<p>Op is Vietnamese (probably was considered to be a URM)</p>
<p><a href=“Final Chance before deadlines - College Search & Selection - College Confidential Forums”>Final Chance before deadlines - College Search & Selection - College Confidential Forums;
<p>You want me to tell you my hook to Georgetown?</p>
<p>I’m going there now. For free. (It’s there in the post linked above, which was a while back…no offense sybbie, but that’s a little creepy)</p>
<p>I was hoping that this was not the reason for acceptance/generous aid.
Maybe I don’t know a good thing until it’s gone.</p>
<p>EDIT: To reiterate, Hopkins explicitly stated they met need in their offer and they do not match another school’s offer.</p>
<p>As Sue22 states in Post #34, Hopkins does not guarantee to meet need. And in this case it may not have met need. </p>
<p>It is not unusual for two PROFILE schools to come up with widely variant needs, so even IF Hopkins was meeting 100% of need, their definition could well be different from Georgetown’s. Some examples are that Georgetown recognizes tuition a family pays to private school for younger siblings. Hopkins does not. There could be different caps on Home Equity values. I have even seen variations in aid among groups of school that use the exact same factors and methodologies whereas Georgetown and Hopkins do not. PROFILE has question in it that are sometimes for some colleges to take into account and others not to do so. That they both use PROFILE does not mean they will come up with the same definition of need.</p>
<p>Still, it doesn’t matter because Hopkins does not guarantee to meet 100% of need. They gap some student even by their own definitions of need. Though they state this in euphemistic terms, it is pretty clear what they mean. They do the best they can, but they are not guaranteeing to meet your need. </p>
<p>Hopkins also has some merit awards for those students they want the most, and those students will get them regardless of need. So, it is possible to do very well in terms of scholarships at Hopkins, far better than Georgetown because they only give need based awards, but if you do not get those merit awards, and have need, Georgetown will meet it, as they define it, but Hopkins will not necessarily do so.</p>
<p>As Sybby says, if you so want to go to Hopkins, they have given you their deal, so you have to come up with the gap. They do not want to pay you what Georgetown is offering. The deal is on the table, take it or leave it. You’ ve done well to get these offers from two very fine schools. It’s not unusual for this to happen. A lot of kids have no schools that will meet what their families define as need and have to find affordable alternatives. If you read on these boards, you’ll see many such cases.</p>
<p>To OP, You refer to EFC like it is a concrete number set in stone. Isn’t it more like the E “expected” refers to what the individual school EXPECTS the family to contribute? School A has the right to expect more than School B who might expect more than School C. It could be because of the school’s finances, their expectations of how much they think you should pay, or whatever. School A might think that someone in your current situation should have saved X amount and be willing to earn Y amount and take loans in Z amount. Perhaps they think that if you want the education they offer you will do it. Maybe they just don’t have the funds to offer you more. The School’s pots of $ are not tied together. I believe each one is given a pot of $ to divide how they see fit, when it’s gone it’s gone. Maybe one school gives LESS aid to MORE kids and one gives MORE aid to LESS kids. I don’t know about NEED MET at all. It may be that one school simply thinks your need IS met because they expect you to do more for yourself than the other school does. YOU might think it’s need, they might think it’s WANT. Does that make sense…that the two schools just view it differently and divide up their funds differently? The school that gave you less might have some more amazing students than you that they really want to attend.</p>
<p>As to the few who posted that there just aren’t jobs, I disagree. I believe that if you hustle you can make $.
