Has any one submitted deposit yet and received actual cost of admission? Her estimated cost doesn’t explain what some fees are.
@Jp0519 We submitted my daughter’s deposit in December. When we click on the Costs tab on the portal, we see an itemized cost to attend (does not say estimate, but “cost of attendance”). It includes tuition and fees, room, board, books, supplies, transportation and “other”.The total is quite a but less than anticipated or estimated according to projected costs we researched online on Temple’s website, before applying. She received no merit aid and we did not fill out the FAFSA as we knew we would not qualify for aid (though its still a challenge to pay!) The itemized costs reflect yearly, not semester costs, according to all my research HOWEVER I think they accidentally included the semester tuition rather than annual tuition. (Makes no sense because room and board are definitely annual – I can see clearly by the sheer numbers.) So anyway, I called the financial department and they could not explain it, so I’m going to stop questioning it. I wonder if they can be held to this lower number? How do they know I didn’t base my decision to send her there on their stated “cost of attendance”?
@My3Daughters That is interesting on what you describe under the Costs tab. I don’t see that when I go to my son’s portal. When I look at the Costs and Aid tab, it shows the deposit we paid (current balance is -$450), but there is no list of costs. There is a calculator at the bottom that looks like a general NPC. It asks if you are a freshman transfer or graduate student, which school, residency, etc., but there is nothing specific to him there.
@me29034 Yes, I see the deposit and calculator under the Costs and Aid tab. But then I click on Financial Aid Package under the Self Service Banner, which is under Student Financial Aid Services on that same page. (I knew she got no Financial Aid, but clicked on it just out of curiosity.) By clicking on the Financial Aid Package icon, I am brought to Award Package for 2019-2020 school year. There are a number of other tabs to click on there,and I chose Award Overview (again, just out of curiosity because we didn’t fill out the FAFSA). There, the cost of attendance is broken down very precisely. I’ve taken a screenshot – I have to believe it’s wrong, and questioned it with Temple with no results, but would love to pay lower!!
@My3Daughters I just followed your directions and also got strange numbers. The tuition amount is smaller than it should be but doesn’t seem to tie to anything. Its not just a semester rate. I’ve looked up the semester rate for this year and the number they list, while lower than what you would expect for full year, is is substantially higher than what you would expect for one semester.
Then I started playing with numbers and I think I found the answer. I think what the listed rate is (at least for my S) is a full year of in-state tuition and fees with a 4.2% increase for inflation over this year’s number. So that is where I think they made the mistake. They put in-state instead of out-of-state. I’m sure they will fix this before the actual bill goes out.
@My3Daughters I just wanted to add that I spent more time poking around the portal and website to see if somehow my S was awarded in-state tuition and we missed it. I couldn’t find anything that said this. I think its just a mistake.
@me29034 I agree it’s a mistake and I tired to get it corrected through the financial aid office, but they seemed very confused, to the point that I just dropped it. We are out of state, and the cost of attendance should be more than listed, but it would be way lower than stated if mistakenly calculated for in state. So, like you, I’m recognizing it’s wrong, but if no one catches it, I wonder if this amount will be reflected on my bill? A couple of colleges my daughter applied to touted reduced tuition across the board, so at first I thought that’s what Temple was doing. I would love this to be the actual price!
@me29034 Now that I examine the cost more carefully, I guess the mistake is that they quoted the in-state amount, as you suggest. . I’m surprised in-state pays so much! Of course out of state pays more. 
@My3Daughters My daughter is considering dorming and the estimated cost showed $38k for in state tuition and fees. We tried calling financial aid with no help. They had Transportation fee and other fee which was around $3k but cant state what it’s for. I wanted to get better estimate before we send deposit
@Jp0519 Yeah, there’s something really odd going on. My daughter’s cost of attendance says $17,000 and change for tuition and fees – and we are out of state! The other charges, around $10,000 for dorm and around $3000 for board (meal plan), are clearly annual, so why would they show semester-only charges for tuition? But that’s all I can figure. The transportation fee I would assume is what they think you should allow for trips home?.
I got in! Admitted into Temple’s University’s School of Theater, Film and Media Arts. I am also in the honors program and a President’s Scholar.
Race: Asian
SAT/ACT: 1100/22 (I know they’re bad :// didn’t submit them)
GPA: 4.1W, 3.7UW
Class rank: 25/413
EC’s: Filled up all ten spots on the common app. I was involved with lots of social justice and advocacy clubs. In addition, I was involved in one film extracurricular. I had over 500 cumulated volunteer hours, class president, and school ambassador.
Sports: N/A
Hook: First generation, wrote about growing up LGBTQ+, wrote about being a person of color, and an IB student.
