<p>I have been getting really depressed lately because basically all of the universities that I want to apply to are ultra expensive and I would need some extensive financial aid to go there. I am looking for either need based or merit based at these places... most likely need based because my stats are not amazing for these schools. </p>
<p>I. Financial Information:
- Parents make a collective salary of at least 150000 but below 200000
- Parents are divorced and dad is remarried -- child on the way in June
- Dad owns a business worth probably 300000
- Not too much of my own savings and parents savings for college (like 15000)</p>
<p>II. Academic Information:
- ACT: 34 (Science 35, Math 33, English 34, Reading 33, Essay 10)
- GPA: 95 UW estimated (8 APs by end of senior year)
- Tons of extracurrics
- Great recommendations + essays</p>
<p>Have you considered applying to some schools where your grades and scores would put you in the running for excellent merit aid? That wouldn’t be any schools on USNWR’s Top 10 list, but there are some great schools that would love to have a student with your stats.</p>
<p>If you’re committed to only Top Ten-type schools, then Harvard is your best bet… if you can get in. They have great need-based aid for upper-middle class families. Not sure if any other schools comes close to theirs for students in your income bracket.</p>
<p>I don’t know if other Ivies have this, but Princeton has a financial aid calculator that can give you an idea of what you might get. Truthfully, you do seem to be in a hard place. Good luck to you!</p>
<p>Are you a NY resident? If you are, SUNY Geneseo and the land grant colleges at Cornell are not expensive (as colleges go). Even OOS, Geneseo is a bargain and they do have some merit scholarships. Your stats are very good and, depending on your EC’s, should make you competitive for a number of outside scholarships as well. Start compiling a list/worksheet of those so you’re ready to print apps and apply when the next cycle starts.</p>
<p>I would look at the sticky for merit aid schools on this forum. Also, do a search for threads by momfromtexas called What I Learned About Full Ride Scholarships - I think there are several threads on this and they can give you alot of ideas. Finally, this site gives more detailed breakdowns of typical financial aid and is useful for comparing schools:
[Student</a> Aid on the Web](<a href=“http://www.studentaid2.ed.gov/gotocollege/campustour/]Student”>http://www.studentaid2.ed.gov/gotocollege/campustour/)</p>
<p>and find out how much they will contribute to your college tuition/expenses. Given the income you’ve listed, you are not likely to qualify for much, if any, need-based aid.</p>
<p>But – your stats are very good, and you probably could get some merit scholarships. Some schools, like URoch, offer a lot of merit scholarships, but most are in the $10,000/yr range. You can also take out an unsubsidized Stafford Loan if you file a FAFSA (whether you are judged to have need or not). So this would bring the cost down to ~$35,000/yr instead of $50,000/yr. If your parents can contribute to this level, great, you will probably have some options like URoch.</p>
<p>If, however, they can’t contribute at that level, you need to look at schools that give larger merit scholarships and state schools that will be less expensive. Do check out the link for the schools that give free-rides and also schools that are known for good merit aid.</p>
<p>If you apply to a range of schools, including financial safeties and those known for good merit aid, you should have a lot of options come next April. The good news is that you are exploring your options and understanding your financial situation right now during your junior year. You are very much ahead of the game compared to most kids.</p>
<p>Once you’ve gotten a good list of schools, if you have time this summer, visit some of them to see if they are good fits for you. Visiting also shows the schools you are sincerely interested in them, and might make them more likely to give you a scholarship.</p>
<p>Sk8ermom: Thanks for the link… I bookmarked it! I actually already visited Geneseo and I liked it alot and I visited Cornell as well and plan on applying to the College of Human Ecology. The only thing is that my parents are only willing to pay for a SUNY education (parents are divorced and dad is only obligated to pay for a SUNY education). Which is like $20,000 per year, so the contract colleges @ Cornell are too expensive for him :(</p>
<p>Mom6350: I wish that my parents could contribute $35,000 per year, but it is not happening… I am still going to apply to URoch and hope for the best anyways. </p>
<p>I think I may have to start considering some “lower level” schools that will give me more merit aid. Thanks everyone!</p>
<p>Good for you for asking these questions now. BUT it doesn’t exactly qualify as “urgent” which would imply that a decision needs to be made immediately. </p>
<p>Agreed with others…it is very important that you have a conversation IMMEDIATELY with both of your parents to find out how much they are willing to contribute to your college education annually. Until you talk to THEM, you really are punting. Your parents probably have an idea of what they can reasonably contribute annually. That may give you better direction in your college search.</p>
<p>Yes, the Ivies and similar schools have wonderful financial aid. BUT you first have to be accepted. Less than 10% of those who apply are accepted…translation…90% or so do not get accepted. The financial aid they offer is only worthwhile IF you get accepted. You need to have other choices that you can pay for as well…where you have a better chance of acceptance AND where you would be happy enrolling.</p>
<p>There is no way for us to determine your financial aid prospects. You tell us your parents total income, but don’t tell us what dad earns and what mom earns. For schools that only use FAFSA, you would use custodial parent info only. For the Profile schools, everyone is included…parents/spouses, everyone.</p>
<p>MCMVM92 said:
The only thing is that my parents are only willing to pay for a SUNY education (parents are divorced and dad is only obligated to pay for a SUNY education). Which is like $20,000 per year, so the contract colleges @ Cornell are too expensive for him.</p>
<p>I’m not familiar with the contract colleges at Cornell, but if you know you have $20,000/yr from your parents to work with, now you have a starting point. If you are willing to take out the Stafford Loan and work summers and during the school year, you could have another $5500 + ~$4000/yr for school. </p>
<p>Definitely add a few schools to your list that offer big merit scholarships as well as a SUNY school or two if that’s what you can afford without scholarships. </p>
<p>You may not be able to go to any school of your choice, but if you pick a range of schools to apply to, you will have options come next April.</p>
<p>Expected Major is Psychology/Human Development/Biopsychology</p>
<p>Mom6350: What you mentioned does make a lot of sense! If I took a Stafford Unsub Loan for 5500 a year and worked summers… it might be possible! I really did not want to take on debt when I plan on going to grad school, but I’ll do what I have to do.</p>
<p>Thumper: I really do think that I have a great shot of getting into Cornell because of my stats and the fact that the Human Eco acceptance rate is 30%+… not saying its guaranteed of course! I have my SUNY school as both a financial and actual safety just in case financial aid does not really work out.</p>
<p>If your custodial parent and his/her spouse has a lower income, you should look at FAFSA schools. While it’s true that many FAFSA schools do not meet full aid, they may have merit for a student with your stats.</p>
<p>RE: GW, I got a Presidential merit award but not the need based merit award that Neethus mentions. In fact zero from GW in need aid and my EFC was 20k fafsa/ 10K CSS profile below COA. Don’t count on need based aid with the assets/income showing above. GW has a great program but for some, it does not work. That said, you have a great shot a good merit award there $10-$20K (COA = 55K per year) Bottom line, you just have to try and not have your heart set on only one school. Make sure you have choices.</p>
They say it’s need-based, but I got more than my EFC qualified me for.</p>