The fast food places around here are always hiring and there are always new faces.</p>
<p>Bicycles can take you amazing places, and I have seen kids using them.</p>
<p>I’m not saying every kid can do it, but those who are bright enough to get into really good schools probably have a good chance of getting hired somewhere and be resourceful enough to find the job and a way to get there. fast food, landscapers, janitorial companies, restaurants…</p>
<p>Again, not EVERY kid can have a job the whole school year, but during the summer? I bet there is something. I suppose if you live out in the country or a very depressed area it could be tough, but there are a lot of jobs out there that adults think they are too good for that students could probably get. They need to LOOK and not just assume there is no work. I think there are some that do that.</p>
<p>This is not toward OP, I don’t know his situation, I’m just talking in general because I know there are kids everywhere complaining. I hear kids around here getting financial aid for CC. Seriously? FA (free $) for a school that is $350/course? Work, save, get a loan…There ARE plenty of jobs around this state and public trans and a bike could get them there. Some kids won’t work at Wendy’s or McD or BK though…</p>
<p>Hey, I have a relative who needs more $, is she out working for it? Nope, just complaining. Here’s an idea, she, or her sig other can go get a SECOND job. I just hate the “poor me” mentality…that is why I sometimes seem to go off on kids who are probably just good hard-working kids, because I don’t want them to become “poor me”.</p>
<p>Good Luck in College.</p>
<p>Lake, whatever your “hook” might be, you did well to get into these schools. From that post, it appears that Georgetown knows you personally and well. My son also took courses at a college and as a result did get some favorable treatment for admissions there. It makes sense that they would because they knew him, knew he could do well in their courses and personally knew those recommending him, and even personally knew him. THe same applies to you and Georgetown. </p>
<p>Congratutions on a successful result with your college applications.</p>
<p>I like how post #41 insinuates that I was admitted mainly in part that Asian is a URM…and that my accomplishments over the years did not have a greater impact…and that that same person has posted several condescending comments on this thread.</p>
<p>Another way to look at this is that perhaps Georgetown exceeded your need. As has been pointed out, schools calculate what they believe your need to be. They have also been known to exceed need and offer additional aid because you are a student they want and are trying to entice you to attend.</p>
<p>OP, here is your info from a previous post:</p>
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I see good, but not extremely outstanding attributes above. (What were your AP scores? Seems like your only EC was volunteering with underprivileged youth. Since you’re not interested in doing that longterm, was it just to look good for college admissions? Did you work to help support your family? Seems like you are still waiting to hear about the Gates Millenium Scholarship, so if you get it, your problems are over. Can’t you then go to JHU for free? (And quit all this bellyachin’ because JHU didn’t give you what you figure you’re entitled to.) Seems like you have no skin in the game – G’town has fixed it so that you pay nothing, gives you a head-start for at-risk students and then pays you $1700 for not working in the summers. That is extremely generous (and, quite frankly, more than I would condone giving to someone whose parents make $60,000/year.)</p>
<p>lakeawead,</p>
<p>Since you are choosing to comment about me, you need to first man up. I am not being condescending toward you. Stop whining. You got 2 great offers and you are crying about JHU, who only gave you a “measly 41k in grant aid” did not give you what you should have gotten.</p>
<p>You appealed, JHU said no. I recommended that if JHU was so important to you that you should be doing something to put some skin in the game. to which your response in post # 37 was</p>
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<p>No where did I ever say that the only reason you go into anywhere was because you were a URM. The question was asked in post # 39 was </p>
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<p>I responded back that you were Vietnamese (URM).</p>
<p>The fact is yes you are a URM. Even though you are of Asian descent, being Vietnamese does make you underrepresented in comparison to Asians who are Chinese, Japanese, Korean or Indian. </p>
<p>By your own words you did not want to be viewed as an ORM when you said</p>
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<p>However, you seem to have no problem being a URM when it comes to applying for the GMS which specifically states:</p>
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<p>At the end of the day the only thing that is standing between you and attending JHU is you. You know what to do to get from point A to point B. Roll of your sleeves, get a job, ask your parents to take a PLUS loan (or take the unsub loan if they are not eligible). The only thing that your post continue to demonstrate that you have an entitlement mentality and believe that everyone owes you something.</p>
<p>^^^^^^</p>
<p>Bravo Sybbie719! Post of the day. I’m getting tired of the entitlement attitudes as well.</p>
<p>Sybie, good post. But I would not recommend anyone to go into debt over Stafford 27K. If OP is bent over to go to JHU, then it should be either getting a job or asking parents to get Parent PLUS loan.</p>
<p>To CTTC:
Does it matter what my stats are now? They’ve already admitted me so why bring up anything with no bearing to financial aid. And stop bringing up my family’s AGI and whether YOU believe that I deserve these kinds of offers or even Pell eligibility. The numbers don’t lie, you can see whatever you want.
