@intparent, does Lawrence meet 100% of demonstrated need (its not on the list I linked) as I don’t think merit aid is going to accomplish OP’s goal?
Regardless of whether Lawrence (or any other college) claims to meet need, it should have a net price calculator that the OP can use for an estimate.
@chembiodad it is on this list - http://www.thecollegesolution.com/list-of-colleges-that-meet-100-of-financial-need/ - as meeting 97%. I take it that means it meets 100% for applicants it wants most, perhaps somewhat less for others.
@OHMomof2, that’s a good list!
@ucbalumnus, given that every NPC states that any calculated award is not guaranteed, is meant to be an indication of the aid you may be eligible to receive, and that the school’s financial aid office is the final authority for determining the family contribution used to determine scholarship eligibility, I would suggest that relying on those school’s that attest to meeting 93+% of demonstrated need are a better path at this point.
In a best case world, those schools that meet 100% of demonstrated need and are need-blind would be the surest path with regards to financial aid assurance, but all of those schools are highly selective so that may not be effective.
Someone earlier in this thread mentioned Kalamazoo. It has been a few years but I had a cousin’s daughter get either full ride here or close to it. She had no financial need but she was a desirable candidate as she was from suburban Boston and was a double major in French/Spanish. She was attracted to Kalamazoo because of their emphasis and opportunities for study abroad.
Someone also mentioned Vassar which I think would be a good option to consider along with the women’s colleges. Younger d had a friend who was exceptional student and multi-talented and well-rounded. Vassar was her first choice but she went with a somewhat better merit package from Washington & Lee where she became as Teresa Heinz Kerry fellowship student and that opened lots of doors and opportunities for her including prestigious summer internship programs, fully funded, housing included, study abroad, etc.
At the very least one can always attend KSU and consider transfer. I know not the ideal scenario but it works for many people.
@Chembiodad I am concerned if applies to the 100% demonstrated Need Met schools with her current ACT score, she will be rejected. Her new scores will be released on 12/19.
Then she could at least self-report them in her common app. I don’t know how long it will take to get the official score to the schools.
I also think if they look at her first semester grades from the senior year, It might also give her a boost. She will see a boost in her GPA, slightly.
Yes, she gets a fee waiver.
@Grinnellhopeful, here’s the full list of;
1 need blind and meets 100% of demonstrated need
2 not need blind, but meets 100% of demonstrated need
3 need blind, but don't meet 100% of demonstrated need
4 need sensitive and don't meet 100% of demonstrated need
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Need-blind_admission
I would suggest that including schools in #3 and #4 (except the one’s that state 93%+) aren’t a good path in this case.
@Grinnellhopeful don’t beat yourself up for not knowing everything you know now, sooner. IMO right now you already have learned - and used - a lot of info. There is time to ensure that your D has affordable good options this spring (and hopefully sooner). It’s OK that she seems to be attaching herself to Knox now, as long as she also gets in apps to other schools where she has a good chance of acceptance and financial aid.
On far away schools - if they are the fairly elite 100% needs schools (and test optional may be the way to go until new scores are back) , they WILL include a travel budget in their financial aid packages. It should cover getting there, a visit or two home and returning at the end. This will vary from school to school. Also colleges that don’t include loans in their packages is really helpful because your D can still borrow the $500+ per year, but it can be applied to things other than tuition/R&B then.
Bowdoin in Maine, for example, ticks all 3 boxes (test optional, 100% need met, no loans). Academic reach for most anyone but not a financial reach if she gets in.
@Chembiodad I’m also looking for schools that are not just need blind or need sensitive that meet 90 - 100% of demonstrated need but also those that use an access aware approach. That will help with her ACT score which may not even be an issue anymore, but also look at what resources she had available to her when comparing her to applicants coming from schools and homes with better support…I don’t know that I can find a list of schools that use that approach. It’s kind of a new catchphrase
No, but neither do many of the other schools being discussed, including Knox, St Olaf, Gustavus, Beloit, etc. The OP has expressed that they don’t seem to believe that these schools won’t meet their need. You and I know it is unlikely that the aid package will be sufficient, though. Part of the problem is that the student’s past test score isn’t sufficient for schools that meet need.
If it were my kid and I were looking for nearly full need met, I’d have her apply to Franklin & Marshall, Dickinson, Macalester, Bryn Mawr, and Oberlin. I wouldn’t be worrying too much about transportation. A great aid package is most important – a lower cost of attendance offsets that.
BTW Macalester does look really good from my perspective. It’s a reach for sure but might not be after the new scores are released since she tested with accommodations that typically see 5-6 point jump. I’ll look for a link to back up the score jump statement.
@Grinnellhopeful, am not familiar with the access aware approach, but as the list of schools that meet 93+% of demonstrated need is short it shouldn’t hard to identify those as well.
Absolutely agree with @intparent on not trying to shot too high again as the schools that guarantee that they are need blind and meet 100% of demonstrated need can identify plenty of 34 ACT / 4.0 applicants who also founded a local non-profit.
I do think that St. Olaf is another one that meets 98% of demonstrated need as Princeton Review states the same as well. That said Maclaster could be ideal with a bump in score, and also agree that Franklin and Marshall is a great choice.
There isn’t a lot of use speculating on scores until she has them in hand. That makes this challenging – I’d figure out if you can get waivers to the schools that meet need or close to it that have been discussed and aren’t too remote (lacking transportation options) – Mac, Franklin & Marshall, Dickinson, Macalester, Bryn Mawr, and Oberlin. Honestly, I don’t think she can afford to be THAT picky given that she needs almost a full ride. Figure out what their deadlines are and get the apps in on time, even if the scores will be late. She could still apply to a couple of more local schools that don’t meet need if the NPC shows something reasonable, but I wouldn’t hold out hope that they will be affordable.
OP, remind her that applying is not CHOOSING the school. It is giving her the opportunity to decide if she gets in. Sometimes students get paralyzed about applying to schools because it feels like a final decision to them. If she isn’t applying ED, then it isn’t – it is just opening up possible affordable choices in April.
Timely article about colleges with support programs for low-income students. You may find this helpful.
Claims to “meet need” can result in very different financial aid offers, since each college defines “need” differently, and can have a different student contribution. Here is an older thread on the subject:
THIS ^^^^
Just make sure she gets the apps in…so she has good choices.
It was so nice for us when D got her first acceptance - to a safety with full tuition merit - in the fall. We visited (because we could, we were in the area) and I talked that school up to her, pointed out all the great things about it, made sure she would be OK going there if it came to it. It took so much pressure off her to have that and knowing we could definitely afford it.
You don’t have that option now though some of the schools discussed here do rolling admissions notifications so she might get some info before the end of March.
I’m not sure this family can get by with 93% of need met – income is very low. Unless the OP takes a different/additional job or something.
@intparent, agree on those choices and wouldn’t leave out Connecticut College, Skidmore or St. Olaf as they are all great schools that are close to cities, don’t have supplemental essays and meet all or 93+% of demonstrated need.
http://www.lawrence.edu/admissions/afford/net_price_calculator suggests a net price of $16,033 for family of 3 with 1 in college and parental income of $9,000 (with either 26 or 30 ACT and 3.97 GPA for the student).
Right now I’d focus on schools where she can get need met and merit with current score. Still time to apply to others after new score. That way you are covered either way.