<p>Before the financial aid awards come out, a word of caution to those OOS students who are hoping for something wonderful in addition to whatever merit aid they've received.....UMD awards need-based aid directly based on the FAFSA and the federal limits on aid. Even if you have a 0 EFC with FAFSA, UMD will NOT meet all needs for OOS students. There are more need-based opportunities for IS students; for OOS, they don't pretend to compete with lots of other universities that are more "giving" with their aid. That said, we obviously went the UMD route and it was the best choice for both my D's. </p>
<p>Based on the disappointment I'm seeing on the merit aid threads, I'm trying to set some expectations here for the OOS crowd...</p>
<p>Are you at all surprised by some of the scholarship amounts that people have mentioned? I have to admit that I am. I am very pleased with my daughters amount, but we are in state. 20 k over 4 years is very significant for in state tuition. I am surprised though at some of the OOS amounts for these students who seem to be amazing top notch candidates. Some of the stats are really remarkable.
Just curious on your thoughts astrophysicsmom.</p>
<p>The amounts are pretty much in line with what we’ve seen over the past few years…I feel bad for the OOS students who had their hearts set on UMD without taking a close look at the expected costs.</p>
<p>“Are you at all surprised by some of the scholarship amounts that people have mentioned? I have to admit that I am. I am very pleased with my daughters amount, but we are in state. 20 k over 4 years is very significant for in state tuition. I am surprised though at some of the OOS amounts for these students who seem to be amazing top notch candidates. Some of the stats are really remarkable”</p>
<p>Is the 20k need based aid or merit based scholarship? If it is need based aid, is it grants or loans?
If it is grants, you must have absolutely low EFC.
If it is scholarship, how is that relevant to this thread?</p>
<p>Goodnightnell, I’m sure you’re right. This is my first experience with the whole admissions/aid process, so I’m learning a lot!</p>
<p>Criesandwhispers, you gave me a good laugh on this very beautiful snowy morning! Ease up…I’m pretty sure the purity of the thread is going to be okay. Go outside and play in the snow. Have a little fun! :)</p>
<p>My d was courted and was told she was very likely for the BK or at least get the cost down to IS so I feel we were misled and wasted our time espacially as the BK hardly ever goes OOS.</p>
<p>gozo77, your daughter is one of the ones I was thinking of. I am surprised that a 35 ACT and NMF doesn’t get more money.
It sure makes me even more thankful for my daughter’s merit award. Here stats are very good, but your daughters are better.</p>
<p>I’ve been reading through the financial aid site and can’t seem to find a straightforward answer to something that’s been bothering me for a while…is merit aid subtracted from a family’s EFC or is it subtracted from the total cost of attendance? The difference between the two is very significant (about 20k or so).</p>
<p>Pretty sure it’s COA…
UMD doesn’t give great aid, however, so merit scholarships are still worthwhile. For some schools, since they meet almost all aid anyway, any merit scholarship that doesn’t make COA < EFC doesn’t mean much. UMD it does.</p>
<p>Yeah, you’re right. I took a closer look at the numbers, and because Maryland’s total cost is 10-15k less than a private college, our need is less than I thought it’d be, and the merit scholarship actually ends up going into the EFC. So it means a lot, especially considering that UMD has such trouble meeting need. Our EFC is high to begin with though cause the FAFSA has some ridiculous formula that punishes families just for having savings in case things won’t be nice and peachy in ten years. It seems like going to college is equated with being stripped of any money. UMD is still on the table, but any private college is pretty much out of the question by now. thanks so much for your help though :)</p>