I recently got into Emerson College. It is by far my top school and has been for over two years now. It’s not an overly selective school or really even a big-name but I just love everything about it. I have toured it multiple times, have done my research, and spoken to current students and admissions counselors. I know there are other kids out there who love the school but I really doubt there are tons of other students with my grades, SAT scores, etc. that are as desperate as I am to go there. I don’t mean that in an arrogant way, I just mean that the school typically is not that selective and would probably be brushed off by many for that reason. But, I love the program they have there for my major and everything else they can offer… I could care less about the name, I just like the school.
Anyways, I was accepted but I received no merit aid nor was I accepted into Emerson’s Honors Program. The Honors Program was a stretch and sort of just a game of chance, as they only accept 50 kids into it… but I know some people who got into it with stats far below mine so I do honestly think I was near the top of Emerson’s applicant pool and I just didn’t make the cut for that program. I’m from the same state as the school (MA) so I get it, I’m not really that exciting but that doesn’t make me any less passionate about Emerson. However, I also received no other scholarships… and considering I really doubt I will receive much financial aid (on paper, we’re your regular middle class family but there have been some other circumstances that evidently schools have ignored), I really need something.
Should I try to file a Financial Aid appeal or something?
I have also received scholarships from several comparable colleges. Would it be worth trying to contact Admissions or whoever else in order to hassle?
I’m willing to do anything while at Emerson to finance my education but I am just so incredibly disappointed that I am receiving no such help now. I hope I don’t sound too whiny!
We’re you accepted EA to Emerson? Did you receive your full financial aid award from them…need based and merit?
Are you talking about merit aid or need based aid? I’m comfused.
If merit aid, schools all have their criteria for awarding merit aid. Sure, you can ask for a review, but usually with merit aid, this is awarded in keeping woth the school criteria…and often, they don’t care what other schools awarded you.
For need based aid…do you have financial need? If you received a more generous need based award from a very similar school, you could take this, and see if Emerson could increase your need based award. But again…Emerson has it’s formula for computing need based aid.
I don’t think living in MA really impacts honors college applications. Is it possible that this year Emerson had a much stronger pool of accepted students?
@thumper1 Really, what I meant with regard to being from MA was that they really like to mix up the Honors Program from everything that I can gather, so they do like to have kids from other states in it. That’s all I meant and it’s understandable. And it’s definitely possible that they had a stronger pool of accepted students this year but I have not heard of any people with a crazier GPA or SAT/ACT scores than usual being accepted into the program.
I’m talking about both merit and need based aid, honestly. I’m desperate. And no, I was not accepted EA to Emerson. I applied RD, which was idiotic on my part looking back. I have not received my full financial aid award from them (so perhaps I should just wait) but I do know I am received nothing for merit.
I am not sure if I technically have “financial need”. I’m still middle class. But, the company my dad works for has been suffering. Not only because of the turmoil in the county its located, but because of other problems in the industry he works in. This has hurt us pretty considerably. Not to mention we also had to take full responsibility for my grandmother and pay for all of her care at a retirement home she has been moved to which was super recent and not something we were able to plan for. Lastly, the only reason we live in MA now is because my dad was moved here by his company and not given a choice in the matter. He either relocated or he was going to lose his job. But we moved here during the housing crisis and we had very few options in affordable housing that would be able to work for the size of my family, etc. so basically, our house was way too much money for us (like 600k or something ridiculous like that) and we’ve been trying to sell it for years. Meanwhile, his pay has only fallen over the years, whoops. Hopefully, we’ll be able to sell it this summer though. Anyways I know everyone has their own problems and I probably sound whiny but would any of this be enough to bring up in a financial aid appeal?
Did all of the colleges send out their regular decision letters early this year? According to the Emerson website, notification is April 1.
Here are your stats…from your chances thread.
Your CR/Math SAT is 1290. It’s a fine score, but I’m betting not in the top % of Emerson accepted students. Your GPA is great.
Sure…contact Emerson once you have gotten your full financial aid award. See what they say.
I don’t think they will make adjustments in your need based aid because of the cost of your house, or the money your family is providing to your grandparent.
