<p>In about 2 years, my 2 siblings and I will all be attending college. My parents have the money to pay us through, but with my elder sister already taking a huge chunk out of their salary, the thought of financially supporting 3 children has my father pushing me to apply to and enroll at the University of Pittsburgh, where I would receive a free education (my father is a member of the faculty). Granted, my parents would probably pay for the tuition were I to get into say an Ivy League school, but, as we all know, it is hella difficult to do so. Otherwise, my choices are quite limited. My options are (A) go to Pitt (B) get some form of FA from another school. My interests include mathematics, biology, economics, and business, but mostly applied math and/or bio (pre-med). Which schools offer a lot of aid and have strong departments in said fields? My resume is strong enough that I could have some possibility at all of getting in to most schools (just to give you an idea)</p>
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<p>Well, which is it . . . do your parents have the money to pay the full cost of attendance at any school (for you and your siblings) - or not?</p>
<p>If they have the money, but just don’t spend it, that won’t qualify you for need-based aid. If that’s the case, then you have to look at schools that would offer you significant merit aid (based on your stat’s, not on your finances).</p>
<p>Pick a couple of schools you think you might be interested in, go to the school websites and do a search for “net price calculator.” With your parents’ help (so you have ACCURATE figures), plug in the numbers in each calculator to get an estimate of how much need-based aid you might qualify for at that school. The calculator will ask how many kids your family will have in school at the same time - and that will make a difference in the results you get.</p>
<p>The calculators will give you an idea what your family’s EFC (expected family contribution) would be at each of the schools. Once you have that information, you’ll know if you would get the financial help you need at schools that offer need-based aid . . . or if you should be focusing on schools that offer good merit aid. They are, for the most part, not the same schools. For us to help you put together a list, we need to know what kind of aid you’d be looking for.</p>
<p>For the record, I know kids who would kill for a free ride to Pitt . . . mine is one of them! It’s an excellent school!!! I’m not saying you shouldn’t apply elsewhere, as well . . . but that’s a pretty amazing school to be able to fall back on if you don’t get the offer you’re looking for somewhere else.</p>
<p>Since your parents have the money to put you all thru school, then guess what? you won’t qualify for aid. </p>
<p>Even the most generous schools don’t give ONE CENT to those who have the ability to pay. They look at income and assets, and then determine need…which you don’t have. </p>
<p>Aid is for those who DON’T have the ability to pay. </p>
<p>the only schools that might think your family has some need when all 3 are in school is HYPS…but even HYPS won’t give aid if your family’s income and/or assets are too high. </p>
<p>If you have the stats to go to a top school, then you have the stats to get great merit scholarships elsewhere. Those won’t be based on income.</p>
<p>What are your stats (GPA and test scores)? </p>
<p>If you’re going to be pre-med, then any good school will be fine…including UPitt…but it sounds like you want to go away to school.</p>
<p>Ask your father to find out the details about the employee tuition benefit. Is it only for Pitt? Is it a full benefit at Pitt, and X% of costs at certain other institutions?</p>
<p>@dodgersmom1: Well my parents do have money but supporting 3 college students averaging about 40-50k each (without any scholarships/aid) is a huge financial strain/drain not to mention the possibility (probability) of graduate school for at least 2 children. Im sorry if I sounded conceited, but in all fairness I would hope that my grades and scores would make me a candidate at higher tier schools, not to belittle Pitt’s reputation, of course. Thank you for the advice :)</p>
<p>@mom2collegekids: ^ financial situation. my GPA is around a 3.75-3.8, SAT 2170 ACT 34. I also have quite a strong EC base. (dont mean to appear arrogant, but if one is asking…) And yeah I’d hoped to go away for college - not that UPitt isn’t a great school - it is - but everyone wants to leave home. I will look into HYPS. Thanks :)</p>
<p>@happymomof1: I did, and he is looking into it. Thank you!</p>
<p>Pitt now only gives employees kids the tuition pass at its own school, and it is a full pass. They do participate in a college exchange pool, so the OP might want to take a look at that and try to get something from it. It used to be that they would pay an amount to any other college for employees’ kids, but those days are over.</p>
<p>You have a great school as your primary choice in terms of affordablity and admissions, though Pitt has gotten a lot harder in that area. A close friend of mine has a DD who was not accepted there last year with 1800+ SATs and a B+ average; was offered the Johnstown campus. My friend works there, and that was quite a blow as that was supposed to be the safety school.</p>
<p>According to the UPitt website, the school does participate in the Tuition Exchange program which includes about 550 colleges/universities.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.oafa.pitt.edu/te.aspx[/url]”>http://www.oafa.pitt.edu/te.aspx</a></p>
<p>This is the link to that section of the UPitt website…but really, your dad as an employee should discuss this with the folks there.</p>
<p>If Pitt is still participating in the tuition exchange program that would be great but if not, or if your father thinks this benefit would be cut before you could use it, falling in love with a school you could attend for free would be a very practical consideration for someone with eyes on medical school.</p>
<p>If your parents are also willing to pay for grad school, then I would advise you to go anywhere they want you to go for undergrad so that they have money left for grad school assistance too! I would bet the majority of parents DO NOT pay for grad school, so consider your self very lucky. Not to be mean, but your GPA is not that hot, and your SAT score has room for improvement as well. People with 4.0’s and 2400’s are denied from top schools all the time, so upper tier, hard to get into schools are NOT going to be anywhere near safeties for you academically. Would your parents let you live at Pitt if you are accepted? You would get the whole experience and save money too. I went to college 20 mins from home by choice, and it was sort of fun to be the one to bring friends home sometimes for home cooked meals, holiday celebrations (when friends couldn’t afford to fly for Thanksgiving, they came home with me) , etc.</p>