<p>I'm currently looking at Rutgers NB and West Chester Universities. I am from New Jersey, and my parents made $75,000 for 2013. I did estimations for both colleges and FAFSA and will end up with absolutely $0 in aid, besides the $5500 loan. Any advice? I feel like crying. I've tried my best all of HS and ended up with a 1970 on my SATS and a 3.85 GPA. And now I can't go to college. It's estimated at $30,000/year... Like I just don't know what to do now. There is no way my parents can afford more than $8000 a year, due to lots of medical bills and such. Anything I can do?</p>
<p>What is your M+CR score?</p>
<p>Apply to schools like Univ of Maine Fort Kent </p>
<p>Low OOS costs plus you’d get a $5k scholarship from them. </p>
<p>With your parents $8k + $5k merit + student loan, most/all will be covered. Work a summer job and cover any extra costs.</p>
<p>You’d qualify for </p>
<p>Here is UMaine Ft Kent’s info
OOS Tuition $9900 per year (and there are some lenient merit offers that could further reduce…see below)
COA $20,592</p>
<p>(full-time) 24-36 credits $9,900
Fees 2 $975
Health Insurance 3 $997
Books & Supplies 4 $1,000
Subtotal: $12,872
Residence Hall Room 5 $4,150
Board (19-Meal Plan) 6 $3,570
COA…$20,592</p>
<p>University of Maine Fort Kent</p>
<p>2014-2015 Scholarships for First Year Students (12 or less college credits)</p>
<p>Scholarship Name Eligibility Requirements Amount</p>
<p>Bengal Gold<br>
2 out of 3:
If SAT score is 1050+ (23+ ACT), class rank is top 30% or High School GPA of 3.00-4.00 $5,000.00</p>
<p>Also…apply to Univ Maine Presque Isle </p>
<p>Low cost and merit money.</p>
<p>Tell us your major and career goal</p>
<p>If your CR and Math scores are 1300 you might get full tuition and fees at Kean University in Union NJ. With the $8,000 and the $5,500 student loan you would have more then enough for room and board. </p>
<p>FRESHMAN MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS
No Application Required</p>
<p>These awards are given based on the University’s review of undergraduate applications for admission. Only recent high school graduates admitted as full-time freshmen are eligible. These scholarships are renewable for up to 4 years of undergraduate study when a cumulative 3.0 GPA is maintained through continuous full-time enrollment. </p>
<p>SAT score criteria include critical reading (verbal) and mathematics only. The writing/essay score is not considered in the total at this time. Composite scores may be used for scholarship consideration.</p>
<p>There are five Freshman Merit Scholarships:</p>
<p>SCHOLARSHIP NAME AWARD AMOUNT GPA & SAT (critical reading+math only) or ACT Composite RENEWAL CONDITIONS
William Livingston Full In-State Tuition & Fees 3.5 / 1300 or 29 ACT 3.0 & Full-time Enrollment</p>
<p>Most students do not go away to school. Look at what the options are within commuting range. You would be swimming in gravy with what your parents are willing to pay, a part time job and the Direct loans. Might even get a little merit sweetner in the mix.</p>
<p>Try the University of Southern Maine in Portland. 31K COA. 12K President’s scholar, $700grant, $3500work study, $5500 Stafford and $8000 parents bring you to $29,700. You would have to earn $1300 yourself.</p>
<p>It seems you will have to commute. Rutgers NB might offer you some merit early next year - around $2.5-5.5K.
