My income is too high to qualify for need based aid. However, I really do want to go to a competitive school where the price tag can be up to 70k per year. Parents do not want to fill out FAFSA/CSS Profile. What’re some thoughts on still attending those schools where merit aid may be low or even nonexistent.
Are your parents willing to pay 70k a year? Getting merit scholarships from top schools is extremely difficult as you have to stand out from an already competitive applicant pool so I would not bank on it.
My thoughts? If no one is going to pay for you to attend a $70,000 a year school that gives only need based aid that you can’t receive…then you can’t attend the schools. Period.
Simply put…the colleges will expect the bills to be paid. No payment…no registration.
What WILL your parents pay? That plus any merit aid is your budget…if you don’t qualify for need based aid OR your parents refuse to file the financial aid applications.
You know…you can get an excellent college education at schools that cost far less than $70,000…especially if that $70,000 exceeds your family budget.
Some schools will also require you to fill out the FAFSA for merit aid.
You need to be chasing merit aid if your parents won’t pay for you to go to college.
Any chance you are a national merit finalist?
You are a high school senior…now. Have you discussed post high school plans with your parents. What do they want you to do? Is there an instate public university where you will get a full ride?
You posted a list of high flying colleges in the summer that give need based aid only…(except for BU…but their highest scholarship is tuition only). Have you looked at other more affordable options of your parents won’t complete those financial aid forms?
And this you wrote…
Please…please don’t think it’s OK to take out loans (If you can find a cosigner) for $70,000 a year undergrad school. Because Med school will definitely be loans…loans…and more loans!
If I were you I would goto the cheapest available school. With you credentials so.e might give you full ride scholatships.
I should know.
I got one 20+ years ago.
My parents paid 0 for my college.
Through work study, work, and minimal student loans I was able to put myself through college. I went to a college that actually paid me a stipend to attend. AMD my GPA wasn’t even nearly as good as yours.
Another thing you might consider is trying for a 6 or 7 year combined bachelor’s/m.d. program. Very competitive but might save you money and nerves in the long run. You will get your m.d. 1-2 years earlier and be way ahead of your peers.
Here you say you had minimal college loans…but on another thread you say you still have a $20,000 college loan balance? Which is it…those are very contradictory statements.
I have 100k+ in graduate school loans. I paid off the last of my grand total of $10k in undergrad loans a few years back.
Thank you for the clarification!
There is a difference between what we want and what we need. Now that you’re a young adult, you have to focus on your needs. You need schools that offer merit aid, and that’s where you should be looking. If those are your stats in post #4, then well done!
@wahs0720 No. These colleges doesn’t care for applicants in your position. You’ll feel frustrated as you have no control over parent’s finances and you can’t get enough loans or work-study to pay yourself but that’s how it is. Their sympathy is as selective as their admissions.
You should look at southern colleges on top 20 list, they do offer some merit scholarships. If you don’t get one there than you go to second or third tier and there you’ll find more merit money.
How much will your parents pay?
These stats will help you get scholarships at a college - without them you’d be looking at commuting to wherever you can afford with a job.
Apply to UAlabama Tuscaloosa (the main campus), UT Dallas AES, Temple, Pitt, UMN Twin Cities, UKentucky.
It might be too late for USC Columbia’s extensive Honors College application but check it out.
That act 36 may be valuable to Vanderbilt and WashU so you may try your luck there. Perhaps also for Emory Scholars.
Have your parents explained why they don’t want to fill out FAFSA or the CSS profile?
Have you run the NPC on any meet need top college?