Facts are: I’ve been admitted to Georgetown and Hopkins. I am Pell eligible. Both schools met or exceeded need. My FAFSA EFC is $2,500. I did not apply for the GMS.
Who are you to say that I don’t deserve what Georgetown offered. Now that was crossing the line.</p>
<p>And to sybbie,
your comments are constructive but repetitive; the message, I need to get off my lazy ass and start working for what I want.
However, I have no problem being considered a URM if it gives me a leg up in admissions; GMS groups all Asians together. And to an extent, schools do that as well. If I am an ORM, then fine, doesn’t affect me now.</p>
<p>When someone calls me only books smart, and not street smart, I do find offense to that. I personally think I’m more street smart than books smart.
Again, if these two schools rejected me, I would have no qualms going to a CC. If tuition was covered by a school nearby, I would commute and limit expenses.
I essentially handed a friend a full ride scholarship (to a university that will remain unnamed) by not applying for it. He would be in mountains of debt if I had applied for it, won, and consequently declined the offer.</p>
<p>After working hard for the past years, and now being accepted to these fine schools, you are right, I do feel a sense of entitlement, can you blame me for it?</p>
<p>Because of Georgetown’s generous offer, I won’t be attending JHU; it’s not the other way around. </p>
<p>Was that hard to understand?
Even if you are right, you should take a page out of cpt and mom2 books and learn to be positive before bashing a teenager for their “entitlement”.</p>
<p>OP, it may suck to be poor, but look at it this way, if your parents were solidly middle class and making 120K/yr as opposed to 60K/yr, you wouldn’t have the option of going to either Georgetown or JHU. </p>
<p>That income would have resulting in probably ZERO financial aid or best case 10K/yr grant. Leaving a bill of $45K/yr still. Which even with 120K/yr income your parents wouldn’t be able to swing. Then you’d be looking at CC colleges or state university with a fair amount of loans. That’s the world of many middle class families.</p>
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<p>Do you read? That is not what I said. I said that you were book smart and life stupid. Should I write very slowly? When you started this rant, the 8.5k “shortfall” that you stated that JHU did not cover was your EFC. This is your family’s responsibility.</p>
<p>The first people in line when it comes to paying for your education are your parents. The college does not expect you to pay your EFC out of current money but out of past monies (savings) current monies (salaries/other income) and future monies (loans). </p>
<p>The sad truth is unless one is independently wealthy pretty much all families financially stretch to make college happen, including taking loans. Student also have skin in the game by taking out student loans. </p>
<p>From your posts it seems that you/your family want to do neither of these things and you are basically saying let other people’s parents pay for you to attend college (where do you think the money in the endowment to give you need based institutional aid comes from?)</p>
<p>I do not have to compliment you on your accomplishments as you should be intrinsically motivated enough to do your best work regardless of how the college decisions fall. Remember you started this thread because you were not happy with how an institution decided how to distribute their money. Yes, you came off as entitled. </p>
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<p>It’s not a good look. But live on a few more days and you will see how far that sense of entitlement will take you. Hopefully you will learn that a little grace will take you a long way.</p>
<p>However, I am happy that after 52 posts that you have come to the realization that it is a blessing to have a school that is a financially feasible option for your family and hopefully you are grateful to have it.</p>
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<p>Yes.</p>
<p>If you have the street smarts you say you possess, you should be able to figure out why you shoulder blame for your attitude. If you can’t figure it out, then you’re not as savvy as you think you are. </p>
<p>A sincere congratulations on GT. Really!</p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback, the title was only meant to be a “wordplay” from another thread about middle class. I don’t actually feel that it “sucks to be poor”, it’s just life. It is what it is, deal with it. </p>
<p>Never did I feel like I conveyed the “poor me” argument in this thread or ever. My diction on the other hand did sound “self-entitled” and I agree with those comments. After the decisions were released, and subsequently the financial aid packages, I never took anything offered for granted.</p>
<p>Update: Yes sybbie, I remembered your exact words wrong, sorry for not using quotes…regardless your previous comments were still the same.</p>
<p>And was I unhappy? A little. But my intention for posting here was to hear other’s opinions on the two offers, not to bash JHU’s offer or my accomplishments or my entitlement.
