I’ve applied to both University of Virginia and University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill from OOS. I won’t receive a decision from either until this spring, but if I’m lucky enough to have to decide on either, I’ll probably be faced with zero financial aid—need-based or merit. I’ve heard of students having been able to somewhat “negotiate” scholarships between schools (albeit private institutions). I have offers from other public schools ranging from $8,000/yr to $18,000. So obviously those options are more financially reasonable, but UVA and UNC easily top my list; has anyone heard of either being willing to match or increase merit aid, especially considering that neither will likely have initially given any?
Any insight or experiences would be much appreciated!
Sorry to say not very likely. Both those schools have little merit aid. If you do not qualify for one of their large, uber competitive scholarships, they are not likely to give you some merit just because you got some merit to another school.
You probably won’t have success “negotiating” a merit award…at all. Each school has its criteria for awarding these. They really don’t care what other schools award.
Also, HIGHLY unlikely that UNC or UVA would talk about those mire generous merit awards at less competitive schools.
But I’m curious. Both UNC and UVA guarantee to meet full financial need. Are you saying that your parents will not pay for these schools…but can?
You are from Nebraska, so you are OOS for both schools. You would need tippy top stats to even be considered for merit aid at either of these colleges.
UVA does not give any type of merit money. DS was accepted last year- high stats and many good (up to 25k) offers from other state flagships. (We are not eligible for need based money) UVA offered him nothing and we were told they meet full financial need, but give no merit money.
It’s not my parents who will be paying the tuition, it’s me. We’re far beyond any need based aid, and the net price calculator reflects that. Problem is, what I pay depends on an income that doesn’t actually help me pay. I definitely don’t want to take a break year, and from what I can tell, that would be required, among other things, to get in-state.
And as far as the two schools’ competitive merit scholarships go, I’ve been nominated for none and on all honesty are competing for mere acceptance, not counting on merit aid to fund me.
What makes you think you can get in state status in VA it NC by simply taking a gap year. Even if YOU move to NC or VA, you will not be an instate student for tuition purposes. In addition, your parent income and assets will still be needed on the financial aid forms.
Will you be over 24, married, supporting a dependent child, a ward of tie state, a veteran of the armed forces? If not, you WILL be dependent for financial aid purposes and your parent income and assets will be REQUIRED. And you won’t be getting in state status in VA or NC unless your whole family relocates 12 months prior to,your enrollment at the school.
The two merit scholarships you named take a nomination.
You, the student, won’t be able to take out $50,000 in loans in your name on,y to fund UVA or UNC.
Do you have any affordable colleges on your application list…because these two are not going to be.
Your parents won’t pay anything at all? If that’s true, those schools aren’t affordable. They won’t care that your parents won’t pay.
If you have to cover costs on your own you need to find merit aid. You can borrow ~$5500/year on your own and you can earn $3k/year if you work summers. That’s not much. Will your parents let you live at home and commute to a state school? What do they expect you to do?
You can’t depend on getting in state tuition rates. A few states might allow it, but you have to read their requirements very carefully.
Yes, the money for the Jefferson Scholars does not come from UVa. There are only about 30 something of them and they come from all over,after being nominated. There are other scholars actually through UVa , like Echols and Rodman, but there is no merit money attached. UVa focuses on need based aid.