My chances of attending my choice college have been shattered.

Applying to College
1

<p>Up until today I have been on a college acceptance high. I got accepted to all 7 universities I applied to including, Dartmouth, Cornell, and GTech. I want to study engineering, so I'm mainly between Cornell and GTech. Today I received my financial aid package from Cornell and was completely crushed. I received three letters from Cornell. </p>

<p>I open the first and find out I've been selected as a Menig Scholar and will receive an award between 600 and 4,000 dollars based on demonstrated financial need. I open the second letter and find out that I have been selected as a John McMullen Dean's Scholar and will receive an additional 600 to 4,000 dollar award based on need. On top of that, I will get a non renewable 3,000 dollar grant. </p>

<p>Then I open the last letter, my financial aid package. Cornell has determined that I do not qualify for any financial aid. The first two scholarships turn into 600 dollars each and I don't qualify for the grant at all. How could this happen?</p>

<p>My official EFC as noted by FAFSA is 15,000 dollars. Dartmouth determined my need as 18,000 and gave me a 22,000 dollar grant. Then they covered the rest in loans and work study. Boston University determined similar( EFC = 16,000, with 20,000 dollar grant, and loans for the rest.) If FAFSA and two other private universities with similar tuitions determine that I need somwhere around 20,000 dollars to attend, how can Cornell decide that I need absolutely no aid at all??????</p>

<p>It makes no sense. I have already called and plan to appeal, but this huge of a gap really makes me think that I won't be able to attend.</p>

2

<p>Talk to them and say the Dartmouth, a comparable university, has offered me $22,000 in grants per year. However, I would really love to attend Cornell. Is there any way that this gap between your package and Dartmouth's can be reconciled so I can attend Cornell?</p>

3

<p>Cornell clearly is impressed with you to offer you the two named scholarships. They will likely try to come up with a financial package comparable to Dartmouth. Don't give up!</p>

4

<p>Go to Dartmouth. From what I have heard and read, it will be overall, a better experience. Are you a female? The females that I know who attended Cornell were miserable in the engineering program. They regretted their decision to attend but stuck with it even though they were getting a 2.5 GPA. GTech is unbalanced male to female. That may not be the best experience either. My husband's boss who is female lived in that area before coming down here to CT. She and her husband kept a place there in Dartmouth and plan to retire there because it is so awesome.</p>

5

<p>ivies tend to match (or at least come close) to eachother in Finaid discepancies. Keep calling FA and things will work out.</p>

6

<p>Cornell Finaid office will listen to your appeal, esp you have Dartmouth on the table. It does sound like someone made a mistake. You dont go from 15k EFC to total EFC. Whats your family's income and no of students in college ?</p>

7

<p>Dartmouth.</p>