Anonymous
Post 01/10/2023 09:12     Subject: Re:schools w/ no merit aid
OP: If your daughter wants to attend an all-female LAC, then check-out Smith College and Mount Holyoke. Bryn Mawr is another. Not sure whether or not merit aid is available. Agnes Scott College in Atlanta is also all female.

Unfortunately for your situation,Wellesley College does not have to "buy" students.

Anonymous
Post 01/10/2023 09:11     Subject: schools w/ no merit aid
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Long story short: we will not get any financial aid. We make too much for help but don't make enough to go full pay at a private in a way that leaves any wiggle room.

We are just starting this process, and child is an athlete that is in the midst of recruiting (only D3 at this point b/c of NCAA limits- and FTR I don't care if DC plays a sport or not but she does). I'm looking at the finances of the various schools and was shocked to learn that some of the schools she's been talking to give NO MERIT aid. DC has excellent grades, community service, ECs, and athletics.

I get she's one of many like man others . . . and I know at DC there are no athletic scholarships. But, how are people affording places like Wellesley? Their website and what I'm finding says they give ZERO aid on the basis that, essentially, "everyone there is special."

Yes, she can look elsewhere. And she is. But it is so sad to have to shut down a possibility that would, honestly, be such a perfect fit for her in every way. With room and board, etc. the cost per year is nearly $80K!!!! Two years would eat up more than our 529 has in it. Super bummed to have to limit her.


That mindset will disappoint you and your daughter. There is no perfect school or dream school and your daughter is not "limited" because one school she likes doesn't offer merit.


Her daughter is literally limited to schools that do offer merit


DP. I think the point is that everyone is “limited” by different factors, but it’s much more productive to focus on the group of schools that are options for you based on your circumstances and opportunities. OP’s kids has opportunities by virtue of being a recruited athlete—that’s great for her! Sounds like she’s a strong student, as well, which creates more opportunities. She should be able to identify a good group of schools to focus on.
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2023 09:11     Subject: schools w/ no merit aid
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Long story short: we will not get any financial aid. We make too much for help but don't make enough to go full pay at a private in a way that leaves any wiggle room.

We are just starting this process, and child is an athlete that is in the midst of recruiting (only D3 at this point b/c of NCAA limits- and FTR I don't care if DC plays a sport or not but she does). I'm looking at the finances of the various schools and was shocked to learn that some of the schools she's been talking to give NO MERIT aid. DC has excellent grades, community service, ECs, and athletics.

I get she's one of many like man others . . . and I know at DC there are no athletic scholarships. But, how are people affording places like Wellesley? Their website and what I'm finding says they give ZERO aid on the basis that, essentially, "everyone there is special."

Yes, she can look elsewhere. And she is. But it is so sad to have to shut down a possibility that would, honestly, be such a perfect fit for her in every way. With room and board, etc. the cost per year is nearly $80K!!!! Two years would eat up more than our 529 has in it. Super bummed to have to limit her.


That mindset will disappoint you and your daughter. There is no perfect school or dream school and your daughter is not "limited" because one school she likes doesn't offer merit.


Her daughter is literally limited to schools that do offer merit


But that is not "limiting" in the big picture of getting a great education at a school she loves where she can also play her sport. There are many, many schools that will be a better fit specifically because she can afford to attend them.

It is self-limiting to choose to believe you have been shut down by your "one true love."
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2023 09:09     Subject: schools w/ no merit aid
Anonymous wrote:Wellesley actually offers generous financial aid even to wealthier households. Have you run the NPC for that school? They use the CSS and take more into account than FAFSA.



Sure, 45% of students come from the highest earning 10% of families, 59% from the highest earning 20%. They are 3rd among elite schools in the numbers of students from the bottom fifth of parental income. It's very much a barbell school.




https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/college-mobility/wellesley-college
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2023 09:08     Subject: schools w/ no merit aid
Anonymous wrote:

Higher Education is a big scam. Most are just hedge funds pretending to be institutions of higher learning. All they focus on is raising capital (endowments). All are overstaffed with overpaid, mostly incompetent fools. Not sure why such highly profitable institutions are still "non profits". Tax those fu*kers and force them to spend down their endowments!


Oh stop it. It's not a scam. People expect a slew of services from universities now and that costs money. The very top of the administration is well paid, but many faculty and staff are paid similarly to how we pay people in education: poorly.

Endowments cant's be spent and most are earmarked by donors for specific purposes. That's basic and everyone in education knows that. Why don't you?
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2023 09:04     Subject: schools w/ no merit aid
Wellesley actually offers generous financial aid even to wealthier households. Have you run the NPC for that school? They use the CSS and take more into account than FAFSA.
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2023 09:02     Subject: schools w/ no merit aid
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Long story short: we will not get any financial aid. We make too much for help but don't make enough to go full pay at a private in a way that leaves any wiggle room.

We are just starting this process, and child is an athlete that is in the midst of recruiting (only D3 at this point b/c of NCAA limits- and FTR I don't care if DC plays a sport or not but she does). I'm looking at the finances of the various schools and was shocked to learn that some of the schools she's been talking to give NO MERIT aid. DC has excellent grades, community service, ECs, and athletics.

I get she's one of many like man others . . . and I know at DC there are no athletic scholarships. But, how are people affording places like Wellesley? Their website and what I'm finding says they give ZERO aid on the basis that, essentially, "everyone there is special."

Yes, she can look elsewhere. And she is. But it is so sad to have to shut down a possibility that would, honestly, be such a perfect fit for her in every way. With room and board, etc. the cost per year is nearly $80K!!!! Two years would eat up more than our 529 has in it. Super bummed to have to limit her.


