@deacons12 were you alerted by email or snail mail?
Sure, you can talk to them. It is unlikely to change, but depending on how much you are asking for and if you can provide some factor they may not have taken into account it is possible. But if is simply “this isn’t enough, we need more” then that would most likely be useless. Most successful appeals, from what I hear, is when you can show that money that might appear to be available if one just looks at the forms really isn’t readily liquid or otherwise attainable.
But unless you revealed something new in talking to them that worked against you, you have nothing to lose by trying. They won’t lower your FA, except for what I just said, which I assume is very unlikely.
@Undercovermom1 Received an email very late in the day and the information was available on Gibson. I will say that they came very close to covering the need (difference between Cost to Attend and EFC) but about 1/3 is loans. We are very happy with the aid!
@deacons12 how much would the total loans be for 4 years?
For us, $40k ($10k/year) but obviously every situation/amount of “need” is different.
For us the caveat on our generous FA is that it is a result of having another child already in college, so when she graduates in 2 years assume we would get next to nothing. So it is important to realize that FA is not guaranteed all 4 years like merit aid is for the most part (assuming grades and other criteria are met)
@myjanda - That is a great point and we are in the exact same situation.
Is it necessary to accept the terms of the merit scholarship in order to receive the full financial package? If one accepts the terms of the award does that mean the applicant is committing to Tulane?
I don’t think you have to accept the terms of the merit scholarship for the rest to show up, but it cannot hurt. Accepting the terms of the merit scholarship is not the same thing as committing to Tulane, so no worries there. Even if, for some reason that were wrong (and it isn’t) you have until May 1 to change your mind no matter what you have told any college, even if you have sent in a deposit. Tulane even refunds your deposit if you were to do so. Many schools do.
So go ahead and check off that merit scholarship box or whatever it is they are asking you to do and sleep well. You will have no more commitment then you do right now.
Thank you @fallenchemist.
Since it is showing up as the only unsatisfied item on the FA checklist, I was worried that it might be holding up our final FA package.
Well, perhaps they are waiting for that. Oh now that I think about it, the merit award is figured into your need based package, since you have less need with the merit money in hand. So I take back what I said about not having to accept the terms before you see the full package, but I am 100% positive it obligates you not at all.
So I was wondering about the FA package as well. Gibson shows the Merit Scholarship in the FA table. I get that but then I wasn’t sure if that was it, or if it was still being worked on. I figured at minimum there would be opportunities for Loans and/or work study etc. Just got off the phone with the FA group who told me, at least in our situation, FA was ‘not completed yet and should be posted by end of this month early April.’ There you have it.
I’m an international student and just received word that I am ineligible for need-based financial aid from Tulane University. I definitely need aid to attend Tulane (their maximum of $20,000), and it’s one of my top schools. I am quite unsure and confused about what steps I need to take…
Just received an email from Tulane to check our Financial Aid. Other than the much appreciated merit scholarship, there was only a note saying that Tulane expects us to be approved for the $5,500 per year federal school loan. Disappointing. That middle class squeeze. Can’t afford expensive private colleges and can’t get any significant financial aid.
Right there with you @txdad56.
I’m an international student and still haven’t heard anything about aid. I mailed in my financial aid documents months ago as required.