Target lower tier schools for merit aid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our DD has similar stats. Applied ED to a top school and Tulane. We were hoping she’d get offered merit aid from Tulane and then we’d decide based on how much was offered. Tulane deferred her which was a bummer. She got into the top school which was frankly shocking (& her first choice) and she went with that (with some aid).
Try Tulane and Boston U, but maybe apply either ED to the school with aid if she really wants to go there or just apply regular for all. Our friends kid did that and he is going free at Boston U.

Can I ask what Byour DD was offered in merit? Based on CC, it looks like some top private offer merit aid, but it would only cut down cost to about $40+K, which is still more expensive than in-state options.

It’s financial aid, not merit. The very top schools save secret merit aid for the next Einstein only and that’s a rare thing. Yes, it will be about 40k for us with her contributing some from work study and a small loan. We’ll be eating boxed Mac and cheese for 4 years but she has worked hard so off she goes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your family makes less than 150k and maybe even less than 200k, I would still look at some top tier schools. Your daughter has really impressive stats and some schools offer excellent financial aid. These tend to be schools with high endowments per student (HYPS, Amherst, Grinnell).

Grinnell gives merit aid, so should be on the list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our DD has similar stats. Applied ED to a top school and Tulane. We were hoping she’d get offered merit aid from Tulane and then we’d decide based on how much was offered. Tulane deferred her which was a bummer. She got into the top school which was frankly shocking (& her first choice) and she went with that (with some aid).
Try Tulane and Boston U, but maybe apply either ED to the school with aid if she really wants to go there or just apply regular for all. Our friends kid did that and he is going free at Boston U.

Can I ask what Byour DD was offered in merit? Based on CC, it looks like some top private offer merit aid, but it would only cut down cost to about $40+K, which is still more expensive than in-state options.

It’s financial aid, not merit. The very top schools save secret merit aid for the next Einstein only and that’s a rare thing. Yes, it will be about 40k for us with her contributing some from work study and a small loan. We’ll be eating boxed Mac and cheese for 4 years but she has worked hard so off she goes.

Your DD might get some merit aid though, you never know.
What is her top choice? The thing is is that even with those stats kids are rejected every day from schools so it was surprising that she got in, it really was.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here: We live in VA. We’re lucky to have great in-state schools. We estimate (if accepted): ~$30+ UVA, ~$28 W&M, and $20 something VT. We just don’t know what other options there are if she looked at another tier? She’s our oldest. We don’t qualify for need based aid. We’ve saved money for her (and siblings)- but just want to explore options.

If you don’t qualify for aid and you have saved some for her and she has worked this hard shouldn’t you support her in her goals? Are the other kids even good students? Maybe you should scrimp on the other kids and not the one who has worked her rear off?

Translation: "Shouldn't you go into debt for your child as you approach retirement, and short your other kids who may have learning or other issues which impede their ability to perform at the same level as their older sister, thereby creating potential lifelong implications for sibling relationships?"

[Anonymous]

My son got merit aid from every school he was accepted at and is not a top student. A few of the schools offer some level of merit aid to almost everyone..the issues is how much. I would apply based on interest in the school and then see what happens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A STEM-focused female with those stats? Yes, she can get merit aid (ranging up to full tuition or even a full ride) lots of different places.

What is she looking for in a school? Size? Urban/rural? Distance from home? Ocean? Mountains? Big-time sports? Greek life? Key question here: engineering school?

She's grown up here in the DC area, so she prefers urban, distance is not an issue, and she does like sports and school spirit. She doesn't have an idea yet about Greek? She was leaning engineering school, but has expressed interest in biotech/microbiology.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our DD has similar stats. Applied ED to a top school and Tulane. We were hoping she’d get offered merit aid from Tulane and then we’d decide based on how much was offered. Tulane deferred her which was a bummer. She got into the top school which was frankly shocking (& her first choice) and she went with that (with some aid).
Try Tulane and Boston U, but maybe apply either ED to the school with aid if she really wants to go there or just apply regular for all. Our friends kid did that and he is going free at Boston U.

Can I ask what Byour DD was offered in merit? Based on CC, it looks like some top private offer merit aid, but it would only cut down cost to about $40+K, which is still more expensive than in-state options.

It’s financial aid, not merit. The very top schools save secret merit aid for the next Einstein only and that’s a rare thing. Yes, it will be about 40k for us with her contributing some from work study and a small loan. We’ll be eating boxed Mac and cheese for 4 years but she has worked hard so off she goes.

OP here: my DH and I don't want to crush her dreams and have not eliminated schools in this price range and higher. But we do know that she will likely go to graduate school (more $$$) and that she can thrive in most places. So, the search is on!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here: We live in VA. We’re lucky to have great in-state schools. We estimate (if accepted): ~$30+ UVA, ~$28 W&M, and $20 something VT. We just don’t know what other options there are if she looked at another tier? She’s our oldest. We don’t qualify for need based aid. We’ve saved money for her (and siblings)- but just want to explore options.

If you don’t qualify for aid and you have saved some for her and she has worked this hard shouldn’t you support her in her goals? Are the other kids even good students? Maybe you should scrimp on the other kids and not the one who has worked her rear off?

Translation: "Shouldn't you go into debt for your child as you approach retirement, and short your other kids who may have learning or other issues which impede their ability to perform at the same level as their older sister, thereby creating potential lifelong implications for sibling relationships?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our DD has similar stats. Applied ED to a top school and Tulane. We were hoping she’d get offered merit aid from Tulane and then we’d decide based on how much was offered. Tulane deferred her which was a bummer. She got into the top school which was frankly shocking (& her first choice) and she went with that (with some aid).
Try Tulane and Boston U, but maybe apply either ED to the school with aid if she really wants to go there or just apply regular for all. Our friends kid did that and he is going free at Boston U.