Your need based aid award will be based primarily on family income and assets. Emerson does not guarantee to meet full need, so it is likely that there will be a gap between their cost of attendance and the financial aid award you receive.
How much will your parents pay annually? Have you asked?
Emerson is a great school…but it is expensive. I hope you have other options, just in case the finances don’t work out.
@thumper1 Thanks anyways. I know I’m being ridiculous, honestly. I know they’re not going to give me anything else probably. I just really wanted to know if I had any other options. My parents want me to just go but ultimately it will weigh down on me, not them. They can probably only afford 20k a year. Ideally less.
And yeah, I know my SAT score isn’t that great (though I have seen plenty of 1800s and so that have gotten into their Honors Program so eh). I was hoping my writing would have made up for it. Evidently not, lol. Thanks though.
I really don’t have a good backup. I received scholarship money from Emmanuel, Suffolk, and Stonehill but I really don’t think any of them are comparable to Emerson. Maybe Emmanuel… but it isn’t a communications school.
@gearmom Oh I did! I just haven’t heard back yet. I only mentioned the schools I’ve already heard back from. But yes, I did apply there. It’s an option but definitely not ideal. I could maybe spend the first year or two there and transfer.
My other option is to try to get into Emerson’s Honors Program as a sophomore. But, obviously that’s not a guarantee.
@gearmom I don’t think I will though, honestly. I thought they were fairly strict about having to have a 1300 combined math and CR score to even be considered. If I did get in though, I’d go there.
@thumper1 Well, it’s half tuition. That would actually help me a lot, even if I got it as a sophomore.
it is possible…but shoild not be viewed as a slam dunk…to get accepted in to the honors college as a sophomore. Also, the reason you didn’t get in this year…the minimum SAT CR/Math is 1300…typically.
@jjmopp Sorry. I meant that you would probably get into UMass, the college. The UMass honors college average is 1390. You might not get any $ for UMass though. Do you have a tuition scholarship there? If your parents are only going to pay $20 then money will be tight.
@thumper1 No, they do. It’s a half-tuition Trustee’s scholarship and the biggest scholarship the school gives out. Even if you get into the program later, you still receive that scholarship.
It never hurts to contact the FA dept and explain your family situation - especially if you hadn’t fully documented your family’s obligation to your grandmother’s nursing care, or if your father’s W-2 income from last year was not representative of what he is earning now.
The Op doesn’t mention anything about his parent income not being reported accurately on his financial aid application forms. But he also doesn’t mention what that income IS. It might be that he doesn’t qualify for need based aid at all. There is no way for us to know that…it it dependent on his parent income and assets.
Re: supporting his grandparents. That is a wonderful thing for his family to do…if they can. But really, colleges will view that as a choice. The money could have been saved for college expenses.
Sure, the OP can ask Emerson to review his financial aid award…but really needs a plan in case they don’t increase his aid.
Hi guys, I’m kind of done with this thread! I sort of posted this out of distress but I think my mind has been made up for me. I do qualify for some need based aid though just likely not enough to help me with Emerson. But, I’ve sort of personally figured out what my path will be and I am still waiting on some other scholarships I have applied for.
@gearmom And yes, I don’t even think I’d be considered for the Honors College. My GPA is good but, my SAT scores… nope. That’s alright though. Its a weakness of mine I’ve always been conscious of. I still definitely could have been eligible for scholarships/the Honors Program at Emerson but I just didn’t make the cut and that’s fine. Anyways, I live in MA and actually would get free tuition at UMASS Amherst (because of another scholarship I was given based on my state testing scores) but being a state school, the real cost of the school is in the fees. Still, it’s definitely a cheaper option. But, I’d probably still pick Emmanuel first (I have a scholarship there and it’s in Boston, lol). It’s not that I can’t afford any school but simply that Emerson is really expensive. I know I’m not the only one in this situation, however. Thank you though!
@MiddKid86 It was incredibly weird! They just all of a sudden emailed us all and not only told us our acceptance decision, but also if we had received any merit aid. I believe everybody knows now, as evident from the Facebook page for the school. I was counting on it being April 1 too. It even said in the portal that we would not know until 1 pm EST on April 1. I found out this Tuesday.