Schools With Great Financial Aid Packages?

Paying for College
1

Hey guys! As you can see from the discussion title, I’m looking for schools with really good financial aid packages. My moms income is under 25k (may be under 20k tbh) so I definitely don’t want to take out loans to go to college. I know the Ivy Leagues have good FA packages for people with incomes like mine but I don’t think my SAT scores are good enough (I know they do a holistic approach to admissions but I want to be considered at least competitive, but an 1830 isn’t really competitive in that pool of applicants). I know that UNC Asheville has a merit scholarship and I surpass the requirements for that, so I definitely am going to apply there. But, besides UNCA, are there any other schools you guys know of with really good FA packages?

Side note: I live in NC and…there was something else I was going to mention but I forgot…

But I’m originally from NJ and I would love to be in that NYC/NJ/Boston kind of area (the Northeast should I say, which is why the Ivy Leagues really appeal to me)…thanks so much!!!

2

I assume you’re a high school junior since you’re just asking this now. In that case, you have plenty of time (at least two more opportunities to take it) to raise your SAT score. That’s what I’d do.

3

Did you forget to mention your GPA?

Is your dad alive? some of the schools that give the best aid (including the ivies) require the financial info of the bio dad and any new wife.

4

There is the Macaulay Honors College program. It is a college but is a program in all of the City schools in New York.
It’s highly selective, and if you get in, you get free tuition, a free macbook air, $7500 for studying abroad or researching, priority registration, and are able to take two summer classes free.

If that’s something you are interested in, go to http://www.macaulay.cuny.edu/ for more information.

Unfortunately, since you live in NC, you would have to pay for dormitory (which is about 11,000 per year I believe? It depends on the college)

5

I know you are looking to expand your options, but UNC-A is a real rising star: NC has been pouring money into, and Asheville is a very cool college town these days. I know a fair few students who have been (very happily) surprised by it!

6

What do you want to study?

7

Yep, I am. I’m taking the SAT again May 2nd. I’m doing a program to increase my score so hopefully it works

8

Thank you! I’m gonna look into that! @nbfanforever
@collegemom3717 my teachers daughter goes there and he says it’s a great school. I’m definitely gonna apply.
@mom2collegekids he’s alive, I just don’t live with him. Oh yes, my GPA is a 3.85.

Speaking of GPA, do schools look at your schools grading scale? Like here, a 4.0 = 97-100. A 93-96 is a 3.625, which I know is a lot different from most schools.

@Sweetbeet I’m not 100% positive but I’m pretty sure I want to study predentistry. I know some schools have a predentistry major and some just have a predentistry path to follow and either would be fine with me

9

Your dad’s income and assets (and those of any new wife) will also be considered when determining aid at many top schools.

Have you asked your dad how much he’ll pay for college?

10

@mom2collegekids my dad is the cheapest person on Earth…honestly, I’m not sure how much he is willing to pay, but he wants me to go whatever school is gonna pay for me to go

11

Update: got my SAT scores back today. Got a 2000. Went up 170 points from before. I am super excited about it. I haven’t been to sleep since I saw the scores (which was very early this morning…) I know it’s not as amazingly high as what the Ivy leagues tend to accept but I do think that it makes me much stronger in the applicant pool!!!

12

Congratulations!

13

Good job!

Do you know about Questbridge? It is a way for low income students to get a boost for selective colleges. It brings some colleges to your attention and you to the colleges attention and is an honor to list on your application. If you ‘match’ you can get a full ride but it is very hard to match and you need to be EFC 0 which you are for FAFSA EFC. They have some ivies as partners but also others like Tufts not quite as hard to get into but still very selective.

Do you have an idea of approximate income of your father?

14

What’s the breakup on your score? R/M/W ?

15

Thank you guys! @BrownParent I’m honestly not sure of his income. And yes I’m familiar with questbridge! However I was in the midst of so much work and other applications that I never got around to completing it :\ @NEPatsGirl CR- 600, M- 710, W- 690

16

Questbridge for college, not pre-college - you should familiarize yourself!

17

Macaulay scholarship is for NY residents only.

18

to piggy back on Bob’s post

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Keep in mind that Questbridge is a basically vetting process that is a pipeline to put low income high achieving students on the radar ofd select colleges. Admissions and financial aid decisions are made by the colleges. Far far as financial aid is concerned op will have to submit what the school requires including income/assets of non-custodial parent(s)

20

You need an idea of your father’s income and asset picture so you will know how you look for need based aid at schools that use both parent financials.