I’m a junior and even though this obviously isn’t set in stone, Brown is my #1 choice and has been for awhile, and I want to apply ED really bad (also bc I don’t want to drag out the admissions process), but obviously there are some financial issues if I’m accepted because Brown is very expensive.
I used the NPC calculator and it came out with ~$40,000 (so $30,000 granted), but that will probably go up because of taxes. However, my family needs it to go to about ~$20,000, even tho I’ll also apply for private grants (I’d do that anyway) and get a job during college.
My family is relatively wealthy ($250,000/y), but the problem is we went from making $60,000 two years ago to $250,000 now. My sister is also graduating college this year and plans on grad, so we’re still paying that off and I know at most schools former college students/grad students don’t qualify for additional aid, even if they’re dependent. My family is also paying off medical bills for my sister (she had a carteroid tumor, and was allergic to a lot of the treatment), but the problem is that her illness occurred almost a decade ago, we just weren’t secure enough to pay it off then.
I talked to an admissions rep and she said that if you’re not offered a sufficient package, then you can appeal for more, and if that’s not enough, you can rescind enrollment.
Are there “caps” on who can rescind enrollment? Should I bother applying ED?
I’ll obvi apply RD or go to a different school if I have to (and ik I’d be happy at other schools, even if I feel like I’d be happiest at Brown), but I’m just curious to know if I should apply or not.
If you KNOW you can’t afford to attend Brown, then applying ED is probably not in your best interest.
The reality is…your family has $250,000 income in the years you need for your financial aid applications.
Here is my question…if they were able to live on $60,000 in 2015, then NOW they have $190,000 MORE income. Why can’t some of that be used for college expenses?
Here is my suggestion…
Apply regular decision to Brown. You will then have the Brown financial aid and net costs…to compare to other schools to which you get accepted.
With a $250,000 a year income, it’s not likely that you will be receiving need based aid…anywhere. To be honest am wondering how you got a net cost of $40,000 when you have an income of $250,000 a year…and only one kid in college. It should be higher.
Getting private scholarships to fund the cost to attend Brown for four years…not likely.
If you are truly a competitive applicant for Brown…you should also be looking at schools where you would get merit awards. Those would not take your family income into consideration.
If the NPC looks unaffordable, it would be disingenuous to apply ED. They probably wouldn’t give you enough anyway even if you appealed. With $250K income, you aren’t going to go to any of these for $20K. You either need to revise your list or get your parents to pay more.
ok ty guys!! i agree my parents prob have enough money for me (individually), but i also have 3 younger siblings, so if i dont go to brown ill be fine lol
im also applying to a bunch of in-state schools. i am from MA, and i have the abigail adams scholarship, so i have free tuition to MA public schools&i do have UMass Amherst down to $15,000. those arent the only schools im looking for, i certainly wont apply to all of them (Brown&UVA are the only ones ik enough about&def am applying to). however a lot of MA schools have guaranteed admission so it doesnt rly make sense to put them on a chance me thread.
as for the NPC thing, its a combo btw my oldest sister’s med bills and the fact that i have 3 younger persons
Your three younger siblings not matter at all until one of them is attending college at the same time as you are. You have no way to predict the future…and neither do,the colleges. Your siblings might never attend college.
Re: the medical bills. You might…MIGHT be able to get a small professional judgement regarding those by the financial aid officers at your colleges. There IS a place on the Profile form to explain additional info. Also, ea h. Ollege has a process for getting a professional judgement or special circumstances consideration…for those medical expenses.
Your family would need very good documentation on these…including sub,issuing to insurance, explanations of benefits that showed the costs were not covered, documentation that expenses were essential, and the payment plan worked out with your family.
But even with that…with you family income…it’s still possible that these colleges would cost more than $20,000 a year.
How do you have UMass down to 15k? The Abigail covers tuition only. In the state of Mass, this scholarship equals $1500 ish depending upon which state school you choose. Many think it covers more, but it does not cover fees which are HUGE.
“I know at most schools former college students/grad students don’t qualify for additional aid, even if they’re dependent.”
I understand they’re paying off med bills and something remaining from her undergrad. But are you also saying they’d split your possible college funds with her grad school costs? What sort of program is she pursuing? Many grad students do get dept funding.
@jclwriting: Most students in the US have to select schools based largely on the cost of attendance. Your stats and financial situation make it look to me that this will be true for you also. $250,000 sounds like a lot of money, but when you look at taxes, mortgage payments, medical expenses, the need to save for retirement, home repairs, and other issues this much money can mostly disappear in a hurry, particularly when there are 5 kids (if I have read your post correctly).
