<p>So I got into my #1 school- I applied as a low match/safety school- assuming I wouldn't really go, but after I applied I re-visited and realized how much I LOVE the school and I have my heart set on there ever since. </p>
<p>Anyway, I was wondering if I go to the school and have a meeting with an admissions rep and a financial rep would they see my interest as higher. I am not asking for a lot, I just wanted to know what other things I could look into as far as finances go. I have heard that if you go to a school and show interest that they might add to a reward? Idk how much truth there is to that though. </p>
<p>Also, I will be meeting with an admissions rep regardless. I was just wondering</p>
<p>So I guess you applied early action (not early decision) to have heard this early? I’ve never heard of someone making a personal visit to get more aid, but perhaps if you post this in the school’s forum here on CC you might get more informed responses. In theory, it should work. I have come to believe that who gets how much aid is very much a factor of how much the school wants you to attend.</p>
<p>Absolutely, yes, go visit, let them know you love the school and you want to go there, and very humbly ask if there are any more awards out there to cover your EFC. It can make a difference. I have seen it happen.</p>
<p>I have limited experience since the is the first year that I am going through it but the impression that I am getting is if you go to the school and signal “yes I want to go to this school and this is what I need” at least the private LACs have been receptive. </p>
<p>From their side of the table they have to admit a lot of kids and hope they accept. And wasting finite accepts on kids that wont go, cant go because of aid, or wont go because they only were using you as a safety must be frustrating. A lot of guess work. I think telling them how they can convert your admit into a registration is helpful. </p>
<p>I dont see any down side as long as you are humble about it. You arent an NFL first round draft choice after all.</p>
<p>Thanks! Do you guys know how I could go about bringing up the money issue, like would I mention it to admissions, financial aid or both? I feel like money is one of those topics where if I say the wrong thing, or say it in the wrong way it will hurt me.</p>
<p>My personal axe is schools making up fake prices and then everyone treating them as real. </p>
<p>But putting them aside, if this was a $20,000 car purchase you’d ask about the price wouldnt you? I agree that you should be tactful but essentially you are meeting with a salesman who is trying to get you to buy a new car every year for the next four years. I dont think he is going to be offended if you imply that you dont have that kind of money just sitting around. </p>
<p>Just like buying a car its best to do your research. Get your FAF done in advance (even if its based on estimated taxes) so you know what you are talking about. If they have an aid calculator print out the results. Know the results from your competing schools. What is your gobstopping EFC? If there is a real gap here that makes your attendance impossible mention it. </p>
<p>There are a lot of class issues involved in not being able to afford something but you’ll have to push through them. And remember all salesmen want to find away to be able to make your sale. They will probably try to work with you.</p>
<p>Are you going to call first and make an appointment each admissions and financial aid? If so, I would see admissions first, and just be yourself – tell them how excited you are about attending, mention anything specific about the school that you really love, and then you can say something like “I just have to look at all the numbers – I hope I can afford it!” I bet they’ll pick up on what you’re saying and have some ideas to help you. If not, just say “who would be the right person to talk to about that?”</p>
<p>Congrats! Make sure you do your homework on the school’s financial aid award, how it is awarded, when the notification is, are there supplemental scholarships that require additional essays or financial disclosures. You can then have a meaningful discussion with them. They will be impressed with your maturity and if there is any latitude in awarding an amount, you will have made a personal contact.</p>
<p>I want to meet admissions because there are a few questions I want to ask before I fully commit. For example, I want to know the benefits of the honors college and if it’s worth retaking my ACT for the 3 points I need to be admitted (If the website is correct, it would knock money OFF of my scholarship)</p>
<p>Talk to admissions and if it’s appropriate they will direct you to FA or contact them on your behalf. At my S’ college, his admissions rep handled his FA matters until he enrolled…through his evaluating that school vs others and including a better offer from another school, a major change, etc. </p>
<p>It’s the admissions rep, after all, who is most invested in you choosing to attend, and who is most likely to go to bat for you to make it possible. Also, there may be merit, non-need based aid, and admissions sometimes handles that, not FA.</p>
<p>Go to the financial aid forum for great advice about what strategies to use when meeting with financial aid officers. It can really make a huge difference.</p>
<p>I want to know the benefits of the honors college and if it’s worth retaking my ACT for the 3 points I need to be admitted (If the website is correct, it would knock money OFF of my scholarship</p>
<p>???</p>
<p>Are you saying that your scholarship would be REDUCED if you were admitted to their Honors College? This is Pace, right??</p>
<p>Yeah, I briefly spoke to an admissions rep before I got ky acceptance asking what it entailed and she said that I would get 15 thousand max and a laptop. However on another forum a kid said they got 21.5k and were in the honors college. I know it doesn’t make sense bit the wesite and the lady said it, there’s just a lot of misinformation.</p>
<p>From your post, you were admitted to Pace; a school that does not meet 100% demonstrated need. You received $15k on a school that has a 50k+ price tag. Even once you file the FAFSA on 1/1/2013 it will determine if you are eligible for federal/State aid (Pell, FWS, Sub/Unsub loans).</p>
<p>Even with a ) EFC the following would be added to your package:</p>
<p>Pell $5550
TAP $5000
Direct Loans$5000</p>
<p>this will still leave a 20k gap. Worse case scenario, depending on how much your parents make, you may not be Pell Eligible and you may get substantially less TAP. Other that State/Federal aid, I would not count on getting any more $$ from Pace.</p>
<p>You are looking to major in Elementary Ed with the hopes of obtaining a PhD in Clinical Psychology (neither of those are Pace’s strength). IMHO, you would be better served attending CUNY Hunter College, which is stronger in both areas. I would choose Hunter, Queens and Bklyn over Pace for the $$. Keep in mind if you work as a teacher, you must get a Master’s to get a salary increase and to keep your job.</p>
<p>Please make sure that you have some financial safeties lined up.</p>
<p>I do not qualify for pell or tap and am expecting close to nothing from the fafsa. I have received a 19 thousand dollar scholarship, in addition to 5500 from the stafford loan and 6.5-7 thousand me and my mom can put in. The gap is about 18000 dollars. Everything isn’t set in stone, and EFC may change due to different circumstances this year.</p>
<p>Jazzi–people told you all through this process to find schools you could afford. What schools do you have on your list that cost $25,000 or less? If you don’t have any, I suggest you apply to some soon, like today because that is what you can afford to pay, end of story. Your $19,000 scholarship can and will hurt you at many schools so find out if they stack outside scholarships or if they take away school scholarships/grants upto the outside amount. The scholarships you got are great, however they just aren’t enough to afford the school and to take out $100,000+ in private loans to be a school teacher is just plain stupid.</p>
<p>As for awards other kids got, it’s very possible that another student with a better GPA and better test scores got a higher award than you did. Your test scores are VERY low in comparison to your GPA and that IS going to hurt you for merit aid. Had you gotten a comparable test score, 30 or so, to your GPA, your merit options would have been better.</p>