University of Washington Financial Issue

Paying for College
1

<p>Hi. I'm a rising senior thinking about colleges to attend next year,</p>

<p>One of my dream school is University of Washington (I will be OOS student since I don't live in WA), but I have heard and researched that paying for the enormous price at UW is pretty much impossible, because they do not offer a lot of financial aid/grant/scholarships to students, especially OOS.</p>

<p>Can I hear about the financial issues from students who are attending/have attended UW or from those parents?
Anything about undergrad and grad financial information is really appreciated. :) </p>

<p>Is UW only for the rich kids? That's my big quesiton...</p>

<p>Also, anything about UW that you found out that surprised you or want others to know, I would really love that info too!!</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

2

<p>Do yourself in favor and look at schools that you CAN afford. A “dream” school is often better called a “fantasy” school.</p>

3

<p>@KKmama
Thanks for your advice. When I said dream school, it didn’t mean that I like how the name sounds, or that I just had the “feeling” that the school would be perfect for me.
I looked that their majors, programs they offer, the college town and campus, and other important factors that I consider and thought that UW is the school I would really love to attend and study at.
It is a lot more than a “fantasy school” to me and that is why I wanted to hear from people who know about UW.</p>

4

<p>You will be an out of state student. UW need based and merit aid is largely for IN state residents…the taxpayers who support the publici universities. If you want to get instate rates, look at your own instate public university. </p>

<p>UW is a flagship university. Almost every state has one, with the breadth of majors offered at UW. </p>

<p>I would suggest that you run the net price calculator on the UW website using your family numbers. It will give you an estimate of what the net cost for your family will be. This is an estimate only. </p>

<p>And you need to have a discussion with your family about college finances and what they feel they can contribute to your college costs annually. Then try to find some colleges that meet their price point.</p>

<p>Sure…you can apply anywhere, but you have to be prepared to walk away from ALL offers that do not meet your family price point.</p>

<p>Do you have outstanding stats (SAT/ACT score, and GPA)? Perhaps you would qualify for a merit award somewhere if you do. I don’t believe there are any guaranteed merit awards at UW.</p>

5

<p>@thumper1‌ </p>

<p>Thank you for your reply!
So far I have found my EFC and net price from UW and it does sound like it would give my family a really hard time budget wise. </p>

<p>I am also interested in Washington State University for having majors I would like to study in and also other factors that I consider when I consider college.
I would run the net price calculator at WSU too, but do you know anything about WSU financial aid?
WSU is also a pubic university, but is it similar to UW in financial aid?</p>

<p>Would going to WSU for undergrad and working along the way, and then applying to UW for grad studies?
I have check the grad school acceptance rate and saw how low it is.
But just considering about budget for now, do you think it would sound like a realistic plan?</p>

6

<p>What is your home state?</p>

<p>How much will your parents pay?</p>

<p>What are your stats?</p>

<p>WSU isnt going to be affordable either.</p>

<p>What is your major?</p>

7

<p>@mom2collegekids‌
My home state: OR
My parents can pay none, so it’s a problem no matter where I go.
My stats:
Unweighted GPA: 3.95 (my HS doesn’t use +/- system, so don’t know how to calculate weighted GPA…)</p>

<p>ACT: 29 (Reading: 25, Math: 34, Science: 33, English: 24)
SAT: 1720 (Math: 700, Reading: 490, Writing: 530)
I’m retaking both, hoping to raise score.</p>

<p>If my AP classes & scores/ sports/ extracurricular info would help, please tell me and I can post it here, or you could check my other threads that when I posted all my stats when I asked someone to chance me for Clark University in MA.</p>

<p>My planned major was used to be Bio/Biomedical Engineering or Chemical Engineering.
But I got interested in Pharmacology/Toxicology and around that field, so I think I would like to do one of the science major (bio/chem/biochem/neuroscience/etc) for my undergrad major and my specific -Pharmacology/Toxicology/Pharmacy for my grad major. </p>

<p>I heard that it’s hard to get residency in Washington, so should I aim at In-state universities or others that offer generous need-based financial aid to OOS students?</p>

<p>Thank you in advance!!
:slight_smile: </p>

8

<p>Ok, I looked at your Chances thread and see that you are ESL which explains your scores and you have taken hard classes and a nice selection of APs. And also 4 years french in addition to your native lang and english. Very good. The worst thing for you is the lower Reading scores. Drill yourself for your retakes. Are you taking SAT IIs?</p>

<p>The biggest issue I see for you is you saying your parents can’t/won’t pay anything. It isn’t realistic that every cent is covered. That is not going to happen. Do you work summers are you working now? There is another thread about student contribution costs and you should read it and if your parents don’t have good enough health insurance on you, you will also have to purchase that for an additional 2 thousand or so per year.</p>

<p>Are you a citizen or permanent resident to get federal aid? Did you calculate your EFC yet? I see you are very low income. And you are first generation to college? These points will matter, so answer.</p>

