<p>I have been accepted to Duke University, but going to Duke right now is a financial impossibility because Duke said my I do not qualify for any need-based financial aid, and there is no way my parents can pay the full sticker price.</p>
<p>What is the best thing to do now? Call the financial aid office? Email the office? And how should my parents explain our situation?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance. </p>
<p>*haha if this looks familiar to any Rice acceptees it's because I copy pasted. I'm in the exact same predicament at both schools though.</p>
<p>In the exact same position. flying down w very convincing mother there next week to talk to fao armed with tax forms and everythin/anything we could possibly need… hopefully shell knock some sense in them</p>
<p>I’m in the same position!
Unfortunately, I did not realize how much of a problem money has become due to the financial crisis till after I checked “No” for requesting financial aid on my application
As a non-US citizen, I doubt I’ll be able to get anything, and I might’ve not even been accepted if I had requested financial aid (esp since I was up against all these other qualified people who didn’t need any money).
Anything I can do? I got into Duke/Northwestern, but I can’t afford the tuition!!
Hopefully I can get into a need-blind school come April 1, but I doubt it…:(</p>
<p>dlwldnjs: I’m sure you probably already knew this, but if you checked no, then you are ineligible for financial aid for all four years of attendance should you enroll. </p>
<p>Idk how much you can argue your case there but the only chance I see is if there’s a drastic and unforeseen change in financial circumstances between when you applied and when you were admitted/enrolled. Then you might be able to convince FinAid to give you some money for your second year. First year might be a lost cause because they have budgets and such that they consider when they admit. But it never hurts to ask. But I have to stress that this only has a shot of working if there’s a drastic and unforeseen change in circumstances.</p>
<p>Edit: as for the others, the sudden change in circumstances thing works for US citizens too, even if Duke already gave you a package. If, for instance, your dad lost his job or had a large paycut recently, then you can argue that the tax forms you submitted this year is not a true reflection of your family’s financial situation and therefore your package (which is based on those tax forms) should be adjusted.</p>
<p>@llpitch & juliac3: if you have something that wasn’t on your application that you need to explain, then do that, but if there’s nothing new and you just want to argue, don’t count on it. Also, juliac3, i did the same thing last year, brought in all the paper work and met with the FAO. What they told me though is that they as individuals don’t really have the power to do anything and all revisions must be sent in some kind of formal documentation (i.e. letter or email). Since this is the case, I would go ahead and write out a letter explaining your circumstances (using financial documents as proof), and going ahead and send it. I’m not sure you’re going to be able to do much in person, however ironic that sounds.</p>
<p>Also, llpitch, I don’t like your use of the word impossibility here. Just because you don’t WANT to take out student loans doesn’t mean you can’t. If you don’t want to prioritize taking on debt for coming to Duke then that’s totally cool and your call to make, but don’t look at it as impossible. It’s all in your hands. But I would still advocate for talking to Duke to see how they can lessen the impact of debt.</p>
<p>@SBR: I’m not sure if this is true. Also, even if it is, I feel like it could definitely be something that could be overturned. Duke is excellent at reevaluating circumstances IF they do indeed change. As such, I wouldn’t feel that trapped, even if I did check “no”. While they might not be able to allow you financial aid for your first year, I feel like you could at least apply for FA in your last 3.</p>
<p>p<em>hp</em>fan: the policy is given on the finaid website on the front page for international students:</p>
<p>“Please note: all international transfer students and all international applicants admitted with “no financial aid interest” will be ineligible to apply for financial aid for any year of undergraduate study.”</p>
<p>Also, I did say in the next paragraph that if there is a drastic and unforeseen change of circumstances then a person would have a shot at arguing for reconsideration of the decision. I didn’t say it was impossible and that the policy was set in stone. But if someone applied with no interest in finaid and then regretted it and wanted financial aid, then it would be very hard to argue because the admit process for the two categories of international applicants are very different and it would look very suspicious (no offense to the OP).</p>
<p>Yeah, I read about the no financial aid for all 4 years thing on the website…honestly, I had not known how much the financial crisis had affected our family, and my dad’s really proud so he didn’t want to admit the change in our family’s financial situation. The current economic situation hasn’t been easy on anybody…there are probably plenty of other people out there in my shoes right now.
Anyways, are there any other options available? Are there any private scholarships I might be able to find? Any work I might be able to do at the uni or in Durham with my status as a non-US citizen?</p>
