@mountainmomof3 Colorado moms unite!! It sounds like we’re pretty much in the same boat. DS qualifies for Alabama’s Presidential Elite now too, and the NPC’s say we’re full pay/near full pay pretty much everywhere. We only have one more kid though, rather than two–our DD is a freshman in HS this year, so we won’t have a lot of undergrad overlap.
Alabama is the main reason for our visit–Vandy is just an add-on to see if an “elite” could ever possibly be worth it. Fortunately DS thinks (and DH and I agree) that $300,000 for an undergrad degree is absolute insanity (for us). I’m not 100% sure why we would be full pay when we seem “like” some others who aren’t, but I figure it just has to be a combination of things. It is kind of a bummer though–last spring, DS got a letter from Yale that so hit the mark for him that it seemed like Yale had crawled into his head and written the letter specifically for him. His response was “maybe I should add Yale to my list.” We then ran the NPC and saw not one single dollar of aid, to which he promptly said “I think I’ll take Yale back off my list.” At this point, DS is certain he wants to pursue a PhD, so the “name” of the undergrad school is not important as long as the school has the programs/opportunities to be competitive for grad school. I also just want him to enjoy his undergrad experience, and for us to not go broke while he’s doing it.
@chercheur Thanks for the info on CU-Boulder. I have seen and heard that they have those non-automatic scholarships, but the waiting is hard! CU has a lot in the plus column for us, including that DS has been taking advanced math classes as dual enrollment within the CU system and would be only one class short of a math minor the day he walks onto campus. A big drawback though, is that you apply to a particular school within CU. DS has been told by CU admissions officers to apply to the school of engineering, even if he isn’t sure he wants to pursue engineering, because it is easier to do an intra-university transfer out of engineering than into it.
@Midwest67 That’s a good thought. We have a little time before we go and we’ll have a car, so I’ll have DS look and see whether he wants to switch plans. Thanks!
@kforty2 , my S18 NMF almost went to U of Miami. If admitted your NMF child would receive the Benacquisto, which for Miami would equal about $22,000. Miami has other competitive merit scholarships that at least as of last year would stack on top of Benacquisto. For example, my S18 initially received a $22,000 merit scholarship upon acceptance, which would have stacked on the $22,000 Benacquisto to total $44,000 per year. But then he was invited to the Presidential Scholarship Weekend. About 400 are invited and 100 receive full tuition scholarships. S18 ended up getting the full tuition Presidential, and then we received confirmation that Benacquisto would stack on the Presidential up to the full cost of attendance. So yes, you can potentially do very well with Benacquisto if your child receives other scholarships. Make sure to confirm that the policy has not changed.
We are in the Chicago area, and one thing (as a parent) I like about Lexington is the ability of our kid to get to the airport at a reasonable price (Lyft) and the availability of direct flights to and from Chicago/Lexington.
UK has so many new buildings on campus, it makes some of the other midwest public flagships look a little dated and dumpy (sorry U Iowa!).
If your student is interested in engineering, our kid reports her engineering friends are very happy and have had great internships. If your student is interested in a pre-health track, the UK teaching hospital is right there on campus.
Also, UK was generous with AP and CLEP credits, so our kid (after taking 1-2 online winter intersession classes) is a full year ahead. Not graduating early, but adding a minor and considering study abroad – why not? – it’s covered under the scholarship. Also, the extra credits help build in a cushion in case there is a course correction re: choice of major.
3.0 to keep the scholarship.
Our kid did not go Greek, and still has friends.
UK doesn’t get the attention that U Alabama does on CC, but JMO, so worth the look and a great value.
Does the University of Alabama have a special “Come and See” invite program for NMFs who haven’t visited campus yet? Or should we just pick a day and go on our own?
@TXRunningMom schedule your visit through the honors college. Email with your student’s stats, etc. UA set up meetings with Co-op dept, honors college, one on one with dean of honors college, meeting with engineering professor, tour of engineering with engineering student ambassador, stem to MBA program meeting, general tour. You t was a whirlwind but gave a great perspective of opportunities available. The dean of the honors college spent 45 minutes meeting with S19 and it was really informative.
@vistajay Thanks very much! Thank is good information about the stacking (and confirming policies for this year). I believe I read that your son chose a different Florida school. What won him over there rather than Miami?
@kforty2 , he chose FSU, for a variety of reasons. He had Benacquisto paying the full cost of attendance. He also was chosen as one of 23 FSU Presidential Scholars, which gave him another $2400 a year stacked on Benacquisto as well as another $12,000 for summer abroad study. Finally, he is a music major, FSU has an excellent music school, and he wanted to study under a particular teacher there. Right now, after paying for tuition, room, an unlimited meal plan and costs, he has over $3700 in his checking account for the semester to spend on books, transportation and spending money. He could not pass that deal up.
My D just received a mailing from FSU with info on their National Merit package, but I think its just too far away. Same with Alabama. Is Kentucky the closest college to the Northeast that offers full ride or near full ride packages for NMF?
@vistajay - thanks, Fordham is interesting, do you know anything about the engineering program? @GTAustin - Pitt is on the list, D visited this summer and was impressed
Is New Mexico State a big NMF school? I saw an article today that they are in serious financial woes because of giving out too many scholarships. Looks like they will be scaling back big time.
