<p>You can get an EFC estimate by using one of the on-line calculators.</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>Erin’s Dad…how and which calculator should he use for a CSS Profile school when his parents are divorced?</p>
<p>Also, it sounds like he doesn’t have any idea how much his dad/stepmom earn or their assets.</p>
<hr>
<p>Stohare…I know tonight has been very frustrating and upsetting for you. You’ve learned that your ED school is not affordable because of a huge gap and no way to fill it. Obviously, if you don’t have much contact with your dad, there’s no way he and your stepmom are going to co-sign $120,000 in loans (nor should they - that would be too much debt for an undergrad - you’d have little money to support yourself.) And, certainly your mom and stepdad don’t have the credit to co-sign such loans. </p>
<p>You are in a situation where many students find themselves. They have parents with decent or high incomes who don’t have the means/desire to pay their EFCs…and/or the students have been given FA packages with huge gaps. Either situation is upsetting because it makes the school unaffordable. When parents with highish incomes can’t/won’t contribute their EFC, it wreaks havoc because the high income(s) are preventing any real aid. </p>
<p>It seems like your mom doesn’t understand that financial aid isn’t based on what they can/want to pay, it’s based on what the college has determined to be your need. Colleges are not sympathetic to bankruptcies or debt because those situations are usually the result of lifestyle choices. </p>
<p>Obviously, in your case, if your mom can only pay $4k-6k (despite having a much higher EFC - her EFC is likely around $25-30k), it’s unlikely that your dad (who you don’t have much contact with) is going to pay his share plus your mom’s share of the EFC. Therefore, you’re going to have a big gap at any expensive school. </p>
<p>Seriously, there are thousands (maybe millions) of kids in your situation. That doesn’t make it any better, but maybe realizing it will make it less upsetting. :)</p>
<p>Consider yourself lucky to find this out in December while you still have time to apply to other schools. In a few months you’ll see many, many kids finding themselves in the same situation, yet it will be too late for them to apply to anything but lower tier schools with late admissions.</p>
<p>Don’t feel like you’re too good/smart to go to one of your state’s two top schools (IU or Purdue). Either one is an excellent school. :)</p>
<p>Your stats are more commensurate with IU or Purdue. I think that you’d have a better chance excelling there than at NYC.</p>
<p>Thanks, and I appreciate your advice.</p>
<p>I’ll probably just end up going to grad school at NYU or something, when I find a way to afford it :)</p>
<p>Meeting with NYU on Monday to talk it over with them. Hopefully they understand…</p>
<p>Good luck. Let us know what they say. :)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Are you going to NYC on Monday? I thought you lived in Indiana?</p>
<p>M2CK, I was responding to the statement “they do all that with the FAFSA, which I cannot file yet. So, I’ll have to wait for now.” The fin aid calculator at [FinAid</a> | Calculators | Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and Financial Aid](<a href=“http://www.finaid.org/calculators/finaidestimate.phtml]FinAid”>http://www.finaid.org/calculators/finaidestimate.phtml) shows both a federal and institutional method for an EFC. While this won’t be exact it would let posters know what MIGHT be expected. And while I am pretty good at finding data on the web, finding the OPs NCP parent info is a little beyond me. ;)</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>lol…I didn’t mean for you to know/find out the NCP’s income info. What I meant was …Do the online calculators (institutional) take into account divorced parents in two homes? Or are they really just set up for intact families.</p>
<p>It sounds like he is now looking for privates that give good aid. Since those tend to be CSS Profile schools that also ask for NCP info, I’m not sure how accurate a FAFSA EFC will be. His brother is at a FAFSA only school, so that would be different.</p>
<p>can someone please give me a list of schools that offer good FA and/or merit aid that are located in the northeast? i’d like to major in IR, so if the school has a good IR dept. that would be great.</p>
<p>Yes, its best to attend IU over Purdue. I have done research into both schools and IU scores better in the social sciences.</p>
<p>can someone please give me a list of schools that offer good FA and/or merit aid that are located in the northeast? i’d like to major in IR, so if the school has a good IR dept. that would be great.</p>
<p>What are your stats? And what is your family’s EFC? What are your feelings on student loans?</p>
<p>The school I’m going to, Arcadia University, is very generous with merit aid. It’s a small private school in Glenside, PA. (suburb of Philly) They have a pretty high acceptance rate and as far as need-based aid goes, I know they only use the FAFSA (A selling point for my mom.) Arcadia also has a very good study-abroad program and emphasizes global learning.</p>
<p>Hope that helps. :]</p>
<p>^^^^</p>
<p>*The Arcadia University President’s Scholarship</p>
<p>This full tuition scholarship* recognizes academic excellence, outstanding leadership and community and volunteer service. A limited number are awarded to the top entering freshmen in the applicant pool each year. High School seniors are considered and evaluated for the award on the basis of their grades, class rank, SAT/ACT scores, and leadership in school and community. There is no separate application for the scholarship and students that apply for full-time admission will be considered. As Arcadia merit awards apply to tuition only, the President’s Scholarship replaces any and all other Arcadia awards that students might have received. </p>
<p>*After the student’s freshman year, the amount of the President’s Scholarship equals the cost of tuition for the recipient’s year of entry (i.e.-scholarship does not increase as tuition increases).</p>
<p>Note: The Arcadia University President’s Scholarship was formerly named the Landman Scholarship. </p>
<p>The Arcadia University Distinguished Scholarship</p>
<p>This award recognizes academic excellence, outstanding leadership, and community and volunteer service. Freshman awards go up to $22,000 annually for new students entering in fall of 2010 or spring of 2011. High school seniors are evaluated on the basis of their grades, SAT/ACT scores, types of coursework taken, high school rank and involvement. There is not a separate application for these awards. All students that apply for full-time admission will be considered.
*</p>
<p>Do you know what stats (GPA and ACT/SAT) are typically needed to get these scholarships? It looks like their COA is between $45k-50k (depending on personal expenses/travel)</p>
<p>I got a Distinguished Scholarship with a 3.72 UW GPA and an 1820 (1230 CR and M) on my SAT’s worth 18,000 dollars. I didn’t take that many AP/Honors classes and I never took the AP Tests, and my EC’s were average, though I’m very involved in the few that I am in. Does that help, any?</p>
<p>If I remember correctly from the FA seminar I went to, a student is considered for the President’s Scholarship with at least a 1400 M+CR on the SAT. I’m not sure about ACT, and I believe the GPA had to be at least a 3.7 and both criteria had to be met.</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>That’s a big help. If a 1400 M+CR SAT is needed for Presidents, then likely a 32 ACT is needed.</p>