<p>My stats are as follows, in case anyone is curious:
32 ACT
3.89 GPA
Top 10% of my class
AP Lit & Comp, AP Biology, and AP Music Theory. I also took college public speaking and college comp II</p>
<p>I was rejected from Northwestern (which I expected) and was accepted to NYU with absolutely no financial aid, with loans totaling 63,000 per year, which is obviously entirely unrealistic. My backup schools are DePaul and University of Denver. I really really had my heart set on going to Northwestern or NYU and now that that's no longer an option, I wish I had applied to a few backup schools that were a little more realistic. Average ACT scores at DePaul and UDenver are about 24-28 and I think I could've ended up at a better school. I hate feeling like I have to compromise.</p>
<p>I think I'll probably end up attending DePaul. But is there any way that I could negotiate my financial aid with NYU? I know it's doubtful as I would only attend if I got at least a $25,000 scholarship. I just feel lost... any suggestions?</p>
<p>Also are DePaul and University of Denver really that bad? When I went to Chicago I met a few people who would stick their noses up at DePaul. What are your opinions?</p>
<p>The scholarship amount you are looking for is something they give only to a tiny fraction of their admitted students (about 5%) – most other students are offered scholarships in the range of about ~$10K… or (like you), nothing at all. </p>
<p>See if your backups have honors programs, honors dorms, etc. You could end up being a big fish in their ponds and get a lot of perks. See what they have to offer you. </p>
<p>I think you will get a good aid package from Denver. It is a very good school in several areas including music, international relations (Condi Rice and Madeline Albright both have degrees from there, so should you want to be Secretary of State…), business, theology. It is a school in a city, although very much a college campus, connected by light rail (free to students) to downtown with all the sports areas, theaters, musical venues. It is a fun school, with a first class hockey team and men’s and women’s lacrosse teams ranked in the top 10. The rec center is really nice.</p>
<p>Depaul has some amazing things going for it - a nice campus in a safe, vibrant neighborhood of Chicago, with the whole city at your doorstep. Chicago is an amazing place - sports, museum, theater, music, NIGHTLIFE - and Depaul is very much a part of all of that. The school does have an honors college, and its business, music, and theater schools are highly thought of. I don’t know what people you met who “stuck their noses” up at the school, but I’m guessing they were not part of the business community. By the way, you should not pick a school based on what some random people do with their noses. College is what you make of it.</p>
<p>Disclaimer: my D (ACT score 31, as if that matters) graduated from he Depaul School of Commerce and had multiple job offers upon graduation. She now lives in Chicago and works for one of the Big Four accounting firms. While at Depaul, she enjoyed small classes in her major and formed lasting relationships with her professors. It was her safety school, but she chose it over several other more highly-ranked options because she was interested in business and wanted to stay in the area after graduation.</p>
<p>Loans are financial aid only in the twisted reality that is the US college system. </p>
<p>As to the question, I think you are too worried about perceived value from friends or family and not enough into the reality of graduates from each of those schools. Those are all good schools and you can build a great life off from degrees from any of them.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about the average test scores of the student body. There are many reasons why this happens and the kids with the legitimate lower scores will not be in many of your classes.</p>
<p>Loans are NOT considered financial aid in the Common Data which is required of all colleges to report, other than subsidized ones for the student. Though schools do include that in their packages as though they are, no, they are not. In fact, the PLUS for parents is not necessarily even an option, as a parent has to qualify. It’s a suggestion as to where MAYBE some funds are available at a price, for some parents to meet the gap. </p>
<p>Really, IMO, loans should not even be considered fin aid dollar for dollar for the student, as they do have to be repaid. Only the subsidized interest, not the face amounts should be so reported, but I don’t make the rules, and the whole amount is reported and treated as awards. </p>
<p>As I recently said in another post, my middle son went to University of Denver and loved it. A lot of opportunities from being in a great and vibrant city.While there are some slackers on campus, there aren’t many–a curriculum on the quarter system is not compatible to slacking. The ski bum reputation is also overblown–jealousy of students elsewhere who aren’t able to be skiing and hour after leaving campus–but most students are too busy to ski more than a few times a winter. It’s a nice option to have, though. It’s actually no different than students taking advantage of the unique offerings in NY, or DC, or Miami, or LA. He got accepted to several top grad school programs in his area with no problem.</p>
<p>I’m not sure what the stats are for Denver these days, but I would be surprised if the middle ACT was not higher than 24-28.</p>
<p>And, if you feel that you are somewhat above the average student there, think about being the bigger fish in the smaller pond–that can have its own advantages.</p>
<p>DePaul is very good for business. UDenver is also an excellent school and up-and-coming. I’d pick UDenver, because of the location and opportunity for a change. Did you get into the Honors College at either one? Both?
What are the benefits of the Honors College there? How much would each cost (not counting loans)?</p>
<p>Mom2K asked if you made NMF because UA has an amazing honors college and it’s still open for kids who made NMF.</p>