<p>fyi, weighted gpa is not about plus and minus. It means adding points for AP classes and sometimes honors. Don’t worry about what it is though, your UW is good, your class rigor is good.</p>

<p>Look, it just doesn’t make sense to go OOS IF you have to pay the OOS premium rate. You are not in position to do that. Some kids make foolish decisions to try to go to dream school for no serious reason. I know of a girl paying OOS rates for Portland State when she is a CA resident and could get instate rates for CSU and likely UC. Just because she wants to live there. This is not an affordable option at 35k a year and they are trying to pay month by month way more than is affordable, with just small merit award. This may interfere with graduation due to lack of funds. Any one semester they can’t make the payment she is out The worst situation.</p>

<p>OOS publics do not give enough aid to ‘meet need’ except 2 and you won’t get in those. You need to examine which instate may be possible. Now private is a different thing. You can apply to privates anywhere. There are a lot of test optional schools in addition to Clark that you are looking at. Your problem will be to find one to give enough funds Look at the list.
<a href=“ACT/SAT Optional List - Fairtest”>http://www.fairtest.org/university/optional&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>I wonder if you have a chance at Questbridge Finalist. Some of the QB partner schools may overlook your English SAT because of your ESL situation and your great gpa and hard schedule. Some or all of those meets needs, and if you get matched they pay everything except insurance, but it is very difficult to get matched. You don’t have to do QB to apply.</p>

<p>What did the Net Price Calculator tell you your cost for Clark, they are not a ‘meets full need’ school, I don’t believe? Try the NPC for Mt. Holyoke, just to see - your stats are good for them and they meet need:
<a href=“Net Price Calculator”>Net Price Calculator;

<p>Also grad school and finances work differently. You apply to grad school based on the strength of the department and if they specialize or are strong in the area you want to study. It has nothing to do with the name of the undergraduate college much. Plus financing is different. You will have access to graduate school loans or if you get in a PhD program that is usually paid for you by the college.</p>

9

<p>Your research and what you have heard and found is true about getting your way funded to UWash or Wash state. With your stats, it’s highly unlikely you would even get in state costs covered and if you and your family can come up with absolutely nothing for college, you couldn’t afford to go there, even if you were a Washington resident. These schools do not guarantee to meet full need to even their own residents. If you lived right near the schools you could possibly get enough funds, maybe with loans, to pay the tuiton alone especially if you get a part time job as well, but it could be a tough go. </p>

<p>Look at the options others have suggested, but also look at what local schools are available to you on a commuter basis. You went to your local public high school didn’t you? Did you consider going to private or any boarding schools, expecting scholarships and funding for them? Not likely. Look at commuting to your local school. You can apply to other colleges and universities as well, and see if any come up with aid or awards to make it possible to go to them, but make sure you have some local, affordable options that you know will take you, as well. That’s really how most people do college, by the way. Often on a part time basis ekeing out a course here and there when they can afford it, working as they do so. </p>

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<p>If your parents can’t pay one cent for you to go to college, then you need to look at options where their financial assistance is NOT needed. OOS public universities are likely NOT a good choice.</p>

<p>If they really can’t pay anything, YOU would still get a $5500 Direct Loan. This might pay your tuition costs at a community college to which you can commute from your home.</p>

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<p>

No. It’s for in-state kids.</p>

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<p>Erin’s Dad
Yes, I sadly have to face it now…</p>

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<p>@‌thumper1
I have a sibling that went to a local community college and then transferred to public in-state university near-by, so I may have to take that road if I don’t get accepted with enough grants + loan from private universities.</p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

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<p>@cptofthehouse‌ </p>

<p>Thank you.
I’m assuming it’s almost all like that at any public universities across country.
I’ve seen some colleges that “meet 100% need”, but also heard that the “need” definition for each colleges is really different from one other.
Again, I do know it depends on the school plus the family financial issue, but do you know if those “meet 100% need”, on average, covers how much of the “need”? Are they often talking about just tuition? or plus room, etc? </p>

<p>Yes, I did go to my local public high school.
I do have an option of a near by state university, transferring from local community college after 2 years, so I do have an option of education available, thankfully.
That’s what my sister is doing now, and my parents are really into that option since they are overly protective and think I would end up being involved in a crime if I leave home and to a university other than my local one. </p>

<p>I noticed by now that what I want to do (going to a beautiful new place where the university has all the majors I want with solid grant + loan) is pretty unrealistic, but I still can’t give up my passion of exploring different life style :slight_smile: </p>

<p>Thank you for your advice.
I know I have a pretty guaranteed admission to my local university, so I will keep that as my main route. </p>

