Should I attend University of Rochester or not...

Paying for College
1

Hi, I was accepted to University of Rochester Class of 2019, and I did enroll and pay my deposit. However, I know it’s kind of too late, but I’ve been wondering if I’ve made the correct decision, financially.
Here is my financial aid:
Grant: $42,600
Scholarship: $11,000
Work Study: $3,000
Loans: $6,000
Out of Pocket: $3,000
I want to major in Engineering which I heard is one of the hardest majors out there, but I need to keep above a 3.0 GPA in order to receive my scholarship.
I have a sister who is attending a local state university, and her financial aid got completely cut off for a reason that we are aware of and cannot fix, and now she has $15,000 to pay for this year, which we don’t know how much of it will be loans and how much of it will be out of pocket quite yet.
Our family’s income is <$27,000 and our parents don’t have anything saved for either of our colleges.
My parents have to help my sister pay for her college, and I don’t know if it is the right idea to ask them to pay my $3000, when I can attend my local community college and state university for pretty free through the Degree Partnership Program (same university as my sister), if I do work study and live with my parents.
But my state university doesn’t offer any of the majors that I am interested and want to pursue, and the quality of education as whole is much lower than that of UR.

In your opinion, and considering University of Rochester, is it worth it to pay that much to go to Rochester?
Is engineering at Rochester very hard that I wouldn’t be able to get a 3.0 GPA along with doing work study?

Our parents are saying that they will pay for my sister and for me, and told me to choose the path I want to take so that I don’t have to regret. But I don’t know if I should ask my parents for this, and I don’t know what kind of a sacrifice they are going to make to let us attend/graduate college. However, a different part of me screams that I’ve worked so hard during high school despite the language barrier I have (English isn’t our first language) and coming form a low income family and as a first generation, I think it’s a miracle that I got a chance to attend University of Rochester l that I didn’t even imagine getting into.
.

May I ask your opinions?
I’m starting to feel like I wouldn’t be able to think about this with a straight mind since I’ve been haunted by the decision of UR vs. State School for months.

2

Why don’t you contact Rochester, and ask to defer enrollment for a year. If you aren’t in school anywhere this year, you can make some money to use toward your own expenses next year, and you can consider applying to more affordable places.

Your sister should also consider taking a year off to save up at least some of the money that she will need to pay for her studies. Right now, it looks like your family can’t afford to help her at all.

3

Is the COA really $65000? Even if that is the case, some of that may be able to be trimmed to save you some money. Is there cheaper housing or a cheaper meal plan? Your travel, if you live in NY, may be cheaper than estimated. Write down exactly what you think you’ll spend in hard costs (tuition, fees), how much you think you’ll need for books, supplies, etc.

I do think you should go. Your parents won’t have to pay those costs immediately. Do you have any savings you can use until you can start earning your work study money?

4

It sounds tough to not attend when you’re so close…Specially if your state U doesn’t have your major + will likely cost more than $3k as a transfer; that doesn’t sound like a good option.

It’s great that you’re trying to be considerate; with your parents income, I can see how it would be hard for them to pay those $3k. Do you have any summer earnings that you could put towards your bill? Have you tried talking to UR about this? Maybe they could help out, throw in an extra $3k in grant money for this year.

If the school truly turns out to be unaffordable, then you should defer enrollment and work to save the $3k or more. Don’t give up just yet, though!

5

Hey! I’m also a UofR '19 student! My family makes less than $25,000 annually. Initially, the University charged me an amount that was really unaffordable for my family. I emailed my financial aid counselor and applied for more outside scholarships. The price has now been whittled down to MUCH less, and it is so much more affordable for my family. I implore you to let your financial aid counselor know about your new predicament, and see what he/she can do for you. I really think they will be able to help!

If not, I would, like others have mentioned, defer enrollment for a year and save up during that time. I’m a bit biased in my answer, of course, but I really think the engineering program at UR is strong, and I don’t think you should leave the school. Do you have the Dean’s Scholarship? I have that, and the terms guarantee the merit aid every year for four years, regardless of my GPA. Are you 100% sure that you need to maintain a 3.0 GPA to keep your merit aid?

