<p>Well I love liberal arts schools, small with beautiful campuses. In particular I love Hobart and Villanova. Whats not to love? well the 50+ thousand dollar price tags. To go to a school with this cost I would need serious financial aid. Hobarts aid program I am familiar with because my sister went there. She got enough money but had significantly better grades than me and was a dancer so she received a scholarship for that. Now Villanova on the other hand, i know nothing about their aid program other than hearing it isnt so good. To afford a school like this I would need major scholarship money, like the 25-30 thousand my sister got at Hobart. My grades are something like this, 89.5 gpa, 1230 on the SAT, i intend to take the ACT and SAT again to hopefully do better. With this in mind, what are the chances i can get enough money from Villanova? Honesty is what I want, if theres no chance just say it.</p>
<p>Are you looking for merit aid? If so, your stats should be above the 75%ile for accepted students. I’m not sure you will reach that mark at Villanova…but I haven’t really looked at their accepted student stats. Rule of thumb is for the most significant merit money…you need to be at the tippy top of the applicant pool at a college.</p>
<p>Is your GPA weighted or unweighted? I think it will need to be a bit higher too for some schools and Villanova might be one (again…I’m not positive…and I’m not an admissions or scholarship person at that school).</p>
<p>Will your family qualify for any need based aid, or is your income above the threshold for that? Did your sister get need based aid or merit aid only?</p>
<p>Yes i think my gpa is a little on the low side too, i think my sister got more need based because at the time my brother was also at geneseo. she also had a 95 gpa, 1400 on the SAT, and is a dancer. Im not exactly sure what you mean as to if my gpa is weighted or not. I do know My high school is a top 100 in the country if that helps</p>
<p>Some schools provided weighted GPAs…when they do this, they give a higher value to grades from AP courses or honors courses, for example. </p>
<p>Having two siblings in college at the same time does reduce the family contribution for each of those students.</p>
<p>Are you from NY State? If so, you should also be looking at the SUNY schools. They are a great value for instate (and even out of state) students.</p>
<p>Link to HWS merit scholarships</p>
<p>[HWS:</a> Merit-Based Scholarships](<a href=“http://www.hws.edu/admissions/merit_based.aspx]HWS:”>http://www.hws.edu/admissions/merit_based.aspx)</p>
<p>Your sister fit in 2 categories- she had a high gpa/sat combination which put her in running for a merit scholarship. In addition, she was a dancer whih made her eligible for a Arts scholarship. If you look at the admitted student profile</p>
<p>[HWS:</a> Information Session](<a href=“http://www.hws.edu/admissions/class_profile.aspx]HWS:”>http://www.hws.edu/admissions/class_profile.aspx)</p>
<p>your sister was a very attractive candidate, who was at the top of the admitted students pool, Where you fall pretty much within the norm.</p>
<p>In addition, you had a brother who was also attending college. Are either one of them still in college? When you start, will you be the only child in college?</p>
<p>Villanova’s FAQ regarding financial aid</p>
<p>[Financial</a> Assistance Frequently Asked Questions](<a href=“http://www.villanova.edu/enroll/finaid/faq.htm#Im]Financial”>http://www.villanova.edu/enroll/finaid/faq.htm#Im) only interested in merit-based money. Whom do I contact</p>
<p>I agree with Thumper, that you first need to secure a financial safety (most likely SUNY or CUNY if you live with in NYC) to ensure that you have an affordable option for your family.</p>
<p>[Villanova</a> Scholarships and Grants](<a href=“http://www.villanova.edu/enroll/finaid/scholarships_grants/]Villanova”>http://www.villanova.edu/enroll/finaid/scholarships_grants/)</p>
<p>My understanding is that merit aid at Villanova is very limited and very competitive. It appears that your current stats would not qualify you for consideration.</p>
<p>However, we found that the need based aid for the past two years has been very good and has met our full “need” as defined by our FAFSA EFC. Villanova requires the Profile, but treated my husband’s small business favorably. Our son’s stats though were much better and I can’t say whether that factors into the need-based awards as well.</p>
<p>Yes I am from New York State, upstate. Ive looked at the SUNYs and they are great value i just cant say i can see myself being exceptionally happy at them. But i appreciate the answers they help alot. I never set my heart on Nova simply because i didnt think I could afford it</p>
<p>You will be less happy if you set your sites on a school that is not a financially feasible option for your family only to not be able to finish at that school.</p>
<p>You need to ask your parents how much they are tehy willing to pay or borrow for your education and to work with in those parameters. Keep in mind that if you are TAP eligible, you must attend school in NYS to keep the benefit.</p>
<p>There are 64 SUNY schools, there has to be at least one that has something that appeals to you. Your GPA and scores place you in the range at many of them </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.suny.edu/student/downloads/Pdf/2012_Admissions_qf_stateop.pdf[/url]”>http://www.suny.edu/student/downloads/Pdf/2012_Admissions_qf_stateop.pdf</a></p>
