<p>After a lot of research and contemplation, Middlebury and Bowdoin have become my first choices of schools. But my parents will never let me attend an out of state, non-Ivy school without a significant scholarship. I think Middlebury doesn't give out merit scholarships and Bowdoin only gives fairly small ones, and my family would probably not qualify for need-based aid. Would either of these schools give a scholarship to a student whose parents will not financially support his education? Does anyone have experiences with the financial aid of Middlebury or Bowdoin?</p>
<p>Nope. </p>
<p>“Nope” meaning they will not. You have to look further down the rankings to find LACs that give significant merit aid. If you are eligible for need based aid (or aren’t sure), run the net price calculators on the college financial aid pages of their websites. But significant merit aid is not going to happen.</p>
<p>Regarding your “out of state” comment – do you mean your parents don’t want you to go farther away than in state? Whether you lived in the same state or not, private schools like Middlebury and Bowdoin cost the same. Or are you just saying they are willing to pay for in-state public costs OR pony up more if you get into an Ivy? If you give some stats, your home state, and proposed major, maybe you could get some other suggestions out here that are affordable.</p>
<p>Tha’ts kind of what I was expecting. Thanks for the advice, I’ll have to look at some more options</p>
<p>Your parents don’t realize that Middlebury and Bowdoin offer a comparable education to the Ivies?</p>
<p>So if you don’t get into an Ivy League school, you will not go to college at all (unless you get merit aid)? What are your stats?</p>
<p>(And I’m not surprised that OP’s parents aren’t familiar with Midd or Bowdoin.)</p>
<p>Your parents won’t support your education? There’s a difference between a student whose parents won’t support their education and a student whose parents set limits on what they will pay. The extreme option is to get emancipated and then you will qualify for lump sums of need based aid. When you fill out the FAFSA there’s an entire section for students who don’t have the financial help of their parents. I don’t believe you’re in this situation, however.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t be surprised that they weren’t familiar with Midd or Bowdoin, but I am surprised that they know the two schools, but don’t realize they’re on the same level as many of the Ivies. </p>
<p>The OP didn’t state that his parents were familiar with Midd or Bowdoin. Or if they are, it’s very possible that they’re not knowledgable enough about the quality of the education at either college to make an educated comparison to the Ivies.
I’ve known parents who did not qualify for aid but would not pay full price for any college other than an Ivy, M.I.T, Stanford, etc. In other words, the parents would only pay full price for perceived prestige. The fact that the education at many LACs and universities is equivalent to the Ivies, etc. did not enter into the equation.</p>
<p>Good point CrewDad</p>