I was really bummed about constant rejections and a waitlist from my dream school. I think I may attend. I know I don’t have the stats to be a president’s scholar or in the honors program, but this process is about more than just numbers. If things aren’t going your way, hold on! You got this.
Accepted! Got in for Mechanical Engineering, Honors Program, and am a President’s Scholar.
Race: Asian
SAT/ACT: 34
GPA: 4.46W/ 3.63UW
Class rank: our school doesn’t rank lol
EC’s: Heavily involved in 4-H, over 300 hours of community service, started and ran service community service and STEM education projects, held local, county, and state leadership positions, Civil Air Patrol (heavy focus on STEM, engineering projects, and educating others), CyberPatriots, Taekwondo, Cyberwarfare/PoliSci research at local UC
Sports: N/A
Hook: none
@idkmyscreenname Wow, congrats! Is the President’s scholar award full tuition? I assume you applied Temple Option, as you say you did not submit scores? That’s wonderful! You say you are an IB student; my daughter’s district offers numerous AP classes, and she did not take any, only a handful of honors. Her GPA is similar to yours, and she also applied Temple Option, and had all the ECs filled up, and was admitted to the School of Theater, Film and Media Arts. No money though, and I’m just curious about your wonderful award. I guess you took a lot of IB courses? I’m not sure how that works – if it is similar to AP. We are out of state, also, so perhaps that effects awards. Your class rank is very impressive! Congrats!
@My3Daughters Thank you! Yes, it is full tuition with a $4,000 stipend to invest in study abroad, research, or even internships. I did do the Temple Option. Sorry to hear about that. The selection process from any college is randomized-- you never really know. If anything, call them up and try to repeal, or request a second review. I don’t think I got the scholarship based off of my grades, but my application. I talk a lot about my upbringing and I would consider that part unique? In addition, I had really good recommendations and my EC really did help shape my essay/application.
I took around 7 IB courses in junior yea, and 7 in senior year. It is the required amount for the IB diploma. Before that, I only took honors classes, no APs. It is somewhat similar to AP, but it has its very own curriculum. Lastly, I am also out of state.
Thank you so much! Let me know if there’s anything else I could answer.
I am not the original commenter, but I did get accepted with a Dean’s Scholarship and IB on my transcript. I’m almost 93% sure it’s the reason I got in because my grades aren’t that spectacular.
The IB system works by forcing you to take college-level courses in almost every subject area––Language/Literature, Foreign Language, Social Studies/History, Experimental Sciences, Math, and the Arts (you can swap out art for another science or social studies class though). This is also on top of a philosophy styled class called Theory of Knowledge, a self initiated research paper called the Extended Esssy, and about 150 hours of some kind of community service or self improvement project called CAS.
The primary difference between the two curriculum is that AP lets you choose which college-level classes you want to take based on your interests or specialty, while IB forces you to make almost every single class you take an IB one, presumably to make you a more well-rounded student. They’re both definitely very rigorous and demanding curriculums don’t get me wrong, but at least in my school, IB is seen as slightly above AP because of all the extra commitment and work needed. It’s also not the only way to get into college. I know tons of people who got into great schools without IB. But for me, I chose the program because I liked its values. Hope this helps!
@idkmyscreenname and @intricuit The IB curriculum sounds very challenging; I’m surprised our very competitive Northern NJ district doesn’t offer it! My daughter did receive a lot of merit money from a number of schools she applied to, but Temple is her choice (it figures!) and has the best name recognition and academic offerings for her interests, so we are very happy she was admitted. I don’t believe the IB curriculum would be the right ft for her, but hopefully, she can do as well at Temple as she did in high school. You should both be very proud!!
@My3Daughters IB can be as challenging or as easy as you make it! Just gotta play your cards right: work smart, not hard. Although both work well hand. The IB program was first introduced to my school during my junior year. Therefore, it is extremely new to us. I’m not sure if I’m doing it right, my teachers aren’t sure either haha.
Congratulations to your daughter! Again, I urge your daughter to repeal her financial aid or request a second review from the financial aid office. I hope to see her around!
@idkmyscreenname Thank you! And good luck! The school of Theater, Film and Media Arts looks really impressive and welcoming!
Yes, congrats on the acceptance! If she was accepted then there’s definitely something in her Temple saw and loved, so I’m sure she’ll do excellent! Regarding financial aid, I agree with idkmyscreenname—I think it’s definitely worth an email or call. Even if they aren’t willing to budge, they might be able to direct you to some internal scholarships your daughter can apply for. Good luck!
@intercuit Thanks for the great advice, and again, congrats!