Reply to Did anyone get more than $30K in merit aid at private college?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]DS is a junior. We're starting the college search.  We don't qualify for FA, but can't afford more than $25K per year.

He's applying in-state, but wants a few more options. (3.87 unweighted gpa, but poor PSAT math scores, probably English/theater major). He's considering East Coast schools that offer merit aid like Juniata, Ursinus, U Vermont, Allegheny, Lesley, Fairfield, Muhlenberg, Mary Washington, Saint Michael's, Clark, Washington College (MD), College of New Jersey, etc.

BUT, I'm wondering, has ANYONE with similar stats received more than $30K in merit aid at any of these or similar private colleges? Anyone received in-state price at public OOS schools?

[b]I don't want to waste our time applying [/b]if there's no hope that merit aid awards will bring DS's cost down to around $25K.

Thanks! [/quote]

Wrong approach. You need to apply and let it play out. [/quote]

Worst advice EVER.[/quote]

How so? [/quote]

Generally speaking, people with family incomes north of $180k (i.e., DCUM "middle class) and two kids will receive ZERO financial aid. Let me say that again: ZERO. The cost to attend college will be in the neighborhood of $60k per year unless the student goes to an in-state public or an OOS public with reasonable OOS tuition (i.e, not Michigan, UVA, W&M, or any UC), or unless the student is awarded merit aid by a private college that gives merit aid. (Most of the USNWR top-rated schools give financial aid only, no merit aid.)

Estimate your expected family contribution using the on-line estimator and look at that number closely. It's likely a low-ball of what colleges will expect you to pay. If you can't afford that number, it's time to take a good, hard, realistic look at where your kid can go to college. If you can't afford your EFC, your kid should not waste any time looking at Ivy League schools and their ilk.[/quote]

This is where we are, and we have four kids. We cannot pay $60K or whatever the EFC says. We can't. We're not crying poor. It's the cost of private colleges that's too high. In-state, we can and will pay. If OOS costs were lower, we'd have a lot more options for DC. If private tuitions were lower, we'd also have a lot more options.

The private SLACs we've visited seem outrageously outfitted. They have these gigantic sports complexes that cost $40 million, arts buildings that cost $60 million -- why?? If they didn't spend so much $$ on these expensive buildings, which do not add anything to the actual education they offer, they could charge reasonable tuition, allowing middle class kids like mine to attend. As it is, they are getting rich kids and poor kids, but the middle class are out. If that's what they want, fine. But it's not diverse, nor is it representative of the US. And isn't it the middle class that adds stability to most communities, including colleges?[/quote]

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