From their site: “All admitted undergraduate applicants to the College are considered for merit scholarships. Merit scholarships are awarded to students during the admission process and renewed annually if satisfactory academic performance and full time status are maintained. Students are eligible to receive only one scholarship. Students who receive annual scholarships of $15,000 or more have a GPA requirement of 3.0.”

You stated that your scholarship is $11,000, so there should be no GPA requirement, if I’m not mistaken. Of course, you know your side of the story better than I do. Just want you to be sure about if there is a GPA requirement, which would be a weight off your shoulders.

Email your financial aid counselor! I wish you the best, and hope to see you during Orientation!

6

Go, please Go! This is a fantastic package and especially for such a good school, it is about as good a package as you can get. I don’t even think that community college can be cheaper. Your parents will at least save some money on groceries and the hot water bill. I think you need to go. I wouldn’t defer because this is only a 4 year sacrifice. Stay on track and you will be in a position to make some good money 5 year from now and help them out. Delaying by going to CC means more years of college likely and it isn’t ideal for an engineer. Plus you don’t get packages like this otherwise and as a transfer usually, this is cheaper than state school. Now your sister’s situation is a different story, can’t help, no details.

Work study should not be a problem, they are used to students with flex hours often and you have to take your mind off schoolwork once in awhile, many jobs are quite pleasant. Studies show that students with 10 to 12 hours of work study do better, likely because they manage their time well.

I am going to work out some numbers to show you how manageable this hopefully is, be right back.

7

Low income kids will have a better chance of graduating with this sort of huge aid package then trying on their own via CC.

University of Rochester 2015-16 (latest figures for tuition/room/board from website)

COSTS
47,500 Tuition

14,300 Room+Board

61,800 Direct Costs
1,200 Books+supplies

1,000 Personal 1.000

Total 64,000

AID
Grant: $42,600
Scholarship: $11,000
Work Study: $3,000

Loans: $6,000

62,600

Per Semester
30, 900 Direct costs (Tuition/Fees/Room/Board)
-21,300 grant
-5,500 scholarship

-3,000 loan

1,100 pay school 1st semester before school starts
600 buy books first semester

500 personal expense each semester

2,200 you need to come up with each semester

1,500 work study each semester

700–>shortage, you can maybe break even if you save on books (buy used) and personal expenses

Now you will just need to get to school and back, how far are you and what will it cost?

What about health insurance, do you have insurance that covers you at school that satisfies the requirements and did you apply for a waiver? If not you will have to purchase university insurance through Aetna for $2460 per year.
http://www.rochester.edu/uhs/studentinsurance/

8

@happymomof1 I emailed Rochester yesterday if it’s still not late to ask for a deferment, just to keep my options open. I think my sister is going to work out everything on her own, with the help of my mom (not financial help). Thank you for your help!

9

@twoinanddone The cost of attendance is estimated by the university is $66,000 for this year.
Housing and meal plan prices are same I believe for whatever you choose, at least for Freshman year and maybe Sophomore year. I’m from West Coast, so there will be some travelling fee.
I do have some saving to pay the first semester out of pocket fee, but my parents don’t want me to use that money because they think I should keep it for emergencies if I happen to go over to Rochester.
I will see if I can appeal to my financial aid counselor, or defer my admission for a year :smiley:
Thank you!

10

@Lilliana330 I’m live on the West Coast, so travelling to NY will be a long way for me…
I did apply to some outside scholarships but didn’t hear anything back, and I wasn’t able to get a job where I can just work for the summer. I do have a little bit of saving to pay for my first semester out of pocket cost, but that’s about it.
I’m going to contact my FA counselor and see if he can help me!
Thank you for your input and your encouragement!

11

Well let’s see, I agree that you worked hard and going to UR for engineering with that aid package would be great.

But there is the problem with your sister needing $15,000 for this year and your parents only making less than $27,000. You didn’t say if you qualify for Pell, but she should still be able to get loans, right? What year of college will your sister be in?

