<p>My D just received her financial aid award from Spelman and it was 100% loans. Does that seem strange to anyone else but me? </p>
<p>We are an average middle class family with an EFC of ~ $17K. The COA is just below $32K. </p>
<p>We visited the school showing interest and she is in the top 5% of their applicant pool. Maybe they figured she'd probably going somewhere else. Your thoughts please. Thank God she has other choices!</p>
<p>Ouch. That does seem strange! Usually schools at least put some grants in FA packages, to entice students to matriculuate, (then reduce them in subsequent years, leaving higher and higher loans!!!!)</p>
<p>it's an HBCU---</p>
<p>Mizo,</p>
<p>It is not unusual as my D best friend is a current junior at Spelman (applied EA as it had been her dream school since 6th grade) and got the same exact award (all loans) when she was admitted in fall 2004. It is a great school, has a lot of opportunities and is probably one of the crown jewels of the HBCU, but very few people get $$.</p>
<p>Does she have offers elsewhere yet? Worth a shot to call Spelman, alert them to other offers, and see if they counter-offer? I don't have experience with this and am just guessing. What do the parents think?</p>
<p>IMHO, </p>
<p>Spelman most likely will not counter(especially if monies are need based) because they may not have the funds. </p>
<p>In addition, they will not be at a loss of students willing to pay full freight to attend.</p>
<p>Sybbie,</p>
<p>I think you are right. Spelman is not hurting for students. They are a hot school and they know it. BTW, D received a letter from Spelman inviting her to be part of their honors program. D has other offers she is considering which are great fits and she likes, but just thought the situation odd regarding the financial aid package.</p>
<p>My D has several friends that attend Spelman. The first one was able to attend because she is a Gates Millenium Scholar. This student had stellar grades, class president and a host of awards. She was only offered $3,000. After she receive the GMS scholarships, she was then able to attend. The second one, her parents took out loans because it was a dream school. On Spelman's website they have a listing for outside scholarships. There are no internal scholarships listed at all.</p>
<p>From the Spelman College Website:</p>
<p>I still think Spelman is an awesome college. It only needs a huge cash infusion to the endowment.</p>
<p>I totally agree with it being an awesome place. </p>
<p>I remember Bill & Camille Cosby donated $20 million to the school for their academic center.</p>
<p>My D received notification yesterday that she has received a Presidential Scholarship from Spelman, one of five awarded annually! I am awe struck at this blessing.</p>
<p>Wow, great news. Congratulations to your D. It looks like she is going to have a hard decision as she has some amazing schools to choose from.</p>
<p>My daughter also accepted at Spelman for Fall 2007 and the financial aid package is 100% loans, too.</p>
<p>BustAGroove,</p>
<p>Wait a week or so you may get a nice deal after all, see post #11. So the package may change dramatically.</p>
<p>Congrats to you and your daughter Mizo!!!</p>
<p>Did this add'l come to you unsolicited? I thought (and this has been my experience thus far) that these merit based gift aid awards typically came through admissions upon acceptance.</p>
<p>Did you guys go back and solicit Spelman to re-evaluate their package? Or did it just seemingly fall from the blue?</p>
<p>BustAGroove,</p>
<p>It was unsolicited, the letter said that the admissions committee sends the top 50 applicants files to the president of the college and she picks who will get the scholarships. Mind you that my memory may be a faulty on the details, however there seems to be a process whereby the admissions does an initial review and then it goes to administration.<br>
Good luck to your daughter!</p>
<p>Mizo,</p>
<p>Just had a chance to catch up. Congrats to you and D as she has some amazing schools to choose from. Now the hard part; decisions, decisions...</p>
<p>WOW Mizo, thats like hitting a lottery. You should be very proud of your D, to have stood out against invariably stiff competition.</p>
<p>Not that she was lucky, just the windfall!!!</p>
<p>Thanks! Yes, a flood gates of blessing are upon our household.</p>
<p>I am a single parent with a EFC of 14K. I called to ask about the loan awards, and did learn that the admission scholarships have not been given to the financial aid office yet. So ... we are hoping as my D is a top student, too.</p>