The Etiquette of Asking for More Merit Aid

Paying for College
1

<p>I guess my question is. is this done? My S, a NMF with great recs, great everything got into a reach school known for great merit aid(why we applied) He got in YAY, but absolutely nothing from them. </p>

<p>I am at the point where, yes with a scholarship award, I could do this school. Without, I just cannot. His dad, my ex, makes enough that HIS css was the highest number they could generate...but... his dad won't pay for college. </p>

<p>Is there any etiquette to reapproaching for merit aid?</p>

2

<p>Was it a reach for your son, or are you calling it a “reach school” because it’s just a tippy-top sort of school?</p>

<p>Merit aid usually goes to kids for whom the school is not a reach–to entice them to come to that school (which may have been their safety) vs. going to their own “reach.”</p>

<p>It sounds like your son’s qualifications were excellent, so I’m not sure how to interpret your referring to it as a “reach school.”</p>

3

<p>Did he get into any peer schools and get merit money? If so, when approached with that scenario, some school have been known to try to come up with something. When my son told his small LAC that his parents were having a tough time that he wanted to turn down ivy to go to their school, they did reach into their pockets. They wanted all acceptance letters and merit offers faxed to them, however. They did not just take his word on the matter.</p>

4

<p>Well Deskpotato, I wouldn’t say that, it felt like it to me, very selective school but of course, he was well in the stats for admission for sure. But of course, these last days, we are finding that nothing is a sure thing…:-)</p>

5

<p>Elle…</p>

<p>What do you mean that his stats were well within the range for admission? When you look at the school’s midrange for SAT/ACT scores, where does he fall? </p>

<p>Frankly, I don’t know of any “reach schools” that are known for good merit except for USC (but they do give for all NMFs, so that’s not it), and UWash. But UWash is famous for only giving to URMs and hooked students, and I think they give some NMF money, so that’s not the school either.</p>

<p>Anyway…if you give us more info, we can probably help you out more. </p>

<p>BTW…did he get any large merit offers elsewhere? If not, try to get some so that those can be used to help get some aid.</p>

6

<p>*Disillusionment to say the least. My son, NMF, worked VERY hard to get good grades, great recs everything you could want nationally known hs. </p>

<p>Very little merit aid despite carefully picking schools that are known for offering alot. And secondly, disillusioned that there were “nos” from safeties in state which were affordable options.</p>

<p>Here is my vent for the day and I have to be done. I had 50K in medical debt after cancer. In the last two years I have worked my fingers to the bone to pay it off, 3 jobs… I have no retirement, but equity in my house which is my retirement some day. But the ex, makes stratosphere income and refuses to pay for college. </p>

<h2>He is a yes to a school that is the ultimate perfect fit for him, but I simply cannot do it with no merit aid. No merit aid because of what the ex makes they said.*</h2>

<p>oh my…please quickly apply to a school or two that will give huge merit for NMF status. Even if he doesn’t attend such a school, he’ll have that as an option for negotiating. </p>

<p>I will PM you with more info.</p>

<p>BTW…I think you meant…no need-based aid based on ex’s income. Not no merit.</p>

<p>Very little merit aid despite carefully picking schools that are known for offering alot. And secondly, disillusioned that there were “nos” from safeties in state which were affordable options.</p>

<p>This part bothers me. It sounds like these schools are known to give some merit to some tippy top hooked students, but these schools are filled with top students so they don’t award to most…maybe just the top 1-5%.</p>

<p>As for the safeties…were these Calif publics?</p>

<p>edited to add…I see that you’re from NC…and the school was UNC-CH.</p>

<p>Did your son apply mostly to LACs (besides UNC)? What is his major?</p>

7

<p>Is it that the dad won’t pay for ANY college or won’t pay for the “reach” school?</p>

<p>Was the in-state Carolina? UNCCH is no safety even for instaters. Have you tried some of the other 15 campuses? NCSU, ECU, App State, Western, UNC Asheville…</p>

<p>What school is your son’s financial and academic safety? </p>

<p>There are usually enough of us around to help.</p>

<p>Kat
NC resident, with kiddos in NC schools</p>

8

<p>Was he waitlisted at UNC? if so have your son’s GC give them a call, see if they’ll tell her why for the waitlist and what she can do/ have him do to get off the waitlist.</p>

<p>They might need to hear that they are his first choice and will attend if admitted. Did you send your FAFSA to them? They are not a profile school except I think for the laptop (changes year to year). What was the EFC number on your FAFSA, not profile?</p>

<p>Has he applied for any of the local scholies?</p>

<p>Also with his high stats did he apply anywhere he would receive merit on his stats alone? Alabama, USC, ASU (AZ), UNM (New Mexico), USC (South Carolina), Case Western…</p>

<p>If you are lower income than the FAFSA only schools would also be within your budget with your ex’s info. There are some private, smaller LAC’s that are only FAFSA, but you have to look for them.</p>

<p>If the results are really bad financially, then he might want to consider a gap year and re-apply to FAFSA school’s only. Make the year worthwhile, do not jeapordize his freshman status by attending classes elsewhere, however.</p>

<p>Another option, albeit remote, is to have your son talk to his dad about the money. Maybe if he hears from him about the difficulties in getting aid since his dad makes to much to qualify and with nothing from him, impossible to attend it might not fall on deaf ears.</p>

<p>I know very unlikely, and if your son is not okay with that then disregard and on to other options.</p>

<p>Kat</p>

9

<p>From other posts, it sounds like the dad will not contribute for any college…no matter which school. So, the mom would have to pay for all costs that aren’t covered by any aid/merit.</p>

<p>It doesn’t sound like the mom’s income is low enough for fed aid. It sounds like she has a good job, but can’t afford to pay the ex’s portion at the CSS schools. </p>

<p>Yes… because this student is a NMF, he would STILL get the huge NMF scholarship from Alabama as long as he applies NOW. The app is easy and quick…takes like 5 minutes. No essays, no LORs. </p>

<p>He would then send transcripts and scores AND fax a copy of his NMF letter to:</p>

<p>Amber Capell * <a href=“mailto:amber.capell@ua.edu”>amber.capell@ua.edu</a>
Scholarships fax number 205- 348-9046</p>

<p>For being NMF, he would get…</p>

<p>Free Tuition (including OOS)
Free Housing (including the fabulous honors super suites with private bedrooms)
$1k per year (which is typically used for course fees).
study abroad money
iPad (probably the new iPad3)</p>

<p>Total Value…over $130k. :)</p>

<p>And, if he applies to the Honors College, he’s guaranteed admittance for being NMF. Bama’s honors college has those awesome LAC-like courses with only 15 students per class. </p>

<p>Bama has over 600 National Scholars on campus. 182 frosh were NMF last fall. Over 50% of last fall’s frosh were from out of state. </p>

<p>Remaining costs would be less than $5k per year (meal plan and books and incidentals).</p>

10

<p>oh thank you thank you!..Honestly just kvetching but yes, wondering about the etiquette of asking. sounds like having a big package in hand, from a NMF school may be a negotiating tool indeed. He did get into other colleges in NC and up the eastern seaboard, all is not lost, but certainly this other one would be an ideal fit in terms of rigor. This is why I asked about the etiquette of asking. Don’t know what/why dad is like he is…I am keeping quiet, handing him the packet and seeing what happens…</p>

11

<p>I would be concerned that the dad might pay one year, and then not later. :(</p>

<p>Yes…a large NMF scholarship could help. The desired school probably won’t “match” but may meet somewhere in the middle.</p>