<p>Since SUNY takes students on a rolling admissions and your chances are better if you apply early, my advice is to do your research and find a school that you can live with so that you will have someplace to go Fall 2012.</p>
<p>I understand, and Im not ruling out going to a SUNY. But take my word Ive looked into almost all of them and visited many and I cant say any one of them was very appealing to me. At the same time i am a realist and realize that they are more feasable</p>
<p>Azzurri1012 -</p>
<p>You could visit the individual forums for the colleges and universities on your list, and see how your stats line up with those of some of last year’s applicants. That will help you see whether or not they are options for you.</p>
<p>You might check out the schools on the Links to Automatic/Guaranteed Scholarship thread. Have you looked at Hartwick College in Oneonta? I don’t know much about them, but you should get merit scholarships there and the students I’ve known who went to Hartwick were happy there.</p>
<p>However, Hartwick does not meet full need. A number of financial aid packages that I have seen from Hartwick, will have the merit money, Federal and state entitlements, then the balance will be PLUS loans. I have never seen a package where students received both need based and merit aid.</p>
<p>Sybbie, they offered my youngest S both, but perhaps his athlete standing afforded him a better package. He didn’t pursue their offer so I’ll defer to your greater experience with Hartwick!</p>
<p>OP, you’ve actually looked at all 64 SUNYs?? That’s amazing. It’s hard to believe you couldn’t find something that fit since they have small, large, urban, rural, etc.</p>
<p>Look into, not looked at in person. although i have done that for many of them. and no to answer your question, i really dont love any of them</p>
<p>Is part of the reason that you cannot see yourself happy at SUNY is because your sister went to a 50K private school? Do you feel that if you also do not go private, that you are being short changed and you won’t get “as good” of an education that she got? You are wrong on both counts.</p>
<p>As many of us have stated earlier, you need to grasp the reality of your situation. Your stats are a little on the low side for many of the schools that will meet 100% of your demonstrated need with large amounts of grant aid and little or no loans. This is why it is extremely important that you find a school where your grades and your money can take you and that you are willing to attend .</p>
<p>Azzurri1012 – what do you want to major in? What is it that you love about schools like Nova and HWS? People might be able to suggest that may be more affordable/ match and safety schools for your stats.</p>
<p>haha no its not because my sister went to HWS. My brother before her went to SUNY Geneseo and I spent just as much time there. I understand the reality of my situation and I am looking at the SUNYs and i am fully aware that a less expensive school is where i will most likely end up. Why do I like schools like HWS and Nova? It has to do with atmosphere and campuses. Im in love with the beautiful campuses, and the small liberal arts feel that comes with them. I dont like large schools, in fact i almost hate them. I grew up in an affluent town, went to a high school of those same standards. With this being said I think its easy to see why HWS and Nova appeal to me. Ive never considered myself snobby, i grew up with less money than all my friends (who all can afford 50k schools) but truth be told i love the experience that comes with these schools that unfortunately cost so much. I wouldnt hate my life at every SUNY, but in all honesty I dont love any of them. In fact i dont like them even close to the amount I love some private schools. At the same time, im not dumb. Dont take me for someone who refuses anything less than the most expensive either. Im well aware its a long shot too afford any of these schools. Im simply looking at all options.</p>
<p>Suny New Paltz is the size of a large LAC <a href=“http://www.newpaltz.edu/oir/cds_b.pdf[/url]”>http://www.newpaltz.edu/oir/cds_b.pdf</a> and is beautiful. Your stats would be near a safety level if it weren’t for their <40% selection %age. <a href=“http://www.newpaltz.edu/oir/cds_c.pdf[/url]”>http://www.newpaltz.edu/oir/cds_c.pdf</a></p>
<p>Erin’s Dad:</p>
<p>Each of my D’s looked into the SUNY’s and each came away with only one each that they were willing to apply to. And even then, they were not their top choices.</p>
<p>Remember that of the 64 you quote, many are technical/ community colleges. Most are in very rural areas. If you do not want a rural school, you have just cancelled out the majority of the SUNY system right there. Many of the colleges through out the system are geared towards B students. </p>
<p>D wants art education. There are only 3 schools that offer that degree on an undergraduate level. One school is extremely far and remote. Another has relatively low academic standards for admissions. The 3rd (SUNY New Paltz) will remain on D’s list. But it is a school that has a particular vibe (hippie/bohemian/quirky) and our GC was not overally impressed with the academics for an A student.</p>
<p>So before you judge the OP, understand that the SUNY system is not for everyone. Yes, it can provide a good education at a good value. This year, more students from D’s HS are attending Delaware and Ohio State than SUNY Binghamton and Buffalo.</p>