15

<p>@BrownParent‌ </p>

<p>I’ve been practicing with ACT English and Reading, and so far I think I’m improving my scores on my practice tests that I’m doing.
I think I will focus on ACT and not SAT since I would probably have a better shot diligently working on my ACT.
I have taken ACT II in my sophomore year in Molecular Bio (730) and Math II (720).
Junior year I totally forgot about SAT IIs with my Chem, but I think most colleges are fine with 2 SAT II scores right?
If not, I’m still taking SAT II for physics, so I hope that would be ok. </p>

<p>I do have pretty good health insurance I think. My parents are really careful about health issues and insurances.
I don’t work, and thank you, I will take a look at the student contribution threads!</p>

<p>I am a U.S. citizen.
My EFC was 0.
I am a first generation college student.
How much would these matter? Not in number wise but as a rough estimate/opinion would be great.</p>

<p>I have heard that colleges have their own ways of looking at weighted GPA, so I will just pray for a good look on that!</p>

<p>My protective family has been telling me that they are going (I still don’t know if it’s a joke or not) to move with me to different states if I get into a college that I really would like to attend and has realistic financial aid.
I guess that would cover my room + board fees by living with my family, but I haven’t and I don’t think they have checked what we need to know to move around so I will check with that, if that could make affording colleges less crazy. </p>

<p>Are my test scores too low to submit to test optional schools for making my chance of admission/financial aid better? I’m aiming to raise my score, if it’s not too late. </p>

<p>I just checked the QuestBridge website, and it seems like a tough chance, but I am eligible to apply.
My problem is my essay, which I’m not strong at all, but that’s also what I’m working on this summer too.
Thank you for informing me about QuestBridge!</p>

<p>Clark is’n’t a meet 100% need school. I was interested in one of their programs before, but I researched it and found out that it wasn’t something I was passionate about, so I think Clark is off my list.
For the Mt. Holyoke NPC, it was under maintenance, so would you mind if I do Smith since it popped in my mind?
Smith is meet 100% need, I believe. </p>

<p>Right now, my parents aren’t next to me (sleeping), so I will ask them tomorrow night.
I remember doing this for UW before, but I forgot the number, so I will do it again with Smith.
But last time I did it I think I got a pretty high net price, but I’m assuming it’s because it’s UW?</p>

<p>When you said applying to grad school based on the strength of the department, do you mean my undergrad department I’m coming from or grad I’m applying to?
And do PhD programs mean your whole grad school education is based on that program from freshman year in grad up to graduation?</p>

<p>Thank you so much for your response! All the info are super super helpful :x </p>

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<p>Why aren’t you applying to your in-state universities? They will give you some good options.</p>

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<p>She is. She already mentioned instate possibilities.</p>

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<p>Your parents are going to move to wherever you go to college? Do they have jobs? Moving is very expensive. Strange that they can pay to move to another state, but can contribute nothing for college.</p>

<p>Even if your parents move, you will not get more aid. You will be OOS for the first year and the schools will still not be affordable. </p>

<p>Go instate or apply to schools that give great aid.</p>

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<p>And do check VERY carefully. In some states, if you matriculate as an OOS student, you remain an OOS student for all four years.</p>

20

<p>Minion, your family will be giving you $7-12K, at least in support by allowing you to live at home and share the roof over your heads, food and other resources that are in place. If they cannot pay anything else, which you said in your original post, then what they can give you is what they are giving you right now. Don’t take it for granted, as it really does come up to be a big chunk of change when you have to find food, shelter, necessities on your own.</p>

<p>My state colleges and unis tend to meet full need as defined by the FAFSA EFC up to the tution and fees. Living expenses, they do not guarantee to meet, nor any discretionary expenses. Those are considered expenses that family and student have been meeting all along and they are expected to continue meeting them through college. </p>

<p>If you have run an EFC estimator, you can see what your family FAFSA EFC is. If you qualify for PELL or any state money, that can be used to pay tuition for local options, along with Direct loans and jobs you might find to help defray the costs. You pack a lunch from home and you have your bed and your shelter. More than some kids have. Many with family situations where they are going to be out the door and scrambling to make necessary ends meet after high school or turning age 18, if not sooner. </p>

<p>As Mom2 says, moving is expensive. If your parents are thinking of moving for your college, better they just give you that money so that you can have for school costs right now. I thought you said they have no extra money. Having moved a number of times in my life, I can tell you it is very expensive to do so, even when moving for a better paying job which is what we did. It takes a while to catch up and we always needed some seed money to make the move which came out of our savings accounts and current paychecks. Many places require a year of residency to get state rates anyways. You need to check all of that kind of info. </p>

<p>I thought Oregon has some reciprocity with the state of Washington for some colleges. Check that out too, but the fact of the matter is that no school guarantees to meet full need as defined by FAFSA EFC when room/board and other items involving cost of attendance are in the picture. So even if you get instate tuition rates, you stil have to come up with money, unless you are lucky enough to get a package paying all or most of them. You can certainly apply and see what happens. Just keep in mind the chances are akin to a lottery and treat it that way, and make sure you have an affordable option in the mix as well.</p>