<p>Got my acceptance into Lehigh in the mail today as well as the financial aid package as this was under the Early Decision plan and did receive, considering the fact its Early Decision, a good financial aid package with my low EFC, about $43,000 in grants. However that still leaves $10,000 to pay a year, which is too much for my family to afford. Our EFC is about ~$1500. Is there any way possible we could get $6,000 more in grants. $4000 in loans would be the ideal amount to pay a year, because I could easily pay that off with a job, but to be $40,000 in debt after graduation I think is too much now, taking into consideration I wish to attend Medical School. My dad has already decided to call in Monday to appeal for more, but is there any chance they would give that much?</p>
<p>$43k in grants and you want more? How about getting a job?..What did you do the previous 3-4 summers to earn $$$ for college?</p>
<p>I have had a job for the past two years, but all that money has gone into paying the bills</p>
<p>That’s a fantastically generous package. The $10,000/yr should be easily reachable with a small loan and a job. It sounds like they really want you!</p>
<p>Did you not receive a Stafford Loan Subsidized & a Stafford Loan Unsubsidized, totaling
$5500.00? </p>
<p>Did you receive a Pell Grant?</p>
<p>I assume they also offered you work study? In addition, many colleges offer students regular jobs at market wages that are not Federally subsidized.</p>
<p>To add to the above post, lower income persons are often eligible for $3.5K Stafford subdized, $2K or so Perkins and $2K a year in unsubsidized Fed loans. The amount of subsized staffords increases in later years. Everyone certainly needs to avoid private loans, which typically involve much higher total paybacks.</p>
<p>Referring to SLUMOM there was 5500 in Stafford Loans offered, with the addition of 1750 work study. Then there is still $3000 left to pay, my family thinks if we can get grants to cover the $3000 missed and just bring the loan amount to $4500 we could afford it.</p>
<p>Anybody with need usually gets the $5500 in Stafford Loans for Freshman Year. </p>
<p>You have received a very generous package!</p>
<p>PROFILE OF 2009-10 FINANCIAL AID Freshmen: Lehigh University </p>
<p>Financial Aid Applicants 777 (65.1%) of freshmen
Found to Have Financial Need 554 (71.3%) of applicants
Received Financial Aid 554 (100.0%) of applicants with financial need
Need Fully Met 313 (56.5%) of aid recipients
Average Percent of Need Met 97%
Average Award $32,081
Need-Based Gift Received by 540 (97.5%) of aid recipients, average amount $27,887
Need-Based Self-Help Received by 525 (94.8%) of aid recipients, average amount $4,605
Merit-Based Gift Received by 55 (9.9%) of aid recipients
Merit-Based Gift Received by 70 (5.9%) of freshmen without need, average amount $10,139</p>
<p>Don’t forget about the Hope credit of $2500 per year. Your parents will get that as a refund on their taxes. This is not a deduction; it is a straight refund.</p>
<p>$3,000 on a payment plan is less than $350 a month. You can’t swing that?</p>
<p>My EFC is $0 and I would be jumping up and down to only pay $10,000!! Especially for Lehigh-- they were my first choice leaving high school, but they waitlisted me. :(</p>
<p>I do notice that I received great financial aid on Lehigh standards, but just a bit more could truly help me out, I also applied for the PHEAA grant so maybe that could bring the extra $3000? I just wanted to know if anyone in the past had appealed for financial aid and had received more? Thanks for the help nonetheless</p>