Can I ask what Byour DD was offered in merit? Based on CC, it looks like some top private offer merit aid, but it would only cut down cost to about $40+K, which is still more expensive than in-state options.

It’s financial aid, not merit. The very top schools save secret merit aid for the next Einstein only and that’s a rare thing. Yes, it will be about 40k for us with her contributing some from work study and a small loan. We’ll be eating boxed Mac and cheese for 4 years but she has worked hard so off she goes.

OP here: my DH and I don't want to crush her dreams and have not eliminated schools in this price range and higher. But we do know that she will likely go to graduate school (more $$$) and that she can thrive in most places. So, the search is on!

Your obligation is over for grad school so don’t factor that in. For engineering or science they will pay her a salary and for her classes for grad school, if it’s medicine or law let her take out loans - your salary (or a rural job) will support her, not to worry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our DD has similar stats. Applied ED to a top school and Tulane. We were hoping she’d get offered merit aid from Tulane and then we’d decide based on how much was offered. Tulane deferred her which was a bummer. She got into the top school which was frankly shocking (& her first choice) and she went with that (with some aid).
Try Tulane and Boston U, but maybe apply either ED to the school with aid if she really wants to go there or just apply regular for all. Our friends kid did that and he is going free at Boston U.

Can I ask what Byour DD was offered in merit? Based on CC, it looks like some top private offer merit aid, but it would only cut down cost to about $40+K, which is still more expensive than in-state options.

It’s financial aid, not merit. The very top schools save secret merit aid for the next Einstein only and that’s a rare thing. Yes, it will be about 40k for us with her contributing some from work study and a small loan. We’ll be eating boxed Mac and cheese for 4 years but she has worked hard so off she goes.

OP here: my DH and I don't want to crush her dreams and have not eliminated schools in this price range and higher. But we do know that she will likely go to graduate school (more $$$) and that she can thrive in most places. So, the search is on!

Your obligation is over for grad school so don’t factor that in. For engineering or science they will pay her a salary and for her classes for grad school, if it’s medicine or law let her take out loans - HER salary (or a rural job) will support her, not to worry.

[Anonymous]

We, too, have a STEM-focused girl with good stats, and we also live in Virginia, with an HHI <$130K. Thing is, she wants a small school (<2500 students) and the options in Virginia are not plentiful. She went to Juniata’s Open house last month and really liked it, sat in on a Chemistry class and got to talk to the professor (a lady). That made a big impression on her. We’ll be looking at a number of schools on the CTCL list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We, too, have a STEM-focused girl with good stats, and we also live in Virginia, with an HHI <$130K. Thing is, she wants a small school (<2500 students) and the options in Virginia are not plentiful. She went to Juniata’s Open house last month and really liked it, sat in on a Chemistry class and got to talk to the professor (a lady). That made a big impression on her. We’ll be looking at a number of schools on the CTCL list.

Ah, thanks. what other schools are you looking at from that list? I see these schools pop up in discussions. I'd love for someone to chime in who has direct experience?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We, too, have a STEM-focused girl with good stats, and we also live in Virginia, with an HHI <$130K. Thing is, she wants a small school (<2500 students) and the options in Virginia are not plentiful. She went to Juniata’s Open house last month and really liked it, sat in on a Chemistry class and got to talk to the professor (a lady). That made a big impression on her. We’ll be looking at a number of schools on the CTCL list.

Once she gets into the thick of her engineering classes in her major even the biggest state schools become small schools. The climate for women is often better at a school with a good number of female students and female professors so I’d put that on the list more so than a small school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here: We live in VA. We’re lucky to have great in-state schools. We estimate (if accepted): ~$30+ UVA, ~$28 W&M, and $20 something VT. We just don’t know what other options there are if she looked at another tier? She’s our oldest. We don’t qualify for need based aid. We’ve saved money for her (and siblings)- but just want to explore options.

If you don’t qualify for aid and you have saved some for her and she has worked this hard shouldn’t you support her in her goals? Are the other kids even good students? Maybe you should scrimp on the other kids and not the one who has worked her rear off?

Translation: "Shouldn't you go into debt for your child as you approach retirement, and short your other kids who may have learning or other issues which impede their ability to perform at the same level as their older sister, thereby creating potential lifelong implications for sibling relationships?"

OP here: Trust me, DH and I have had this conversation. Tough one to talk about. He is a finance guy - and is very practical. I'm all emotion and heart, which is not a great thing for college admissions. It's a business decision, but we are committed to sending her somewhere she we love.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We, too, have a STEM-focused girl with good stats, and we also live in Virginia, with an HHI <$130K. Thing is, she wants a small school (<2500 students) and the options in Virginia are not plentiful. She went to Juniata’s Open house last month and really liked it, sat in on a Chemistry class and got to talk to the professor (a lady). That made a big impression on her. We’ll be looking at a number of schools on the CTCL list.

Once she gets into the thick of her engineering classes in her major even the biggest state schools become small schools. The climate for women is often better at a school with a good number of female students and female professors so I’d put that on the list more so than a small school.

She’s not interested in engineering, per se. Probably chemistry or biochem. I’m an engineer and I’d definitely steer her to larger schools if that was her interest, but right now, it’s not.