As for you I would contact UR and mention the circumstances and see if they can give you more aid. If not I agree with others to defer enrollment for a year (that should preserve your merit scholarship) and work to earn the money you will need for the out of pocket amount. Don’t take any classes anywhere to preserve freshman status.

You and your sister might both have to wait until next year and work this year if your parents cannot afford $18,000 for both of you on their income.

Your part is not that high, but what can be done for your sister is the big question here.

12

@stromaestro Hi! It’s cool that we will be in the same Class of 2019!! Congratulations for getting into UR :slight_smile: It’s amazing that you’ve worked that hard to attend Rochester, and that’s what I need to do too!
I will definitely email my counselor now and see if he can make last minute change for me.

Yes I do have the Dean’s Scholarship too. And THANK YOU THANK YOU, THANK YOU so much!!! I didn’t know at all that you don’t have to keep a 3.0 if it’s under $15,000!!! That is so much of a relief!
I just called Financial Aid Office and asked about the GPA requirements for any merit aid, and they told me that for Dean’s Scholarship, we can keep it for all four years without maintaining a 3.0 GPA. With some other merit scholarships, there are some GPA requirements, but I was told that those requirements kick in from sophomore years because they don’t want freshmen to stress out during the first year of their new college life experience.
But you are I are safe :3

Again, I appreciate you for saving me! I will email my counselor and see if he can help out!
Hopefully, see you in about 3 weeks or so? If not, maybe next year!

13

Looks like direct costs are $62,000 and aid without WS is $59,000. That’s $3,000 a year plus books and travel costs.

So for first semester your bill would be $1,500 up front and you need money for travel to school and books and some supplies. Did you work this summer, have any money saved? Then as you get paid for your work study you can earn up to $1,500 your first semester, about $100 a week. If you spend less you might have money left for second semester books and travel home. Then you need to work as much as possible next summer.

What about your sister, what other options does she have to continue school that are more affordable? Is she taking the maximum loans she can get? Did she work this summer?

Anything that might help get the cost down to a manageable level for your parents needs to be explored.

14

It’s great that you are exploring all options. Don’t forget to find out about the health insurance requirement especially if you are from OOS. And get a waiver if you can.

You did the hard part, got accepted and got merit aid and a great aid package. It’s not a question of IF but WHEN you can attend the U of Rochester.

15

How much did you save out of your summer earnings?

16

@BrownParent I did think that his is an amazing package too.
My sister went to a local community college for 2-3 years and transferred to a local state school, and up until this year, she didn’t really have loans, because it was all covered by financial aid. She went to CC and received enough money that she could pay for tuition and books and have some left over for herself.

Do you happen to know if people can graduate within four years even if one does internships? I was wondering since I want to major in engineering, internships will be great for future careers and resumes and it can help pay my tuition, only if I can graduate in four years to save housing costs.

If I defer my admission, I plan to work and save up some money, but will that affect my FA package when I enroll 2016-2017? I was also thinking if I can find job shadows too see if engineering or the science field is really for me during my “gap” year.
And because of the approximately $30,000 loans I will have when I graduate, I didn’t think going to grad school or med school (if I’m smart enough) will be realistic, so I thought I need to get a job where it pays enough with just a Bachelors Degree at least for now. By the way, I’m not saying I want to become an engineering for the pay; it is a field that I really think is fascinating, just scared of how hard it could get and whether I can maintain a good grade.

I heard that job isn’t that hard to get if I am alert and actively look for jobs, so I hope that’ll help.

Thank you for your calculation!! So I guess the amount of out-of-pocket will be more than $3000 a year…
I usually don’t spend a lot on personal things and never eat out or get coffee outside, so I think I can save up some on the personal side and I’m fine with used textbooks, so I hope that can cut down a little.
If we happen to over pay for the year in the end, do we get the money back or will it just go to decrease my loans?

I’m from West Coast, and I got a one way ticket to NY for $270 for this August, which was one of the cheapest I could find. I wouldn’t come back for winter to save plane cost, so I’m planning to only come back in the summer.

I was waived for insurance, so I will switch my medicaid in my home state to NY medicaid once I get there, so I don’t have to pay the university insurance.

