<p>Hey everyone,
I have a question that I've been wondering about for some time now. I applied EA to Fordham and was accepted but in my admissions packet there was no mention of any merit aid. I recently figured out that I am a National Merit Finalist and was wondering what the possibility of getting the full-tuition scholarship would be if I put Fordham as my first choice. My GPA is 4.26 W and I know that I'm at the top 5% of my class for sure (more like the top 2%). I have tried emailing the contact provided in my acceptance letter asking about what is considered when giving out this scholarship but I have gotten no reply... Does anyone have any advice?
Thanks</p>
<p>You could try calling the FA office rather than waiting for an email.
I just assumed my daughter would get an NM scholarship, and she did. I didn’t know that some finalists didn’t get them- I wasn’t on college confidential back then. 
</p>
<p>I would think, with absolutely no inside info, that if you are in the top 2% of your class, you should get it.</p>
<p>Congrats! Are you a semi-finalist or a finalist?</p>
<p>If you just learned of your National Merit Finalist award, please advise Fordham admissions immediately.</p>
<p>Okay, thanks for the advice! I am pretty sure I’m a finalist ( I didn’t receive any rejection letter when they sent them out mid January)</p>
<p>Absolutely let Fordham know. When my son applied there, he was accepted EA, but didn’t get any merit awards until the very end of the admissions cycle, towards April (exact date, I don’t remember). But I am reading on these boards that kids are getting their awards now with their EA acceptances. Let admissions AND financial aid know as they are two completely different offices at Fordham.</p>
<p>I filled out the NPC using my income of it gave me an out of pocket expense of about 29k with is patently ridiculous since that’s almost HALF my before tax income. Of course his father will contribute some, but part of the reason Fordham doesn’t get more top tier kids is that the middle class top tier is simply priced out.</p>
<p>Correct. They give scholarships to their favorite catholic school kids, and to minorities. Middle class families are gapped out and required to take loans. Meanwhile they raise the tuition and room/board prices to the stratosphere.</p>
<p>However, Fordham is not alone in this problem.</p>
<p>The Ivy League has an endowment and they fund kids from households below 160k a year at 100% GRANT money. No loans. None. Zip.</p>
<p>I could tell tales that would make your skin crawl about who got scholarships at Fordham and who didnt. They deny their favoritism, but its there. In spades. </p>
<p>I am sorry. Its infuriating. Meanwhile Mayor Bloomberg gave a bazillion dollars to Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. Go figure.</p>
<p>Did you check the box on the Common App supplement asking if you had NMSF status at the time? I did, and received word of a full tuition scholarship a month or two ago. So you should definitely report it to the admissions office if you haven’t already, like the others here have suggested.</p>
<p>Wow, I have read hundreds of your posts and have never seen such negativity spewed toward Fordham. </p>
<p>In a week where Burger King and Apple’s computer sites were hacked into, I’m guessing someone else took over your computer.</p>
<p>In the words of advice you once gave me. Take a deep breath, it will be OK.</p>
<p>I thought the same thing!!</p>
<p>Honestly, Fordham’s need-based aid offer was the same as what I was offered from a school known for supposedly benevolent financial aid. Yes, Fordham could give more, but it’s not really that different from most schools, even the Ivy League.</p>
<p>I assume blueshirts, that was aimed at my comment. I am glad you read my posts and thanks for that. I am however, contrary to some person’s belief on this board, not a cheerleader who refuses to criticize Fordham when its deserved. Scholarships and Financial Aid is one area where they need improvement. </p>
<p>Fact is, they are very generous for some, but not all and from what I know over the years, its somewhat arbitrary…or put another way, the same scores, grades dont get the same financial package. Its their money, they are private and can do what they want it. I am just being honest that there are favorite schools and there are admissions agendas (even if they are admirable in spirit), which result in many middle class families getting gapped, and kids from schools they dont know or don’t have influence dont get the same treatment. Its a fact of life, less an attack on Dear Old Fordham. </p>
<p>So it is what it is and I was just trying to be straight forward. Virtual bonding if you will, with those who got gapped. Nor am I an ingrate for what we received. I can accept it if it was across the board objective and fair. But its not. Nor do I suggest its uniquely a Fordham problem. Its not. </p>
<p>If someone got the same aid at Fordham as they got at an Ivy or somewhere in the peer group, I am happy for them. Its not envy on my part (my kid has long since graduated), its frustration that people who want to attend Fordham get iced out financially. Many Fordham students will not be finance majors headed for WallStreet, or communications majors headed for CNN or FoxNews. Many will in fact be in jobs serving their communities where salaries are miniscule and they cant assume that much debt. </p>
<p>Further, I know that Fordham accepts 42% of applicants but they use financial “incentives” to inform those they truly want to attend to do so, and the others…they know will go elsewhere…as there are only 1800 slots available. Its the cold hard reality of admissions. Again, Fordham is not unique in this quandry. </p>
