Paying for Colgate

<p>Does it get easier to pay for Colgate as the years go on? I know that at a lot of schools, once you're in you get a lot of money (i e grants or scholarships) for the succeeding years. Is this true at Colgate? I just got in with no financial aid and I can't go unless I can trust that I won't have to go into years and years of debt.</p>

<p>I’m currently at Colgate, and I honestly don’t think that aid increases once you’re attending Colgate. Aid is based on your parents income and all the traditional factors, and I have only seen my aid fluctuate as much as my parents income has changed from year to year. Colgate doesn’t really hand out scholarships; the scholarships that I have received are just subtracted from the Colgate Grant system and are essentially just a way to provide aid; they are not merit based. I’m sorry that this isn’t really great news, but I hope it helped.</p>

<p>No FA at all? Hmmm, are you an International student? If not, then that would mean your parents make enough to help you. Did you have chats with your parents about a FA plan before applying? I don’t want to sound uncaring but communication with those who are going to support you through you college experience is VITAL and most of that should have taken place before you applied. Do you have any other schools that you were accepted to and if so what is the FA situation with them? If you’re to get some helpful opinions here you’re going to have to share some more information. In any case, good luck to you.</p>

<p>I have been accepted at Colby (55k), Colgate (55k), Bucknell (55k and they gave me 5k) and McGill (10k). I have spoken with my parents and it’s all manageable but I have a little sister going to college in 2 years and at that point it will no longer be, without aid.</p>

<p>Go ahead and discuss your circumstances with the Office of Financial Aid. The staff will readily appreciate your situation and give you options to consider. As a rule Colgate stands by its students and will meet their demonstrated need throughout their enrolled years.</p>

<p>Good luck and I hope you get these matters sorted to the satisfaction of your family!</p>

<p>I don’t know your parents’ income, but the EFC (expected family contribution) usually remains about the same when there are two kids going. That means that if your parents are expected to pay $55K for Colgate, they are expected to pay very near that for both of you.</p>

<p>So, if you both went to Colgate let’s say, they might be expected to pay $30K for each of you, raising the EFC by just $5K.</p>

<p>This was our experience. My kids weren’t at Colgate, but they were at schools where the financial aid worked similarly.</p>

<p>Don’t take my word for it. Verify this with Colgate’s Financial Aid office. If they accepted you, they want you to come and would be happy to take time to go over the particulars with you.</p>

<p>I hope this helps.</p>

<p>The aid you receive depends on your family’s income. So if your parents’ income stays the same, your aid will stay mostly the same also, unless you have siblings who will start college while you are in school</p>

<p>My experience and research (disclaimer-this is just a rough estimate, many factors to consider etc., etc.) has shown approximately…one kid in college 25% of AGI, two kids in college 40% of AGI is a general expectation of EFC. Don’t know about 3 at a time, thank God! I went into FA with these percentages in mind and it helped me cope with the cost. We actually did a bit better, so I guess it was my way of convincing myself we got a deal. LOL</p>

<p>The question of college affordability is on so many peoples’ minds these days…</p>

<p>I learned last week that Colgate’s very successful Passion for the Climb capital campaign which closes out next month delivered sufficient financial aid resources so that the Office of Admission was able to admit 60 more students with financial aid awards than last year!</p>

<p>This is a welcome improvement although Colgate has a ways to in its quest to be need blind. I believe that this was another banner year with close to 8000 applications. Deposit checks are due tomorrow for the freshman class admits.</p>

<p>Good luck with your college planning!</p>