<p>This is for ghostbuster in particular or anyone else who is familiar with Fordham's scholarship policies. Fordham would be a good choice for DS, but he needs significant merit aid to make it possible. His SAT score 760/740/700 and his ACT 34 (one sitting each). His gpa is only about 3.6-3.7, but he's also an Eagle scout.</p>
<p>My S (Class of 2014) got an excellent merit award with lower SAT’s although his GPA was higher. But I would agree with gb’s previous assessments that the best awards seem to go to the kids with the highest SAT’s and your S should certainly be in that category. If Fordham is a good choice for your S, I highly encourage him to apply! Of course, everyone should ALWAYS have a financial safety option as well! Good luck! :)</p>
<p>I was pretty much in the same boat as you this year with slightly higher SAT’s and NMF but was only offered 8k per semester. I am attending my financial safety school, which in the end I am very happy with. As previous poster mentioned, always have a financial safety school!</p>
<p>I agree with the other posters. Your S looks like he could qualify for a merit package but I would not bank on anything until you get a letter from the school with the offer. In going through this process, some schools surprised us in a good way with merit scholarships for my S while one school we expected to get a reasonable amount of merit aid from gave him nothing (he didn’t go there!). It is an imperfect process at best and some factors are unpredictible. If money is an important factor in the final decision, I agree with the need for a financial saftey school. Good luck!</p>
<p>That is absolutely the case with Fordham. Agree 100% with happy1. Fordham, btw, ranks particularly low on the rankings from Princeton Review for financial aid/scholarships. Everyone must file a CSS even for scholarships…which is fine…they look at financial need as well…I get that. But it is imperfect. Also, some scholarships are restricted to certain kids from certain states or schools and that effects results. </p>
<p>Sadly, also, some people are very adept at hiding assets, which punishes the honest people who disclose but still lack money. The fact you have more than one kid won’t even enter their minds…they will expect you to fork over all you have to your first kid and first school. </p>
<p>It is imperative that you spread your wings and always include a couple of financial safeties. Make certain that ANY safety school, be it financial and/or academic safety, is a school you can envision attending and being happy. Never ever apply to a school you know will not work for you socially, academically or financially. </p>
<p>Some top tier schools are particularly generous and have policies of no loans to any student: all grant money or scholarship money. But there are many second tier schools which are generous. Fordham has a substantial endowment. But it is also engaged in a considerably large construction plan for the coming years both at Lincoln Center and at Rose Hill…and thus, they may feel its better business to spend money on facilities than giving kids free money. I’m just saying…</p>
<p>Finally, its important not to set your heart on one school, as most kids do…and I know that is easier said than done…because they may not admit you or if they do, they may not provide the funding you need.</p>
<p>With SAT’s of 1500 and ACT of 34, I think it is safe to say they will make a substantial offer, based on anecdotal reports from other students we know at Fordham. But SAT’s are not the only thing they look at. Congratulations. I hope you apply to Fordham and attend. They want smart kids like yours.</p>
<p>I had heard on other threads that Fordham gives full tuition for NMF. Is this no longer the case? </p>
<p>If Fordham does give NMF full tuition, I don’t understand why other Jesuit colleges don’t follow suit.</p>
<p>My son applied to a couple of other Jesuit colleges with engineering majors. He was a NMF, high SAT/ACT, GPA, lots of ECs, but was barely offered half tuition scholarship. </p>
<p>I highly recommend to have some safeties that you not only can afford, but can love. The big state schools with large endowments came through with generous awards and he was able to pick the one that was the best fit for him.</p>