So I just got my merit aid package…it was generous but not as generous as I had hoped. It said the final aid package comes in mid-March…does anybody know if I should expect much more merit money in March, or is this baseline scholarship it? I know this sounds ungrateful, but if this is all I get I am not attending.
Stats:
104.3 GPA
35 ACT
1550 SAT
@cj12345 The final aid package in March will include the merit aid that you already received plus any need based aid that you may qualify to receive. Judging by your stats, you were eligible to receive from half to full tuition scholarship. Is that not what you received?
I got $20,000/year.
I was hoping for closer to full as my family won’t receive a ton of financial aid…
A lot of folks on here have expressed the same feeling.
My son has similar stats to yours so our strategy was to apply to a lot of schools(all of which he would be proud to attend) and then see which ones delivered on the scholarships. I know that the $20k of aid was not quite what you had hoped for, but I think that Miami U at that price is a heck of a deal.
You just have to go with the idea whether Miami is worth it… We received the same amount and after everything is said and done the cost of attendance is about $31K for OOS. That includes about a $17K in tution and fees and about $14K in room and board…It is still way more than other schools with merit awards, but also accepted to other schools without any merit.
You can pick a school with a great price that is wrong for you and end up regretting it, and you can pick a school that is a little more than you planned on spending and have it end up being a great decision because it was the right school for you. But don’t get crazy with the student loans. Don’t borrow more than what you think you will be making in salary your first year after graduating. Be realistic about it.
I would also add that the Miami tuition promise holding costs the same over 4 years is a definite benefit. Even if Miami is slightly more in year 1, it may be the same total price or even cheaper after 4 years depending on the % increase at the other school. Assume maybe a 3-4% increase elsewhere and see what the total difference is after 4 years.
Thank you all for your replies. I really was hoping Miami was a safety net in case I didn’t get money anywhere else. By the way, I am in that upper middle class bracket (175k with 6 people) where I will get little aid. My parents can certainly not afford anything short of full rides though so that is my situation…
@cj12345 If some of your siblings are in college at the same time as you, then you should qualify for need based aid even at that income level, especially at private colleges. Academic full rides are very hard to come by, and I am assuming your folks(who are obviously successful)are going to want their kids to attend college so there needs to be another plan other than praying for free college.
@EDHDAD Well the backup backup plan is SUNY Binghamton; I have a full ride there from STEM scholarships. I guess I just got too excited when I read Miami gives full merit aid.
@cj12345 That’s awesome! I don’t understand why that’s the back up plan?
@EDHDAD I used to go to a public middle school and it does even compare to a similarly sized private school I am at. I just value private education over public.
@cj12345 You know Miami U is a public school…right?
@EDHDAD Lol everyone I have talked to said it was private…I just took their word for it :)) . Plus, I love music and am not applying as a music major. Miami seems to have good opportunities for those people like me that wish to continue music without becoming a music major.
@cj12345 I think they were probably talking about University of Miami in Coral Gables, FL. It’s private.
My son is interested in visiting. He got a nice award but since we are out of state we can’t afford it and I doing want him taking a lot of loans for college. He has a 4.0 GPA and 35 ACT. Heavy on either AP. or dual credit courses. this year mostly AP. 250 hours volunteer work in high school. Average amount of EC’s with a few leadership positions. Was invited into Scholars. I hear the honors program is more liberal arts, that’s his interest but not his major. Was accepted into Purdue’s honors program which is hard to get into. He wrote a great essay for that but I didn’t see anything about applying for the honors program. But unless there is more scholarship money it can’t be an option.
@ambkeegan Unless, Miami is within driving distance, why visit if not affordable. I visited Miami prior to being accepted and it is everything everyone makes out to be. A very beautiful University for sure. I received a very nice award, but not high enough to make it affordable. At one point or another, I thought about going to one of those admitted students day, but since I had more affordable options available, I concentrated on those. No reason to spend any money to go visit if ultimately it is not a financial option.
@ambkeegan Sounds like your son is going to enjoy Purdue.
I would be extremely proud of attending Purdue which is very highly ranked among universities. Hopefully, their education should compensate for the beautiful Miami campus.
Update: Full financial letter arrived. $20,000 in merit, $3,500 school loan, and $23,000 efc. Very happy I applied, but it looks like Miami won’t be my school. It is just not affordable.