<p>My son was a Presidential Scholar, and an engineering major. He applied for but did not receive a computer science engineering scholarship. He was also a National Merit, so he was offered a great scholarship package. His good friend who was also a Presidential scholar was offered a generous scholarship from COSAM, for 3500/year. So, depending on your child’s major, there may be other scholarship opportunities available that may stack on the Presidential. I would still apply to Auburn, even if you think this scholarship reduction may take it out of the picture. You may be surprised and find that Auburn offers the best package and fit compared to other schools your child applies to and is accepted at.</p>
<p>Thank you for all your input. Auburn will still be on my son’s list of applications. He is all across the board with his list. MIT, RPI, UIUC, Carnegie Mellon, Vandy, Ga Tech, UA, UAH, UAB, and Auburn. He knows that it will come down to which schools he is accepted by and the financial aid packages offered. Whatever fits within our budget, then he gets to choose. I was hoping for Auburn to be a “sure” thing as far as finances. Sorry if I gave the impression that I was writing off AU due to the scholarship reduction. Even with the reduction, Auburn is still well beneath the in-state rate we would pay at UIUC.</p>
<p>RadDa1, consider too that in Auburn you pay a fix rate after 12 credit hours. It should help graduate faster without further financial burden.</p>
<p>Oh, Rad, I feel your pain. My son was initially looking in the midwest, and even with the best scholarships, it was way out of our reach. I was shocked to find how many people chose Marquette, his top choice, over their instate flagships because it would be cheaper. We would have had to borrow our maximum just to send son to one year at Marquette, so we had to write it off the list. </p>
<p>We just got back from Bama Bound, and there were an amazing number of OOS people there. I have now met three people from Wisconsin going there, and son even roomed with a boy from Indiana during orientation.</p>
<p>I think y’all is going to make its way into the vocabulary of all Americans before long, as our younger generation make their way south to attend college.</p>
<p>Even paying 1/3 of the tuition, Auburn is more affordable for students than many schools. Many students move off-campus for their junior and senior years. Housing within a block of the campus with more room than the Village costs less.</p>
<p>This is unfortunate. Have one son on a presidential scholarship. Younger brother checked ACT scores this morning and had a 34 composite. I went to the scholarship page and noticed the change. I heard 34 and thought we would have two at Auburn…not so sure now. We may have just become a house divided…one at Auburn and one at Bama.</p>
<p>Ethalo: have you possibly considered applying for the “elite” academic scholarships? Some of these are pretty big (combined with a departmental scholarship, you could have tuition covered, with funds available for housing). Your son’s 34 composite ACT makes him eligible (You probably know this since you already have one son at Auburn). I don’t know how competitive it is to win one of these, or if it’s extra difficult for OOS students who get in the mix, but it may be worth investigating.</p>
<p>This last year my daughter applied for an Elite and wasn’t considered. Her letter said that there were over 100 qualifying applicants, but it is still worth a shot, someone has to get them.</p>
<p>We (he) will try for the elite and other scholarships. Also not sure what will happen at Bama…they have not updated the website with their new info yet (I called to check and see if there would be changes or if the current information was up to date. They indicated new info would be posted 1 August. Older brother is already not happy this is even a possibility.)</p>
<p>Auburn is still a possibility with the change but it has fallen somewhat on the list. It just would have been nice to have the old scholie in hand already.</p>