Thank you so much for your all of your help and for calculating the cost for me!
You and all others who are giving me great advice and encouragement are really giving me hope that don’t have to give up Rochester.

17

@mommdc Hi thank you for your comment and giving me ideas about my sister too.

My sister told me that although she has to pay $15,000, she said she hasn’t exhausted the loans she could borrow, so she said she can borrow for all $15,000. She just prefers not too, and is currently looking for work studies because she just became eligible for that this fall. So after all, it may not be necessary for my parents to help my sister.
But my mom hand my sister have been discussing that my mom could enroll into a local CC that my sister went to, and take easy online classes and my sister can study to earn the grades, and get enough credits to receive the Pell Grant, so it can help pay for my sister’s college. So pretty much just using my mom’s name for the CC.

My sister is considered a Senior in undergrad looking to graduate in December of 2016, but she’s already been attending CC+State University for 6 years now moving onto her 7th year. This isn’t because she’s been slacking off or working in between. If we were to blame someone it will be our father, but we had a hard time navigating through college and the payment since we moved from a different country about 7-8 years ago and we had no idea at all about managing life in a different country nor about attending college in a different country.

So since my sister can get all of the $15,000 with loans, do you think it’ll make a difference if I contact my FA counselor about it?
And do you know if it is possible to ask for a change in my FA package in the middle of the year if something like income of the family or number of people attending college changes during the year?

Since I live near the State University my sister attends and the one I’ve been considering, I was wondering if I can create an University ID card and pay the Deposit at that University so I can find work study there, but that will be considered that I enrolled in that State University, and I will lose my freshman status at Rochester right?
I heard that if you work and earn a certain amount of money (about $6,000?) you can get your FA cut in some ways. But work study will not be subjected to the cut of FA, but that’s probably is I attend UR and get work study from UR I’m assuming?

I couldn’t land on a job this summer, but I’ve earn about $500-600 from tutoring someone ($12/hour) in the spring and beginning of summer. That person said if I said in my hometown, they would like me to tutor her again, and although I said I can’t because I will attend UR, I maybe able to ask if they need tutoring if I decide to defer my admission.

My sister has been applying to jobs but not hearing anything back. She’s still trying.

I got my health insurance waived because I will be getting NY medicaid once I land on NY.

I’m kind of leaning over to deferring my admission, because I really don’t care I graduate a year or two later compared to my peers, as long as I can manage the cost and attend the school I want to to learn what I’m interested in :slight_smile:

Thank you so much for your input! Would you mind answering some of the questions I asked too?
It’ll be a big help for me! And sorry for making it really long.

18

The money you have to come up with on your first bill is what the university bills you for tuition, fees and room and board per semester. They subtract half of your yearly scholarship, grants, loans from the direct billed costs.
That is the amount due on your bill. Did you get your first bill?

The other costs that sometimes get included in a school’s COA like books, travel, personal expenses can be somewhat controlled by you. Books can be rented, bought used sometimes.

If you have enough savings you could pay for your first semester bill and your books and you said you already have your ticket for getting there. Insurance sounds like it’s taken care of as well.

You would need that work study job to earn up to $1,500 a semester, which should cover your expenses, books for second semester and flight home.

Then you need to make sure to line up a paid summer job or internship (the engineering dept should help line up) to have money for next year.

19

@Madison85 I did earn about $500-600 but I’ll probably use that up to buy things that I need for my living in a new place, so not much of a contribution that I can make to pay my bills.
I do have some saving that I can pay for the out of pocket for first semester, but that’s about it for what I have saved.

20

@mommdc I got my first Payment Statement, and after paying the deposit of $800, I was told to pay $1100 for this semester.
With my $1500 work study per semester, do you know approximately how many hours I need to work, and it is possible to work on weekends too right?
If I happen to get internships around Rochester do you think I will be able to pay for living expenses and still save up enough money to contribute to my COA or do you think it’ll be better to go back home to my parents’ and save up money there with summer jobs? (I come from a relatively small town so internships will be unlikely there.)