In many cases, “estimated self help” includes a $5,500 loan and a few thousand dollars of work-study or work earnings expectation. I.e. “estimated self help” is not only loans.
^ Yes,“Self Help” can include student earnings as well as student loans.
So I don’t disagree that total “Self Help” can go higher than $5500.
What I was questioning was the apparent suggestion (in post #376, paragraph 2) that $5500 represents rock bottom for federal student loans alone.
I’m at work and I haven’t had time to read through the thread but I just thought I would post a quick update that her scores came in this morning. She now has a composite score of 30.
She’s disappointed it’s not higher but we’re done. I think it’s an amazing improvement, if we had taken it a third time she probably would’ve done better, but that’s really the score she needs for any of the schools we’re talking about.
That is good news. Very solid score!!
OP, great news!!! She should be very proud!
Congratulations!
Hooray, and congrats to the OP’s daughter! That makes the application to St Olaf a lot simpler and cleaner!
Woo hoo!
Yay! And congratulations to your daughter!! I think her chances of admission at SO are now well over their 80% ED acceptance rate – plus she may qualify for some nice merit aid too, if there is any gap in their FA package!
So pretty much ANY school she is eligible for with a 30 will expect her to take federal loans, and also will expect her to do work study during the school year and have summer earnings to contribute as well. Just to clarify.
@xanthippe, remember that St. Olaf is not need blind. So for a student looking for a full ride in need based aid, it has to be a student that they really want a lot. That may be the OP’s kid (being from Kansas is going to be helpful, they LOVE to say they have students from all 50 states). But it may mean that the 80% estimate is overly optimistic. I expect if you take all their applications with a 30 ACT and requiring a full ride, the odds are lower than 80%. I hope the OP’s kid gets in and gets a sufficient aid package. But colleges are businesses, and they have to pay their bills and keep the doors open, too.
@homerdog I actually didn’t think to ask those questions, the information was given to me organically in conversation. I don’t always call them, they also call me. I think some people view my D as less than or subpar. But she’s compelling, lovely, bright, articulate, authentic, and honorable. She works hard and has done well despite situations most people cannot even comprehend.
The communication with SO started very hesitantly, as I have stated before we viewed SO in the Grinnell category and assumed they were well out of reach. However, SO has been sending my D their big, beautiful, glossy materials since the summer. I have no idea how she initially got on their radar?
But our first conversation with one AO there happened after I heard some wonderful things from another poster on this thread. I called and stated we were gun shy after Grinnell but wondered if they could give us an idea if she was even a chance of being admitted.
That led to more conversations, then submission of her application. My D AO than reached out to my D and they spoke at length. Something happens when people actually talk to her, not just me.
Because all this took place right before break, we had to rush to get things in, there was much discussion about ED or RD. So, then a third AO came into the picture.
They have been so encouraging and helpful, reassuring, and very positive about my D. The dean of fine arts called this morning to talk to me because my D is in school. Even she is rooting for my D. Maybe there is something relatable about her, there is definitely something likeable about her.
They have said she has nothing to worry about. And yes, they told me that 3 AOs have already read her app and she is a very strong candidate.
This is similar to,our experience at Grinnell. I think because it was so last minute because we were gun shy, the communication is there because they are aware we don’t have a coach, or GC that is familiar with the process, they know this is a whole new world to us and they are offering exceptional support to make sure everything is done properly. I also believe the people at SO are just legitimately very kind and take a personal interest in these kids. I do believe most admissions departments are looking for reasons to admit students not looking for reasons to reject them.
I don’t have anything else to really compare it to but this is how we have been treated by almost every school that she applied.
@tk21769 You are correct no NPC shows her borrowing more than the $5500, the excess get moved to net price or out of pocket. That would be where a parent loan or savings come into play. But since we know I’ll be denied a parent loan she is than eligible to borrow a little more. Which is where my suggestion to my D comes into play regarding amounts.
SO NPC has her 5500 in federal loans and $288 out of pocket.
The new score will help. Have u calculated the superscore, is it higher? How the superscore is used differs by school.
I agree with @intparent. Schools that aren’t need blind are going to have to be more selective when accepting full ride applicants. The chances are higher with a 30 for sure.
It’s great that SO Admissions has been nice to you over the phone although I don’t know that it has any real bearing on the ultimate acceptance decision. It’s not their role to find ways not to admit a student, they focus on the ways to accept them. This motivates the way they behave with every applicant they interact with.
@intparent , I 'm well aware that colleges are businesses, and that SO is not need blind. My comment had to do with the fact that the new 30 ACT score puts OP’s D on a more equal chances footing with other ED applicants, many of whom have lower ACT scores and GPAs, even though they don’t need as much aid as OP’s D. Her chances may not be higher than last year’s ED acceptance rate of 80%, but OP’s D has a GPA that is well above the mid 50th percentile for SO. That GPA, her IB curriculum, 30 ACT, and the strong fit for St. Olaf’s culture and course offerings make her a strong candidate, in my opinion.
Looks like great chances. Good to have the admissions officers involved. Be sure to check out videos on youtube about college admissions process. I think there is a good one for Amherst. It will give you an idea of how the actual process works…its pretty quick. The more better people in your corner the better.
@citymama9 what is your problem?! It’s my Alma mater and OP said they were going to check it out. I know way more about the school than you could ever hope to by looking at a website. What is suspect about that? What’s suspect is YOUR need to bash me for trying to be helpful.
@chb088 Can we stop? As I noted early Rollins has been suggested multiple times in this thread and the OP will determine if it is a fit or not. We all like to be cheerleaders for schools we had positive experiences at but it is also important to recognize that a school that is right for one is not always right for another. There is no need to mention the same school multiple times on the same thread. I hope we can all agree that it is time to focus on: 1) the schools the OP and her D has determined fit her particular academic/geographic/financial/social needs and 2) congratulating the OP’s daughter for a much improved ACT.
@chb088 I am always open to looking at schools that people have recommended for my D. Without the guidance given here, I don’t know were my D and I would be right now.
Unfortunately, Rollins is just too far out of her comfort level distance wise. Her ability to get home quickly and without incurring huge expense is a very big deal to her. I had hoped she would expand her area a bit more so she could have a geographical advantage, but going to Minnesota or Wisconsin has about maxed her comfort level.
One of the reason Knox and Grinnell were appealing to her was because she could actually drive her car of needed, and at Knox she Is on direct Amtrack route.
I had to initially convince her that St. Olaf isn’t really much further, just a different direction. St. Olaf is a drive for sure but not totally out of the question. She isn’t very comfortable driving on the highway, just yet. She has only driven at most about 60 miles distance on the highway.
I’m sure some of those things will get easier with time, but she’s still just 17 years old.
I did look after the last post regarding it. I don’t have any negative feedback, I just don’t think she could get home on the cheap or with ease.
But I am always grateful to learn of new schools that might fit the bill.
Thank you, I do appreciate your input. My youngest D who is a sophomore is willing to go anywhere, she can’t wait to get out of here. She has a pretty adventurous spirt!
Congratulations on your daughter’s new ACT scores. Is she going to apply to an other Midwest full need schools like Kenyon or Macalester before Jan 15?
Good luck with St. Olaf, sounds like a great fit for your wonderful daughter.
@Grinnellhopeful Congrats on your daughter’s score. I am looking forward to finding out where she decides to attend.