When the dream school(s) isn't/aren't affordable

[Anonymous]

I assume she applied to Fordham?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I assume she applied to Fordham?

Well, not yet. Rising senior. That's one of her top schools - but again, affordability is an issue.

[Anonymous]

What are her stats? You don't have to post them but if you target schools where she is not mid range but at the top of range for SATs/GPAs, that opens up avenues for merit scholarships.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I assume she applied to Fordham?

Well, not yet. Rising senior. That's one of her top schools - but again, affordability is an issue.

Ah, I see. Well, in my experience, they have good financial aid, work study, scholarship opportunities for top students, but I know those are not exactly guaranteed options...

[Anonymous]

You need to check out college confidential and other sources to get an idea which schools give good merit $$. I think it's generally true (was true in our case) but the easier the school was to get into, the more merit aid our kids got (no FA). So make a long list of colleges that meet the general criteria. Maybe put them in USNWR rank order and work your way down the list. And keep an open mind. At some point hopefully you'll hit a school that DD likes that give a nice $$ package. It may take some work and you may have to apply to more schools than you thought. (But getting big $ from BC, GTown, Villanova, Fordham is not likely, IMO)

[Anonymous]

What about UW-Madison? Obviously not Jesuit, but it's sorta urban, has name-brand recognition, and is a fun school overall. And if you're in WI, in-state tuition makes it a great deal...

As a Catholic, I like the Jesuits too but in all honesty, there's opportunities for service at every single college in the US. I wouldn't limit the search to just Jesuit/Catholic because she wants to give back to the community.

[Anonymous]

Alabama gives a ridiculous number of merit awards. I realize that it doesn't fit your criteria (it does have a business school though), but the point is there are all kinds of random schools out there that may have what you want and be affordable, you just need to research.

[Anonymous]

University of South Carolina has an awesome honors program, is located in the state capitol and gives great merit $$. You just need to keep looking.

[Anonymous]

University of South Carolina has an awesome honors program, is located in the state capital and gives great merit $$. You just need to keep looking.

[Anonymous]

Saint Joe's near Philadelphia. It's really suburban, but adjacent to the city. I don't know how diverse.

La Salle in Philadelphia is Christian Brothers ( I think), probably more diverse, possibly too small... not name brand, but work and service oriented.

Villanova is not diverse.

WOuld she consider one of the east coast all women's colleges? If she's an excellent student, they may offer aid. They are very community service oriented. Gues s Boston College is too expensive?

[Anonymous]

PP again- Seattle U?

[Anonymous]

Jesuit/Catholic schools in general aren't known for their financial aid.

My kids also will be limited by our HHI--too much to get much financial aid, too little to comfortably swing much more than about $35k per year (including loans). The difference is, I don't really feel bad about it--I don't believe in "dream" schools, and am a firm believer that life is all about compromises.

Run the net price calculators on college websites. If you get an estimate that us more than you can afford, move on unless (a) your DD's stats are comfortably in the top 25% of accepted students AND (b) the school gives merit aid. Don't let your DD dream and stew about schools you can't afford. Schools like Fordham (crappy aid) should be dismissed out of hand.

The reality is that schools in the NE are often more expensive and less likely to give merit aid. But she doesn't need to be on the east coast for name recognition. Don't ignore your state schools. Also consider: University of Denver, Case Western, SUNY Binghamton, the College of New Jersey, Tulane, Pitt, UDelaware.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about UW-Madison? Obviously not Jesuit, but it's sorta urban, has name-brand recognition, and is a fun school overall. And if you're in WI, in-state tuition makes it a great deal...

As a Catholic, I like the Jesuits too but in all honesty, there's opportunities for service at every single college in the US. I wouldn't limit the search to just Jesuit/Catholic because she wants to give back to the community.

+1 if you live in Wisconsin, Madison is the obvious choice.

[Anonymous]

Also, UMinnesota

[Anonymous]

Check out some of the Quaker colleges whose ideals might resonate with your DC?

Also, I agree with taking a look at College Confidential. I would avoid the 'Chance Me' questions. They are way off base and the people answering are NOT the decision makers.