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College Majors Music Major
41

<p>My son finished his last audition yesterday. This morning he called me to ask if I had sent him a package or anything....which I hadn't. So, he tells me he had a slip to pick up a package, but it was from the towns post office, not the schools..(this is a little confusing, actually) so, he went to town to see what it was, and they told him they sent it up to the school..lol, of course this was right about noon, so the schools mailroom is now closed. He's going crazy. I told him that it must be good news, maybe its a huge HUGE pack of information from a school sending him an acceptance??? or, if not..someone may have sent him an early birthday gift, since his is in 10 days. </p>

<p>Poor kid, I'd be going nuts if I were him.....cause its driving me crazy!</p>

42

<p>Yay! My son just finished his 7th and final college audition two hours ago! Now all he has to do is WAIT! Ugh. It feels like forever since his first audition 5 full months ago! We cannot wait until the whole thing is over and behind us. Every day he anxiously checks the mail. And usually there's something in there from one college or another. But so often, it's just another letter like the last ... "to qualify for merit scholarships, be sure your FAFSA is done by such-and-such a deadline" or "we're glad you're interested in [blank] college; be sure to watch your mailbox (or online account) for further information." Good grief, it's suspenseful and tiresome. But for now, he and I are just glad he's done with the audition process! Oh, to make the time go faster ...</p>

43

<p>Just got Lawrence University's Financial Aid package. Eliminated them because not worth the additional cost. After scholarships/grants (but not loans and work study), it would be $15,000 more per year than UW Madision (and UW Madson has not come back with full FA package yet).</p>

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<p>That was a fast turn-around for Lawrence! Their final auditions were just last Saturday.
Were they able to stack a few scholarships/grants? I know they won't stack the maximum academic merit with the maximum artitistic talent. But will they add more money to the primary academic or primary artistic award?</p>

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<p>You are comparing in-state big public school tuition with small private LA college cost, yes?</p>

<p>What do you mean by "not worth the extra $15k?" Can you rough-estimate your math and and explain Lawrence's offer vaguely, if not specifically? </p>

<p>BTW - If you have eliminated Lawrence from consideration, how about letting them know for us? That's another open spot in a small conservatory and we are waiting to hear. LOL</p>

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<p>
[quote]
That was a fast turn-around for Lawrence! Their final auditions were just last Saturday.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Son auditioned in December for Lawrence, and was admitted a while ago. We finally got the FA award letter. At last summer's Classical Singer HS Competition, he was given the Trustee Scholarship, so the rest the FA office could do.</p>

<p>
[quote]
You are comparing in-state big public school tuition with small private LA college cost, yes? ...

[/quote]

yes.</p>

<p>Here are the details for Lawrence:
Tuition, fees, room & board is $41,649
Trustee Scholarship: $12,000, Lawrence Grant: $5,500, WI Tuition Grant: $2,900
Net cost: $21,249. They also offered $9,900 of loans and work study.</p>

<p>Details for UW Madision:
Tuition, fees, room & board is $15,270 (in state)
Music Clinic Scholarship: $7,570 (awarded last summer at the UW Madison Summer Music Clinic)
Net cost: $7,700 (I haven't received their FA package yet).</p>

<p>Diff: $13,549, which I rounded to $15k</p>

<p>Assumed books, personal expenses, travel, etc would be about the same.</p>

<p>Yes, we will be letting Lawrence know right away. I was hoping Lawrence would stack scholarships (music and academic), but they did not offer it. I think Lawrence is a better music school, but I don't think it is $13,500/yr better. Plus, son's friends are going to Madison.</p>

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<p>^^^Thanks for breaking it down, OperaDad. I did know their policy was to not stack music and academic, but to give the largest of either category earned. And their largest music award of $12,000 is larger than their biggest academic award (I think that's $10,000?). It's nice to hear that they'll give a grant on top of the award.</p>

<p>We're in the same boat, where financial aid packages and final cost will weigh very heavily on my son's college decision. It's hard to beat state school prices.</p>

48

<p>
[quote]
their biggest academic award (I think that's $10,000?)

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Their largest academic award is the Warch Scholarship - $15,000 per year</p>

<p>Lawrence</a> Admissions - Academic Scholarships</p>

49

<p>Thank you for sharing this very helpful information. My comment about telling Lawrence right away was an attempt at humor. </p>

<p>Why do Wisconsin residents get grants for attending when the school seems very intent on drawing from outside the region? Is it a state aid requirement, alumni fund or what? If S is accepted, we face higher cost and all the airline tix, not to mention having son so far away. </p>

<p>The bottom line here, for your obviously talented and smart son, is that both options are outstanding values for what they promise. At least that's the way it looks to me!</p>

<p>Obviously, UW and Lawrence are "apples and oranges." I would not go so far as to judge the different prices as "worth it" or not, since I think the educational experience itself is probably pretty different. Not better, not worse, just different. </p>

<p>In the East, public universities are under a lot of pressure from budget deficits, huge enrollment increases, overcrowding (classroom and dorms) and UCONN., for example, is looking at an 8-10% tutition increase for next year. Private schools are having their difficulties too. But you know all this already as a parent of the next college class.</p>

<p>Again, you have great choices and great scholarships available and I think you are in an enviable position.</p>

50

<p>
[quote]
My comment about telling Lawrence right away was an attempt at humor.

[/quote]

yes, but you know how picky some people can get. Although we have sent in the form, we are still discussing the letter my son will send to a teacher that has been quite helpful (my daughter is still a student there, so don't want to get anyone upset).</p>

<p>
[quote]
Why do Wisconsin residents get grants for attending when the school seems very intent on drawing from outside the region? Is it a state aid requirement, alumni fund or what?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>It is a State program.</p>

<p>HEAB</a> Student Financial Aid Programs</p>

<p>
[quote]
Obviously, UW and Lawrence are "apples and oranges." I would not go so far as to judge the different prices as "worth it" or not, since I think the educational experience itself is probably pretty different. Not better, not worse, just different.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>"worth" in this instance is the price differential, not an absolute value statement. I think Lawrence has a better voice program (apples to apples comparison). If Son didn't get the scholarship for Madison, then the cost differential would be much closer, and a tougher choice. Then it would have been an apples to oranges comparison of all the other things each school has to offer.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Again, you have great choices and great scholarships available and I think you are in an enviable position.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Yes, thank you. It was a friend in Jr High that got him to try out for the school musical with him. He didn't become serious about singing until end of Soph year. We just thought it was another instrument he wanted to learn. It took us a while to realize he had special talent and this could be his ticket.</p>