<p>I'm in a pickle like the OP here and we only have 350K in equity in the house, no trust fund, nothing of the sort, 401K yes, maybe they are counting that, but having massive medical bills and a completely disabled parent we had hoped would make a difference, it seems that it did not and our son's top choice gave him only 4K in merit whereas another school gave him 3 times that, is there any way to ask them to re-evaluate the merit? Not that that will help completely, we are still 15K apart.</p>
<p>did not and our son’s top choice gave him only 4K in merit whereas another school gave him 3 times that, is there any way to ask them to re-evaluate the merit? Not that that will help completely, we are still 15K apart.</p>
<p>What schools are these? It sounds like these are schools that are more into giving merit rather than need based aid? </p>
<p>What is your son’s SAT breakdown? or ACT?</p>
<p>Merit is based on merit, not on “need” in most cases. You could be rich or poor and merit will typically be based on the presented stats.</p>
<p>However, maybe your EFC can be adjusted if you have lots of medical bills? </p>
<p>Does your child have any affordable schools? IF not, he may need to quickly throw a couple of apps to schools that will still award a lot of merit for his stats. What’s his major? Career goal?</p>
<p>The problem is with Mass College of Pharmacy… he had relatively okay SAT scores 640, 700 (math), 640 but his GPA is a huge problem, 2.94. We tried pushing him in the non science classes he didn’t like for years, he only realized this year he has to do the work in all his classes, but it’s too late to improve the GPA. I think he’s ready to take on college, I think he’s figured it out, unfortunately too late to help himself. His intended major is Bio/Health Sciences, so he knows he’s looking at grad. school… the state flagship hasn’t responded yet, but they are pricey, he could pay out of state tuition at another school and pay less than an in state would here. The problem is, he has his heart and mind set on this school, so getting him to consider applying to more affordable options has been difficult to say the least, in essence he won’t do it. He put all his eggs in three baskets but really only wants to go to the one. I’m looking for any option, but as a parent he’s really boxed us into a corner.</p>
<p>The only thing in regard to the medical, schools will let you have a special exception, all it means is that they will let the student take out more in loans, no institutional aid. We’d be happy with any school that would come back with the FAFSA number, unfortunately for us, we’re not in that position.</p>
<p>The problem is, he has his heart and mind set on this school, so getting him to consider applying to more affordable options has been difficult to say the least, in essence he won’t do it. He put all his eggs in three baskets but really only wants to go to the one. I’m looking for any option, but as a parent he’s really boxed us into a corner.</p>
<p>Well, just walk right out of that corner. You’re only there if you allow yourself to be there. Just remind him that he ignored your earlier advice to care about his GPA and that has resulted in very few affordable choices. That’s life. He needs to put on his big-boy pants and accept that choices HE made over the last few years has affected his choices. Its’ not your responsibility to clean up (pay up) for his decisions.</p>
<p>Just tell him that you have your “heart and mind” set on paying a certain affordable amount and either he finds a school that works or he won’t be going anywhere but the local CC.</p>
<p>Thanks Mom2CollegeKids, probably the best advice I could receive…</p>
<p>The only one he’s boxing into a corner is himself. It doesn’t sound like you can afford to risk your future by stretching for a school that isn’t affordable. Don’t do it. And the sooner he knows without a doubt that you won’t, the better.</p>
<p>Your son can call the Admissions office and request more merit money. He can explain that this is his first choice by far, but that his parents are balking at the cost, and if there is anything the school can do make this possible for him. No guarantee it’ll get him any more, certainly doubtful it will get him enough, but its a chance and without asking he is certainly not going to get anymore.</p>
<p>This is a decision you and your DH have to make as to what is affordable to you as a family. It hurts when you can’t give them the choices you so want to give. I can’t help you on that, as I feel the same pain with my kids.</p>
<p>I hate to be the voice of doom, but this could very well be an “admit/deny”'situation. The school has accepted this student and offered a small amount of aid. If the student and family can pay the difference, the school will happily take this student. If the family cannot make up the difference, the school is unlikely to make up any difference.</p>
<p>Of course you can ask…but in your own OP you stated that this student was perhaps not the strongest high schooler.</p>
<p>OP, our EFC has been around 8000 each year, but we are paying about 1 and a half times that after generous merit and stafford loan. Some schools my D applied to offered great merit, but still left us with between 2 and 3 times the EFC to cover. We had to choose the most affordable school, not the most highly rated school. Our D is happier than we every expected, she loves her school, is challenged and involved, and it all worked out. Don’t let your heart rule your wallet on this one.</p>
<p>I would definitely let your son know the max you can pay and let him figure out what schools will work. If he isn’t happy with his original choices he can take a gap year to refocus his college search. There is a great deal of good info in this thread to help look for affordable alternatives: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/148852-what-ive-learned-about-full-ride-scholarships.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/148852-what-ive-learned-about-full-ride-scholarships.html</a></p>
<p>My kids just threw out any offers that did not meet the budget. But we didn’t get to any ultimatum stage with them We just sadly told them the situation at hand, and I’m telling you, I was sad. i wish, wish, wish, thing had been different, I’d been more disciplined and that the mohey were there so that any and all of them could have had their picks without regard to price. But that wasn’t the situation. So it’ was not a “too bad, so sad” conversation, and they understood and took it a lot better than I did.</p>
<p>“they understood and took it a lot better than I did.”</p>
<p>Take that as a sign that you’ve done your job well.</p>