If you cannot commute to NB - consider other better instate publics where you can commute - TCNJ, Ramapo and other Rutgers campuses. Living on campus is overrated, especially in Rutgers. On the other hand considering going to Maine to live on campus vs commuting to Rutgers is totally crazy. At Rutgers you will have tons of opportunities for part-time jobs, paid research, paid internships and job placement after graduation. You can also start at a cheaper college and transfer to Rutgers later.</p>
<p>Sometimes I think that the government of Maine should be giving us kickbacks considering how often their universities get recommended here to people! :)</p>
<p>Maine is actually a decent option here but my concern here is travel. If the max your parent is able to pay is $8,000 a year, and you need all of that money to cover the balance of tuition, room and board that is not covered by Maine’s generous merit aid and the loan, then that doesn’t leave too much money available for getting back home. This might be something that you could pay with a part-time job on campus, but I have never been to this university so I don’t know how plentiful these are or if the surrounding community has a lot of job opportunities for college students available. (Some places really don’t). </p>
<p>I am also concerned about housing. There are many universities where a place in the dorms isn’t guaranteed after the first year. What if you get booted out of the dorms in your 2nd or 3rd year and the cost of an apartment is higher than that? If you’re going away to Maine you MAY need or want a car – is there enough slack in the budget for that?</p>
<p>Is that $8,000 a year an exact number or is that the upper estimate of what your parents could conceivably pay? If things are tough on the financial front then that number might not be as high as $8,000 so you might not be able to count on it being the same for each subsequent year</p>
<p>For these reasons I would seriously consider researching not just merit aid opportunities but also nailing down an exact number for what your parents can contribute as well as the “real” COA from people who are actually at the college. I know from my experience and the experience of others that the Cost of Attendance on the college’s website is more of an estimate than the maximum you could ever theoretically expect to pay. There are other external factors that the college doesn’t necessarily control but that could end up affecting you. </p>
<p>You said your parents made $75,000 a year in 2013, do you know if income for this year will be more or less? Is it possible you might qualify for state grant in NJ or need-based aid at a private school?</p>
<p><a href=“New Jersey College Grants: Free School Grants for Students in NJ”>http://www.collegescholarships.org/grants/states/new-jersey.htm</a></p>
<p>Check net price calculators for private schools in NJ or neighboring states that might give you merit aid based on your scores and/or need-based aid with your income.</p>
<p>Check the NPC for this school
<a href=“http://www.clarku.edu/undergraduate-admissions/financial-aid/resources/”>http://www.clarku.edu/undergraduate-admissions/financial-aid/resources/</a></p>
<p>@DmitriR USM is my value option for the week. Portland is the largest city in Maine with 230 restaurants and was named number 10 by Forbes as a top city to find a job. You have to stay on campus for the first two year with a merit scholarship. It’s been ranked the coolest, hippest, most livable city and there are free shuttle buses around the city. It is only two hours north of Boston with similar weather. You can take the train or bus to Boston.</p>
<p>I’m a Mainer and here’s some input on those Maine public options. </p>
<p>Portland is a great city but note that USM’s campus is divided between Gorham and Portland. Also, they have had financial trouble and have experienced cuts in some programs. So do take a look but think about what you want to study and if USM would be good for you.</p>
<p>UMaine is the flagship and has broader and deeper course offerings than USM, plus a fine Honors College. You could also have research opportunities there. It is attracting more and more out of state students. The area is not as hip as Portland, but nearby Bangor has more and more doing on these days. Also there are great outdoor recreational opportunities, an excellent fitness center and many on campus cultural and sports events.</p>
<p>Also, University of Maine-Farmington is the public liberal arts college, with excellent teachers and it’s in a very cute college town.</p>
<p>@momfromme UMaine-Farmington is going to be my value option next week! With the best merit aid the price at UM-F also starts at 19K. What about transportation for those who are concerned? And job opportunities at Farmington? And I think they are the only campus increasing in numbers for those who are nervous about that.</p>
<p>UMaine Orono is our top choce for our own gearbot along with WPI. A nice fit with friendly people and great research opportunites. But with the best merit aid, the price is still 25K. Best chance for more aid for engineers.</p>
<p>Rowan University in NJ is a very nice medium sized school with approx. 10K undergrads, and has a cost of attendance of approx. 24K for in-state students. They offer merit scholarships for a range of SAT scores, M +CR. It may just be affordable depending on your SAT M+CR score, if your parents can pay 8K +$5500 loan + some earnings from a part time job. The school is suburban and not too far from Philly. Could probably find a job without too much trouble.</p>
<p><a href=“Home | Rowan | Rowan University”>Home | Rowan | Rowan University;
<a href=“Home | Rowan | Rowan University”>Home | Rowan | Rowan University;
<p>My daughter recently got accepted to USM in Portland with a rather generous scholarship, and we also live in NJ. This is just one example , but please don’t throw in the towel and think you cannot go to college. You may not be able to go to the school you hoped , but that doesn’t mean there are not affordable options elsewhere </p>