<p>@staceyneil
Yeah, I did follow the instructions. It asks me to enter my student ID and when I do it says “We are unable to activate your account.”
The ID is the same one I use to login to ISIS right? Where I checked my application status and stuff? </p>
<p>^ This usually means that you tried it incorrectly too many times and it locked you out. Contact them and have them reset your password. From a fresh window try logging in with the new password - once only. If you have a problem then try from a different computer/phone. I’ve had similar difficulties with other colleges and starting clean like this usually works.</p>
<p>@LaurelAS
I’m also an international but I think I can answer your questions. First, grants are renewable for four years and you don’t need to pay back after college. I don’t think there’re rules for maintaining your grant since it’s not merit-based money. (unless you do notoriously bad and then get kicked out of college,) I think the college expects that your family’s contribution is the same for four years. Several days ago, MHC notified me that my grant (I was an ED applicant so I received my grant information months ago) is increased because the tuition increases this year, so I suppose your family is expected to pay the same amount of money each year.
I think MHC students declare their majors in sophomore year. Of course advisers in college will help you choose the appropriate courses to get into your intended major. I’m sure you’ll get into the right track. 
Oh and MHC has core curriculum so you are supposed to finish some courses in other fields before you officially enter your major.
Hope I helped!</p>
<p>Sorry that I’ve been so absent from this thread. I just don’t have the answers to the questions you’re asking anymore! Haha. Looks like some clued up MHC students have filled you all in anyway. It’s lovely to see you all so excited. I hope you all sort out your financial aid problems and are able to attend MHC in the Fall. You all clearly want to go very much. :)</p>
<p>@CaribbeanSun: Thanks for giving me advice. Did you use the CSS profile too ? I’m panicking right now thinking there might be something wrong with my CSS profile.
Can I ask how you calculated your expected family contribution on the CSS profile ? </p>
<p>@thinktry - I think it means they calculate what they figure your financial “need” is based on the income figures and number of dependents in the family that is included in your CSS profile. So when they say they meet full need without a gap it means based on their formulas and the income information you provide. The loan figure they gave you seems low. If you’re willing to take loans, you may want to talk with them about your numbers. They can surely explain the specifics of your situation to you better than any of us can. The problem with being international is that you are not eligible for federal or state aid in the US, which helps some of us out quite a bit. I don’t know if this helps. </p>
<p>@thinktry - If I understand it correctly, expected family contribution (EFC) is calculated by each college using their own internal set of data. In other words, I have another offer from a different LAC that has estimated my family contribution very differently. I honestly think you’d be best served to email the FAO and ask them all of your questions. And, here in the states, we fill out a FAFSA, which is a Federal need application, which gives us an EFC for federal aid, but MHC still uses their own data and the CSS profile info to calculate their packages which contain their own grant offers. It’s can be very confusing, for sure!</p>
<p>@LaurelAS - Hi! Grants will most likely be renewed each year based on the CSS profile, which I think we have to submit each year, in case family income changes. Grants also depend on the student keeping their GPA at or above a certain level - usually around a C+ or something like that. I think a student can lose a scholarship also if they are not passing all of their courses. </p>
<p>For those who got accepted, did MHC mail the official acceptance letter to your house?</p>
<p>@sanguinemonster, Yesterday D received an envelope with a postcard basically just saying “congrats.” We were expecting an official acceptance letter and packet. I wonder if they don’t do that? Just expect folks to get all the forms on ISIS? Does anyone know whether there will be an official “fat envelope” forthcoming?</p>
<p>@staceyneil
Yes, there will be an official “fat envelope” containing acceptance letter, FA forms & other forms and a gorgeous calendar mailed to your house. </p>
<p>This is so frustrating. Maybe I didn’t understand fully about the Financial Aid process? If your dad’s salary is a little more than the school total fee, then that means I cannot be eligible for financial aid?</p>
<p>I checked my financial aid office and they said my family resources exceed the school budget, so I can’t be eligible at all. This is really upsetting. Maybe my dad or I wrote something wrong on the CSS profile. Or is it because of my dad’s salary? 
</p>
<p>Is there any way to tell them that I can’t pay the full tuition? Well…I guess if I would they wouldn’t even want me attending there. haha</p>
<p>@thinktry Yes I used the CSS too. I actually didn’t calculate my EFC, I just wrote down the amount that my family can afford. Sorry I can’t help you in this aspect! But I know you can use the College Board EFC calculator for Mount Holyoke to calculate your estimated aid package. The financial package I calculated from it is more than my actual package though, so keep that in mind. </p>
<p>@sanguinemonster No, I don’t think it’s because your dad’s salary exceeds the tuition. Perhaps you could contact the fin aid office and talk to them? But I’ve had a bad experience negotiating aid with another school. That school was another small LAC and they basically told me if I need more aid they would take back their offer. </p>
<p>@CaribbeanSun Yeah, I was thinking of contacting them about it…but I don’t know. I feel so hopeless about this 
I even explained in the CSS profile about my complicated situation.
What did you do then?? Have you decided what school you’re going to go to yet?</p>
<p>@sanguinemonster Yeah you should definitely do so. Try your hardest because you have nothing to lose. Are you an intl student btw? I got pretty good aid, leaving about 17k to pay myself. So far I’ve only got two other offers from lower ranked LACs, and a bunch of waitlist decisions from similarly ranked LACs, so I am prob going to Mount Holyoke. </p>
<p>@CaribbeanSun Yeah, I’m an int’l student. Woww, that’s awesome! Congrats Do you think emailing them about this would be fine? Mount Holyoke was my second choice after Smith
Btw, do you know much about Knox College? I got accepted there with a pretty good scholarships and aid and I actually want to attend there…but it’s really unknown and I’m just worried my dad won’t be fine with it. (Korean dad haha) Most student’s reviews say that they have excellent academics there. </p>
<p>Yes an email would be fine, but politeness is definitely a must I think.
I got rejected by Smith lol
I’ve only heard of Knox but I don’t know much about it… if you can’t get any fin aid from moho then of course you should go to Knox… the convincing your dad part can come later haha</p>
<p>@sanguinemonster, I work with a kid (he’s 25ish) who got his biology undergrad degree from Knox. He’s a great guy, smart, good work ethic, etc. From what I know, Knox is an excellent school.</p>