You are lucky that you live in a state where the public flagship university is very good. I have worked with many very strong coworkers who are UMass Amherst graduates. They work alongside graduates from MIT, Stanford, UNH, Rutgers, Michigan, IIT (India), and many other schools and no one cares who went to which school.
You are going to need to compare financial offers. As such if it were me then I would be very reluctant to apply ED anywhere.
@jclwriting There are no caps on how many can rescind enrollment, albeit not many do, and contrary to most posters its none of our business what your parents will pay (they can pay all, none or some, and each is a valid choice). However if your counting on them for any money then they have to be part of the discussion. Apply ED if its your top choice and let the chips fall where they may, any yes, you can decline the acceptance if you can’t get your parents to pay what the school considers there fair share and there should be no repercussions.
They challenge is there is an expectation that you have done your due diligence. At many schools once you are accepted ED the whole process stops at your high school. No new transcripts, recommendation letters are sent no mid year reports or anything else to support RD applications until the school has proof that OP has been released from ED. While @CU123 , while you feel it is no one else’s business, the HS GC is not going to let him/herself or other students burn bridges with a school because of these kind of shenigans.
OP already knows that the family will be full pay o mattervwherev she goes and has a whole year to stop wishful thinking and plan accordingly.
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used the NPC calculator and it came out with ~$40,000 (so $30,000 granted), but that will probably go up because of taxes. However, my family needs it to go to about ~$20,000, even tho I’ll also apply for private grants (I’d do that anyway) and get a job during college.
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Winning private scholarships will just reduce the grants from Brown.
@sybbie719 The HS GC has no idea nor should they of any one’s finances. I have yet to find a college that “punishes” students for another students “rescinding an acceptance for financial reasons” from a previous year, that is a simple fallacy promoted on this forum.
For the OP, the first thing is to get accepted to Brown which is difficult enough, your second job is to convince your parents its worth the sacrifice they would have to make, if you can’t then you can rescind your acceptance without repercussion as every ED agreement specifically states.
I’m probably preaching to the choir here, but one of UMass’s blessings is its membership in the Five Colleges. You’d have access to Amherst, Smith, Mt. Holyoke and Hampshire. If you decide to take a class at Hampshire, don’t get lost. haha
Brown is great, and if your parents come around on their level of support, by all means, apply ED. But given that you are likely to have UMass and merit scholarship schools to also consider, I’d apply RD to Brown and most others – maybe an EA app (or more…) somewhere, if your choices offer EA – and weigh the offers. It is harder to get into Brown RD than ED, but if they like you, they’ll like you regardless of the round in which you apply.
This way, you’re not stuck scrambling, trying to get apps together if the ED app fails, or stressing with your family over paying for Brown if you are accepted ED.
“your second job is to convince your parents its worth the sacrifice they would have to make,”
But with five kids, not knowing all of the family’s financial details, it most likely isn’t worth the price. Graduates from Brown work alongside graduates from UMass all the time, and neither has any real advantage in the workplace. A parent should never spend so much on one child that they would be unable to support their younger children equally.
Please…PLEASE do not try to guilt your parents into paying for a college that they feel is well beyond their means.
Your first job is to discuss college finances with your family. You need to know THEIR bottom line net cost. Sure…apply all over the place… yet be prepared to walk away from any acceptances where the money is not forthcoming to meet your family budget.
@cu123 while the GC has no control over the family finances (nor should they) the GC is the gatekeeper for the students college process. Remembered that GC also signs off of the ED application stating that they have explained the process to the student and his her parents and will abide by the ED agreement. This means that if the school has a policy that they don’t go forward with the processing of RD applications for students who were accepted ED until they are released, it is what it is and Op would be stuck. All of the phone calms and threats to the school bored, superintendents will not help OP’s cause I this case. Don’t say it doesn’t happen because I can tell you first hand it happens more times than you know.
guys i dont intend on going to brown if we cant afford it. my family and well-being will always come before my “dream school.” i also know i’ll be happy at UMass, so it’s not a big deal. I’ll apply RD for Brown because reading this, I think it’s more honest to the college, my family, & myself. UMass Amherst is obviously a great school, the worry here is more environmental than academic. I don’t see the point in applying to prestigous schools just bc they’re ivies (ex., im not comfortable w how cutthroat a lot of the ivies are), i just like brown as a community. im fine applying Rd, just asking for some advice lol
as for why amherst is $15000, im a commuter, so instate tuition ($30,000) minus room ($13000) minus tuition (~1000-2000) is abt $15,000. that is far more feasible for my family and i’m willing to go there bc im more concerned w going to college than going to a specific collegs.
