<p>Hello,
I was wondering if any of you parents had experiences with LAC's that were generous with financial aid. I am coming from an extremely low-income family and wondering what resources would be available to me if I applied.</p>
<p>Although, I am mostly considering women's colleges i.e Smith(first choice), I will not rule out others that will be more affordable to me. </p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>You can try running the net price calculator on each college’s web site to see what it may offer in financial aid for you.</p>
<p>Go to the Financial aid forum and look at the pinned threads for some options.</p>
<p>Look for schools where you are well above the typical profile. I happen to know a couple of people who have received very good merit scholarships from Goucher and Muhlenberg but I’m sure there are many other good choices.</p>
<p>Good advise. If you specific suggestions, we need to know more about your GPA, SAT/ACT, interests </p>
<p>Have you looked into Questbridge? The top LACs have great need-based aid, run the net price calculators and see how things look. Focus on need-blind schools which meet full need. </p>
<p>Rose43, if you are competitive for a top LAC, you will find very generous financial aid. Run the financial calculators at places like Williams, Swarthmore, Amherst, Haverford, and Davidson. </p>
<p>rose43, the need-blind meet-full-need schools are still your best bet in your situation. Honeybee63 gave you that list on your other thread. Since you don’t yet have any standardized test scores you’ll have to wait to see which may be appropriate for you to apply to. If you’re not going to be able to take either the ACT or SAT subject test, your list of LACs will be somewhat limited. I believe someone gave you the list of LACs that are test optional as well? For test flexible schools you can sometimes submit a combination of APs instead of the SAT/ACT requirement. You got very good advice on your other thread. </p>
<p>Check out St. Olaf in MN–it’s across town from Carleton College. </p>
<p>Request your ACT and Subject test fee waivers from your guidance counselor so that you can complete the testing requirements for colleges that give the best financial aid. Since you’re very low income, your best bet is with top colleges that meet full financial need. Next, wait until you have your scores - you need to look at private LACs ranked 50-125 and choose the ones where you rank among the top 10% applicants.</p>
<p>Wellesley is need-blind, and does a great job with financial aid.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Also look at LACs with merit aid and apply to them as well. You may get more if you apply Early Action, so the deadline on many is 11/1 or 12/1. Merit is not only academic merit; it can be leadership, arts, community service, and the like. Depends on the school.</p>
<p>Many schools on the following list are LACs:
<a href=“http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/2014/09/15/colleges-and-universities-that-claim-to-meet-full-financial-need”>http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/2014/09/15/colleges-and-universities-that-claim-to-meet-full-financial-need</a></p>
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<p>Few if any colleges ranked 50-125 in the USNWR national LAC list can claim to meet 100% of demonstrated need. Most (if not all) “full need” LACs would rank in the top ~40. Looking at LACs ranked 50-125 for schools where you rank in the top 10% sounds like a strategy for finding merit aid, not the best need-based aid. </p>
<p>Here’s another list that may help. <a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-liberal-arts-colleges/best-value”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-liberal-arts-colleges/best-value</a></p>
<p>Note - Most schools do not “stack” merit scholarships and need-based FA (Financial Aid). There are exceptions, but that’s the general practice. </p>
<p>If you are coming from a very low income family you should be looking for schools that meet need with only minor loans, typically the federally-subsidized ones. A $30K merit award–which is huge–on a COA of $50-60K isn’t going to be enough for you.</p>
<p>You should run the NPCs on school web sites. The LACs I know of with the most generous FA include Pomona, Bowdoin, Grinnell, Carleton (although they are need aware in admissions), Swarthmore, Williams, Amherst, Wellesley, and others at that level. All of them are extremely selective. Questbridge is an excellent idea for you.</p>
<p>One thing you should do is check the average indebtedness of students at graduation at each school.</p>