<p>So I just put this on the FA thread, but thought some of you may be in the same situation.
My son loves Tulane, but was accepted to Cornell with a great Financial Package.
They are both so different. We live in the NE. He loves New Orleans and was all set to decide and then he got the Cornell acceptance. The Tulane Financial aid includes the Presidential Scholarship, but over 11,000 in loans. Any thoughts? Anyone in this situation.
All insight appreciated.</p>
<p>I’ll basically repeat what I said on the other thread, modified now that you mention the amount of loans.</p>
<p>You can definitely ask them to match the Cornell offer. They might reconsider, they might not, but you have zero to lose. I have heard from others that the important thing is to go into the conversation factually and pro-Tulane. In other words, something like “Tulane is the first choice school, and we are certainly grateful for the Presidential Scholarship and the invitation to the Honors Program, but we really need something equivalent to what Cornell offered to make it work. Is there any possibility you could look at their offer and make an adjustment?” I would think Tulane would love to “steal” a student from Cornell, and they obviously think a lot of your son since they offered him the $25K. See how it goes. Worst case, he ends up at Cornell which is obviously a great school as well. That’s a pretty great worst case. I assume you mean the $11,000 in loans is per year? If so, I absolutely agree that too much debt from undergraduate school. I hope Tulane can make the appropriate adjustment. How much in loans per year was the Cornell offer?</p>
<p>Thanks. Actually Cornell offered $47 only 5 of which is loans. Tulane is offering 11,800 in loans per year and he has medical school to think about too. I think that is way to much for undergraduate school and I am not sure we can make up the difference.</p>
<p>I completely agree with you. I think a good rule of thumb is no more than $20,000 in loans from undergrad, $25,000 at the very outside. $48,000 is way too much. If you put the Cornell offer in front of them, and emphasize that matching that means he goes to Tulane (or he tells them that directly), then I think Tulane would be foolish not to match it. I hope they see it that way too.</p>
<p>Me too! Thanks!</p>
<p>I just noticed all the Cornell comments on their thread. Obviously that is to be expected on a Cornell thread, and I certainly agree that Cornell is more prestigious to most people. I also agree it is a wonderful school, of course. I do take some issue with the statement about the academics being so superior though. To the extent that the academics are only as good as your fellow students (and I know from experience how true that is), the statistics, at least, say there isn’t that much difference between Cornell and Tulane. Math is more of an exception, but that is because Cornell has all the engineering disciplines as well as a world-reknowned astrophysics program.</p>
<p>Anyway, I don’t want to start a Cornell vs. Tulane battle. Frankly on pure academics, Cornell will have the edge the majority of the time. That’s just reality. My point is more that the gap isn’t really that large, and at the undergraduate level both schools can obviously provide students with all they need to succeed. I sure would hope that no one would argue that Tulane professors are not excellent in their field and completely able to teach their subjects. So what it should come down to is where the student really wants to be because they think they will be happiest, and of course where the finances work out. Going to a university is about the overall experience, not just in the classroom. Only the student themselves can provide the answer to that personal equation.</p>
<p>Thank you FC. Very well put and I totally agree. He WILL make the final decision if the money equalizes it will be very difficult for him. Although he has not spent any time at Cornell (we visited several years ago, before the college hunt began) he truly loves Tulane and New Orleans. We are planning to go to both schools in the next 2 weeks. I wish money was not an issue. He would not go to Cornell because the name is better,that would be crazy. Although the Cornell people say it is a “no brainer”, for us it is not.</p>
<p>Another thing to consider-- is the Cornell offer guaranteed for 4 years, or might the FA package change next year? (For that matter, will TU guarantee their offer, above the merit scholarship $$, for 4 years?)</p>
<p>Is your son a NMF? Thats another $2K/yr in merit money.</p>
<p>I believe they are both guaranteed for 4 years. I called FA office today to set up a meeting and emailed, but got no reply. Now I am wondering if my son does do the 6+1 program which is only 2 years of undergrad, will his Presidential Scholarship be applied to his first two years of med school? I think I heard that somewhere. That of course might change everything. I am hoping to hear from them tomorrow. It’s hard to clarify anything if you can’t speak to anyone at Tulane.</p>
<p>We were told the merit scholarships are good for 4 years, including if you get into the med school program. That was for DHS, but the way it was phrased was generally for all merit scholarships. Of course you should comfirm this.</p>
<p>I wonder if you might have more luck trying to get them first thing in the morning? They will get back to you. Your son is one of their top applicants. They won’t let him slip through the cracks, but at the same time they do owe people that haven’t gotten their packages at all an answer. Let us know as soon as you hear. At least we will know they are still alive.</p>
<p>TY FC as usual. I thought I had heard that! That would be wonderful.$25,000 towards Med school would be very, very nice. I will try again to reach them. When I called this morning, I was told his FA counselor was not in and would be in later. i left a voicemail for her and then emailed her and I copied his Admin counselor, who we now know quite well. I do understand that they are very busy. I just want to know what exactly we are looking at before we visit Cornell. This is my third son to go to college and my other two each had one choice, got in and went. This is so very crazy. Wonderful, but crazy.
I do realize this is a problem that many, many people wish they had. Fortunately, my son understands that too! Tulane or Cornell, as my 90 year old mother would say, “we should all have such problems!”</p>
<p>Wow, momwithpride, you should be so proud of your sons! Indeed We should all have such problems! Good luck for your children wherever they go.</p>
<p>Thank you allan, for your good wishes. I am a very lucky and blessed mom.</p>
<p>Finally, got to speak to FA today! She was very nice. I explained the situation and that we felt the loans were too high for us and that Cornell had offered quite a bit more than Tulane in non-loan FA. She was very receptive, did not say no. She asked that we fax her the Cornell offer, which we did and she said she would bring it to the director for reconsideration. I thought that was very positive. So now it’s wait and see all over again.
We have decided not go for the Honors Weekend, too late, too expensive. Visiting Cornell next week. I just keep repeating that everything happens for a reason. I know he will make the right decision.
Thank you all for your guidance. It has been very helpful. I would never have thought to show them another offer, but as you said, we have nothing to lose.</p>
<p>Good luck, momwithpride. Keep us posted!! You can’t go wrong with either school. Great options to have!</p>
<p>Hi momwithpride - That’s good that you are making progress, and it is positive that they are looking at it. Good luck with that!</p>
<p>It is REALLY a shame that you cannot make it down there, although HW is almost upon us. Tulane and the surrounding area make such a good impression in person. Although maybe you visited once already? I cannot remember if you told us one way or the other.</p>
<p>We will await your further reports.</p>
<p>Total sidebar-- but happy birthday FC!!!</p>
<p>He almost snuck that by us, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!</p>
<p>(thanks Jym!)</p>
<p>Thanks all.</p>
<p>:D 
</p>
<p>Anyone singing???</p>