Hello! I am a POSSE Finalist. They match me with Wellesley College…However, my dream is to go to California. What should I do? Take it?
Uh, yes!
I’m pretty certain Posse is a full scholarship. Wellesley is an amazing college; you will graduate debt-free, and you can always move to California after you graduate.
I used to volunteer for Posse. They have a 90% college graduate rate for their fellows. In addition to the scholarship you will get lots of social support - both peer support and support from the program in trying to finish college. This is going to be really important if you are a first-generation college student. They also have other support programs, like an internship/career development program and pre-collegiate preparation to help you get prepared for college. (This is how I volunteered - I helped a new Posse Scholar improve her writing to get it to college-ready before she began at a prestigious liberal arts college in the Midwest.)
Also, to be frank, even if you did want to choose another California college…how would you pay for it?
Posse is a full=tuition scholarship; Posse recipients have to pay for room and board. So, my first question for the OP is whether you have run the numbers and can afford to attend Wellesley (most Posse recipients do receive financial aid as well, but you need to check whether it’s sufficient). After that, it’s your choice, but there are only about 6 or 7 schools in CA that meet full financial aid - some of the Claremont Colleges, Occidental, Stanford and USC - so you are taking a risk if you don’t choose Wellesley. As Juillet has stated, Posse scholars get enormous support and resources and I would think long and hard before turning it down.
@juillet @midatlmom Sigh. MY dream college is Pitzer College. And I was planning to apply there ED. If not, Scripps. My financial aid is less than $40,000 and my dad is disabled. It’s like I am in a situation that I want to say yes…but I’ve been in love with the 5Cs forever! By the way, if I say yes…how can I pay room and board? Do they look at my FAFSA too? And my CSS?
Unlike Questbridge that meets full need, Posse is actually a full tuition scholarship.
Op would be eligible for need based aid based on info from FAFSA and CSS Profile. Wellesley will meet 100% demonstrated need (Minus EFC).
You will have to pay your EFC no matter what other school you decide to attend. I agree with midatlmom, that you should think long and hard before you turn it down.
What does this mean:
Is your parents’ income less than $40k?
@Madison85 yes. Both of them. My dad doesn’t have an income due to his disability.
So, did you try the Wellesley net price calculator using your family’s information to see what you’d be expected to pay there?
@Madison85 no! Not yet! Thank you! Sigh. I need my decision by Wednesday and everyone is saying to take it. I think I will! What do you think?
Wellesley is an excellent school (# Liberal Arts College in the country). You will receive a great education, you can cross register at MIT and they are part of the 12 college exchange and they have a very extensive study abroad program.
they are very generous as they will meet 100% of your demonstrated need. Should you run your numbers through the net price calculator, with your family’s income of less than 40k, the need based package should be very good.
We have no idea where you live, how much Pitzer would offer if you were accepted, how you’d pay for travel or extra costs. If you are asking if the Posse offer is a good one, it is. Only you can decide if it will be the best offer.
I’d get on the phone with Wellesley and find out what other aid it can give. I bet this isn’t the first time this has come up.
Run the net price calculator and call the Wellesley financial aid office tomorrow wirh any questions!
Oh, that’s good to know - I didn’t know that Posse was only full tuition.
Wellesley does meet full financial need, though, so they’ll probably help you cover the rest.
I agree with the above advice - call up the financial aid office and ask them what kind of support they’d offer to a Posse Scholar with a full tuition Posse scholarship. Posse’s partnership with Wellesley has been going on for a while, and almost all Posse Scholars come from low-income backgrounds and can’t easily afford room and board, and so somebody probably knows. You can also ask the Posse folks what assistance has looked like in the past.
Why are you in love with the Claremont Colleges? Like what about them attracts you to them? Wellesley obviously shares many traits with Scripps, although the setting and weather are going to be different.
The other question is - do you think that you are competitive enough to get admitted to Pitzer or Scripps without Posse? Posse’s application and selection process is dynamic and takes a lot of different factors into account that might give a boost to a low-income student with fewer resources.
any help in finding if any Atlanta GA Posse finalist released? supposed to be today 10/26/2016
No idea! Have you called them already? For POSSE Houston, they still haven’t finished calling people for finalists!
@twoinanddone @Madison85 @juillet WELL, today is the due date to call POSSE…It took me two days to realize the ghat opportunity that I have in front of me. Yesterday, I was already to say “no” but turns out that I said yes! Thank you!
Congrats @Stephstudent98 and good luck!
@Stephstudent98
Hi, I am also a Posse Houston Finalist for Wellesley College! I searched for it a lot, I was very hesitant at first because my dream college was Rice University. However, after taking my time and getting some encouragement from my counselor and EMERGE (if you have ever heard of it), I decided to accept the offer.
I think all Wellesley finalists would have an interview in December 5, 2016. See you there!
@YaminA oh my god! I am in EMERGE too! Yes, I accepted POSSE! Let’s just see…
@YaminA but congrats! I’m glad you accepted! My dream school was Pitzer…but I believe things happen for a reason!