<p>If I had a billion dollars like Bloomberg (New York mayor and a recent Commencement Speaker and recipient of an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Fordham), I would give it to Fordham to fund grants to those who fall below 1400 SATS. But I would also ask Admissions to be less generous in accepting students and more realistic to get the yield up higher. </p>
<p>I appreciate your remarks. I’m just trying to be a realist. My love for Fordham is deep and abiding. Its painful for me to see good kids, qualified kids, accepted kids get gapped and have to go elsewhere. </p>
<p>God bless.</p>
<p>I appreciate those comments Sovereign. </p>
<p>My son is an excellent candidate. SAT 2340 one try, SATII 800/800, 14 APs (so far all 5s) and a 4.0 uw GPA, good ECs, NMF. He is good candidate.</p>
<p>But not a catholic school and who knows about the other stuff. Because like you said, it seems a bit random. My older son had a similar situation and got okay aid at Fordham but not great, so he went somewhere else. It worked out fine, he is happy, but Fordham lost an amazing student.</p>
<p>S2 likes Fordham. Loves the campus, loves the location. I guess he could get accepted at an Ivy which will meet our EFC and that’s all good, but really, what are the chances? Slim. And he loves Fordham. </p>
<p>I am worried he will get gapped. And then no matter what, S2 can’t go. We won’t take out loans in this economic climate.</p>
<p>I am crossing fingers and toes but I know that Fordham is losing some stellar students as a result of FA policies because my older son was one of them.</p>
<p>My D came from a public school, had very high stats and was a NMF. Last year, she applied RD. In early Feb, she received a letter from Fordham telling her that she will received the formal admission packet in April. The only thing in the letter about scholarships was that it mentioned that she would receive information about any financial aid or scholarships in April. We became increasingly impatient waiting to hear about it, as we all liked Fordham and were really hoping that she would be offered the scholarship.
And that is what happened - in late March, she received the big envelope with all of the enrollment material and the information about the full tuition scholarship. But she received nothing about any scholarship before then. </p>
<p>So anyone with high stats who hasn’t received the scholarship yet shouldn’t worry, as it very well might be coming later, when the final scholarship decisions are made for all of the applicants.</p>
<p>Good luck! My D has been having a great freshman year at Fordham.</p>
<p>Is it possible to negotiate merit aid at Fordham? My daughter received $13,800/yr. We will not receive need based aid, though we can’t pay full freight no matter what FAFSA says!</p>
<p>Her stats are 2120 single sitting SAT; National Merit Commended Student with perfect score in Writing; 3.77 uw GPA, 4.15 w, at very competive NY metro area (NJ)public school; 2 leadership roles; member of elite area band; recipient of regional poetry and photography awards; confirmed Catholic.</p>
<p>Thus far, she has received $16,000 and $21,500/yr from lesser-ranked private liberal arts colleges, and $4,000/yr from a highly ranked SUNY, with a much lower sticker price, even though we aren’t NY residents. Would it make any sense to call finanical aid and ask if the merit aid could be increased, even just to $15,000?</p>
<p>Should mention, too, that since EA prior to Thanksgiving, daughter has increased GPA ( all AP and honors classes) and won 2 more awards for poetry. Any sense in mentioning this?</p>
<p>Yes. Absolutely. My husband talked to a financial aide officer during an accepted students luncheon and asked for a bit more, and we got it. Not saying it will happen for everyone, but it can’t hurt to ask. It wasn’t a lot, but every little bit helps.</p>
<p>What I was trying to say before was that my need-based aid at Fordham and the other school were both poor, and required my parents to pay more than half of their annual income. So I don’t think it’s Fordham’s problem, it’s a problem inherent in financial aid, even with “100% need met.”</p>
<p>You can appeal your Merit Aid. Be prepared to have legit reasons as to why you should be getting more aid. Comparison packages from competitor colleges is one. Increased debts or lower income are others. Its not easy and you may get denied the first time, but you can go back and appeal the appeal. Good Luck</p>
<p>Thanks, blueshirt! Income hasn’t changed (maybe because of an occasional bonus it went up slightly). Living in NY metro area makes our income much less powerful than the same income would be elsewhere – just an absolute fact of life. I wish that would be taken into consideration. I have relatives in the midwest who pay $1000/yr in propetry taxes for 27 acres, a farmhouse, barn and detached garage. We pay over $11,000 (many of your neighbors pay $20,000) for 1/3 of an acre and a 35 yr old standard 4 bedroom house. We also had last 2 kids late, and will be in our 60s when the 12 year old goes to college. I will try comparing other offers, though the schools aren’t in Fordham’s league.</p>
<p>Don’t worry so much about the comparison offers not being in the same league as Fordham. Did not matter when I appealed.</p>
<p>You need to look at the year ahead and see what additional expenses you are going to have that cut into the family income. Did fiscal cliff package hurt you by additional taxes being taken out of your checks? Are your real estate taxes going up this year? Is the amount you pay for medical benefits going up? Does the young child need braces? House need repair from storms? All of these cut into your ability to pay Fordham. I’m sure if you sit down and really think it over, you will come up with additional items. If you can justify and document then you have a better case appealing.</p>