And that’s what I got for the first 15 posts.
To add onto my point: I do believe Hopkins met need, and yes, my parent’s need to stop having things handed to them mentality. I have no problem working for the education. I didn’t want my family to be burdened by the costs, Hopkins determined the maximum our family can pay and were not irrational in their offer.</p>
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<p>You feel comfort in mocking others? You sound like an over-grown cyber-bully with that intro.</p>
<p>The only time I bashed JHU in this entire thread is the second sentence of post#33. This was right after my parents said they weren’t paying half the difference I hypothetically proposed to them; I would have took care of the other half.</p>
<p>Again, taking things out of context, I “ranted against” CTTC, who was also taking thing out of context. I did not bash JHU for their offer.</p>
<p>I am not mocking you. You are making accusations about me and stating things that I said that are not true. I am merely restating exactly what I did in fact say.</p>
<p>To me it seems that you only want see and listen to what you want to hear.</p>
<p>you wrote
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<p>However, you go on to say</p>
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<p>At the end of the day, Hopkins did meet your demonstrated need according to their formula (post 31). You also accused them of being untruthful (post 37). It was your parents who refused to pay their EFC and that is not JHU’s fault. You should have let it go before starting this thread because the reason that you are not attending JHU is not based on anything they “did” to you.</p>
<p>You are not the first student, nor will you be the last student not to attend a school, because the money did not work out. You gotta have a plan B. Fortunately, you have that with G-town. </p>
<p>Hopefully you will have a wonderful 4 years at Georgetown.</p>
<p>*
Originally Posted by mom2collegekids</p>
<p>Maybe the OP has a hook that G’town desires? </p>
<p>Are you a URM?
*</p>
<p>Just to clarify…</p>
<p>I didn’t ask if you’re a URM to explain ACCEPTANCE. I asked if you’re a URM because that might have explained a preferential aid pkg from G’town.</p>
<p>Schools do give preferential aid pkgs to students that they want because of high stats or ethnic diversity or regional diversity.</p>
<p>My post had nothing to do with acceptance.</p>
<p>All I was saying is that FAFSA calculated our EFC to be $2.5k. Georgetown met this arbitrary number. Hopkins did not. </p>
<p>I only wanted to know which of these schools gave the most appropriate offer for my family, given the $2.5k EFC and the fact that we have no assets.</p>
<p>You have emphasized the fact that yes, right after I posted post#33, my parent’s refused to gap the difference, this is when I the “animosity” towards JHU had developed in the form of bashes in that post and also in post#37.</p>
<p>Attending JHU is still not out of the question, I’d only have to “put skin in the game”, more-so than I initially expected.</p>
<p>Let me reiterate: Because of Georgetown’s generous offer, I won’t be attending JHU, not the other way around.</p>
<p>Update: I understood where you were coming from with the question mom2 but, as you may know, Georgetown only gives need-based aid, no merit aid here, so I thought the question may have been a little off-base, especially with sybie’s tone at the time of the post.</p>