards your housing grant.</p>
<p>What in the fine print leads you to believe that your merit scholarship is only good for two years?</p>
<p>If RIT is only going to cost you $20K per year, they made you a pretty strong offer - that-s tough to turn down. I personally really disliked their campus (my S didn’t like it either, and he is normally totally oblivious to this sort of thing), and you will be there for 5 years because of the required coop, and that’s a large opportunity cost, probably $30-40K.</p>
<p>I’m not sure there is any benefit to paying all 4 years up front; costs will only go up 3 or 4% a year, which you can get close to in some very safe investments.</p>
<p>I wrote an appeal letter for my daughter and she got an increase. Not a huge increase … but an increase nonetheless.</p>
<p>It’s worth trying.</p>
<p>I’m sending my deposit to RIT tomorrow. Even if RPI were affordable, it’s just not workable for my family. I live 16 hours away from RPI and 12 hours away from RIT. The only reason I can go to RIT is because my uncle is 10 minutes away from RIT. I’m excited about RIT and I’ll probably be applying to RPI for grad school. Thanks everyone for your advice about RPI.</p>