My child got a nice merit scholarship to one of her schools. It was for a large amount, 20k. Is there any point of asking for more? The school is very expensive and although the cost is down a lot it is still just above our what I had hoped.
If it is your daughter’s first choice school, and she will attend if the cost can be lowered a bit, tell them that. If they’re at all receptive, they will ask how much you need the cost reduced, so you should have a figure in mind.
Thank you. I do have a figure in mind around 5k more would fit into the upper budgeted amount we planned. We don’t qualify for financial aide. I was told and tell me if u agree or not to focus more on her accomplishments. Or should I say the extra money would help us ?
Do you have lower cost options that are peer schools? Did she get offers elsewhere?
How does she stand as against the other candidates, is she VERY desireable or just above their statistics?
Yes have a number ready to go.
They know her accomplishments - that’s why they admitted her. At this point, it really is “just the facts, ma’am.” If she will definitely attend with the extra funding, and will not attend without it, then say so.
Or, if she will attend regardless of whether or not you get the extra funds (because there is not a College B waiting in the wings), then you can simply say that you “don’t know how you’d be able to make it work” without the additional funding.
Keep it simple and direct.
Yes she did get offers elsewhere some schools are lower others higher With the cost of college I ponder having her go to the least expensive school.
since the school gave her money I’m thinking they would like to have her. She is top 10 in high school perfect sat 2 in Chem and bio. Sat 2100 and 4.0 avg. our high doesn’t weight over 4.0 Has volunteer hours, works a job, founded a club iN high school
Did her grades and scores net her the highest merit scholarship that the school gives ? If she did not get their biggest scholarship, what does she need t get the next level scholarship
Did she get s combination of merit and need based aid or only merit?
What does the college post about merit scholarships? The school my daughter attended had specific dollar amounts for specific score/grade accomplishments. Those were not negotiable. The school really wanted her so they upped her financial aid when we requested more help.
I spoke to the school and they said they do review appeals.
She also applied to ga tech. I understand they don’t give much if anything fir merit for out of state kids. Is this correct. Haven’t gotten package yet but curious if others have any comments.
My DD is at GT and we are OOS. Yes, GT does not give much merit money to OOS. Most merit money is given to those who are accepted early action. Those students usually find out if they received the provost scholarship within two weeks of their acceptance decision and others will begin the process of the presidential scholarship at that time too. I don’t think you can get the presidential is you are accepted via regular decision because the interviews took place back in February.
My DD received a one-time merit scholarship through the GT Alumni Club of $1200 that was 0 because included on her “financial aid” award. Most OOS students simply get loans as their financial aid from GT so do not expect much in the way of financial aid from GT. We didn’t qualify for aid, but in reality my DD received more than students with EFC of $0 since she had that small scholarship. There are a few scholarships for OOS like the Goldbum (sounds like it) which apply for students who are from states that border Georgia. My DD has also be awarded merit scholarships through GT’s WIE department. Those are not awarded until April of the first year and are very competitive.
OOS students make GT affordable through a combination of things-student co-op for multiple semesters so that the money earned during internships or co-ops can be used to pay tuition. My DD is using this option and earning enough this summer to pay for next year’s tuition portion. OOS are also charged in-state tuition when they do study abroad so my DD has done that option. Finally my DD has been fortunate to get $10-$14K a year in private scholarships so through the combinations I described we make GT affordable for us and my DD has no loans. My DD knew she had to do all that I described to make GT affordable for us.
In response to your original question, I would definitely contact the college to inquire about any other monies. My oldest child who applied back in 2010 did great with merit money and was not a valedictorian and did not have a SAT over 2000. The college who wanted him ended up giving him three merit scholarships which amounted to a full ride. He had to write essays for one of the scholarships so see if your DD has any departmental or other merit scholarships she can still apply for at that college you mentioned. Good luck.
@itsv can I ask where your son went?
@SeekingPam Ohio State, but one of the scholarships he got is no longer available. He received the Buckeye, Morrill, and a trustees scholarship which they let him stack for $133k. Still OSU is a good option these days. My current students have received Buckeye and I think a Provost so it some out to between $17-19k a year in merit which then brings the price down to something affordable for the OOS middle class families I help. Plus they usually get honors or scholars program and have no problem graduating in 4 years. Sure does beat our UC’s out in my home state in terms of not struggling for classes or majors and at a good price. I know my son was lucky and in the right place at the right time. Alabama is doing it now with the type of merit awards they are currently giving to OOS.
Thank you @itsv. I know OSU has become incredibly popular in my area. What would you estimate the cost for OOS merit receiving students ends up being? Also at what level does a student have to be 30/3.8 or higher?
AU is not an option for us, too far.
@/itsv. Thank you for your informative response. She did do early decision and applied to alumni scholarship since we didn’t hear anything i assume she got nothing. I know we will get nothing in financial aid. Does appealing at gt for merit money work? Or is it futile
is the coop open to freshman also?
And are coop summer opportunities competitive or is it guaranteed if you apply?
also does coop push a four year program into 5? I believe that’s what northeastern does
At many schools doing a co-op does make the program 4.5 to 5 years. At my daughter’s school, I think it extends it by just a summer, but that requires the students to take online courses during the co-op jobs. I think most schools that offer co-op programs also extend financial aid through the extra time, so the same 8 semesters of aid but spread over 5 years.
@SeekingPam If you PM next week, I can pull some of my students’ files and let you know their gpas and sat scores which will give you an idea of what it took to get National Buckeye and the other scholarship.
@willis25 Alumni Scholarships were listed on my DD’s financial aid award despite us not qualifying for financial aid from GT. Those awards are usually released around April 7. If you DD is majoring in engineering, then around January she can apply to small merit scholarships (between $1K-$5K) though GT’s Women In Engineering Program. The scholarship is retroactive for that year so my DD’s get that money and saves it for the following year. These scholarships are competitive and based on the application it is important to show support for women in STEM. You have to have a 3.0 to apply. By the way, the person in charge of WIE is wonderful and very supportive of the students.
I suggest you not appeal GT for merit. You can do it, but do not expect much. I know under some circumstances students are granted in-state tuition status and have a particular program where they can apply for it to be applicable to them, but I can’t remember the name. For example one student had a lot of bad things happen to her family (parent got cancer etc) and she applied under this program and got in-state status.
Co-Ops. My DD had a few friends co-op during their freshman year, but it was for the summer after their freshman year. GT is sort of a “year round” school so students are on campus fall, spring and summer. They don’t have to attend all terms, but classes are offered. My DD wanted to do a co-op so her advisor worked out a schedule so that she could graduate in 4 years and still do a three-semester co-op. A great deal of students secure their co-ops or internships at the Fall career fair. Since freshman have only been on campus 3-4 weeks, they go to the fair to get experience, but don’t really expect a job. However in my DD’s program I know at least 3 freshman who got jobs during their freshman year college fair. They did the co-op over the summer. All co-op positions are competitive in that it is a normal job hiring process. GT doesn’t make the hiring decision, the employer does. I will say this- most of my DD’s friends all have co-op or internship positions if they wanted it. My DD decided to do study abroad so she didn’t interview until her 2nd year and she did very well in the job market. To help your DD with acquiring a co-op or internship as a freshman, make sure she has her resume done in the GT style before she gets to campus. The career center can help her as well as their online resources.
Sorry for the long response, but I just wanted to make sure to give you the information.
@itsv thank you for your wealth of information. My daughter is a biochem major so unsure what coop opportunities are I’m hoping the same opportunities as women in engineering program Getting something over the summer and graduating on a 4 year track wb ideal. It’s wonderful your DD has done so well and able to get the most of her GT time. I