That mindset will disappoint you and your daughter. There is no perfect school or dream school and your daughter is not "limited" because one school she likes doesn't offer merit.


Her daughter is literally limited to schools that do offer merit
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2023 09:01     Subject: schools w/ no merit aid
Anonymous wrote:Long story short: we will not get any financial aid. We make too much for help but don't make enough to go full pay at a private in a way that leaves any wiggle room.

We are just starting this process, and child is an athlete that is in the midst of recruiting (only D3 at this point b/c of NCAA limits- and FTR I don't care if DC plays a sport or not but she does). I'm looking at the finances of the various schools and was shocked to learn that some of the schools she's been talking to give NO MERIT aid. DC has excellent grades, community service, ECs, and athletics.

I get she's one of many like man others . . . and I know at DC there are no athletic scholarships. But, how are people affording places like Wellesley? Their website and what I'm finding says they give ZERO aid on the basis that, essentially, "everyone there is special."

Yes, she can look elsewhere. And she is. But it is so sad to have to shut down a possibility that would, honestly, be such a perfect fit for her in every way. With room and board, etc. the cost per year is nearly $80K!!!! Two years would eat up more than our 529 has in it. Super bummed to have to limit her.


They are either poor enough to get a lot of aid, rich enough to not need it, or had parents putting away a lot of money from conception.
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2023 08:56     Subject: schools w/ no merit aid
Here are some schools that were d3 that offered merit aid to my athlete, University of Rochester, Gettysburg college, Case Western, Stevens institute of Tech. D1 schools offered merit and no athletic money were Layfette College and American University.
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2023 08:39     Subject: schools w/ no merit aid
Anonymous wrote:Based on our experience with our first child, we are ruling out a handful of matches for my son that we think would be great for him but aren't known to give merit. Jeff Selingo has an excellent list of what he calls Buyers & Sellers that is very helpful as a guide in figuring this out:

https://jeffselingo.com/which-colleges-are-really-buyers-and-which-are-sellers/


Wow, this is a great resource. Thanks!
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2023 08:31     Subject: Re:schools w/ no merit aid
When others brag about where their kids go, I often think how that school wasn’t even a possibility for my kid because we likely won’t get much FA and can’t full pay.

Check out that Selingo list. We ruled out Amherst, Williams, most Ivies, probably Michigan, etc.
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2023 08:29     Subject: schools w/ no merit aid
Anonymous wrote:Long story short: we will not get any financial aid. We make too much for help but don't make enough to go full pay at a private in a way that leaves any wiggle room.

We are just starting this process, and child is an athlete that is in the midst of recruiting (only D3 at this point b/c of NCAA limits- and FTR I don't care if DC plays a sport or not but she does). I'm looking at the finances of the various schools and was shocked to learn that some of the schools she's been talking to give NO MERIT aid. DC has excellent grades, community service, ECs, and athletics.

I get she's one of many like man others . . . and I know at DC there are no athletic scholarships. But, how are people affording places like Wellesley? Their website and what I'm finding says they give ZERO aid on the basis that, essentially, "everyone there is special."

Yes, she can look elsewhere. And she is. But it is so sad to have to shut down a possibility that would, honestly, be such a perfect fit for her in every way. With room and board, etc. the cost per year is nearly $80K!!!! Two years would eat up more than our 529 has in it. Super bummed to have to limit her.


Higher Education is a big scam. Most are just hedge funds pretending to be institutions of higher learning. All they focus on is raising capital (endowments). All are overstaffed with overpaid, mostly incompetent fools. Not sure why such highly profitable institutions are still "non profits". Tax those fu*kers and force them to spend down their endowments!
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2023 08:26     Subject: schools w/ no merit aid
Based on our experience with our first child, we are ruling out a handful of matches for my son that we think would be great for him but aren't known to give merit. Jeff Selingo has an excellent list of what he calls Buyers & Sellers that is very helpful as a guide in figuring this out:

https://jeffselingo.com/which-colleges-are-really-buyers-and-which-are-sellers/
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2023 08:05     Subject: schools w/ no merit aid
Anonymous wrote:Long story short: we will not get any financial aid. We make too much for help but don't make enough to go full pay at a private in a way that leaves any wiggle room.

We are just starting this process, and child is an athlete that is in the midst of recruiting (only D3 at this point b/c of NCAA limits- and FTR I don't care if DC plays a sport or not but she does). I'm looking at the finances of the various schools and was shocked to learn that some of the schools she's been talking to give NO MERIT aid. DC has excellent grades, community service, ECs, and athletics.

I get she's one of many like man others . . . and I know at DC there are no athletic scholarships. But, how are people affording places like Wellesley? Their website and what I'm finding says they give ZERO aid on the basis that, essentially, "everyone there is special."

Yes, she can look elsewhere. And she is. But it is so sad to have to shut down a possibility that would, honestly, be such a perfect fit for her in every way. With room and board, etc. the cost per year is nearly $80K!!!! Two years would eat up more than our 529 has in it. Super bummed to have to limit her.


That mindset will disappoint you and your daughter. There is no perfect school or dream school and your daughter is not "limited" because one school she likes doesn't offer merit.
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2023 08:01     Subject: schools w/ no merit aid
Long story short: we will not get any financial aid. We make too much for help but don't make enough to go full pay at a private in a way that leaves any wiggle room.

We are just starting this process, and child is an athlete that is in the midst of recruiting (only D3 at this point b/c of NCAA limits- and FTR I don't care if DC plays a sport or not but she does). I'm looking at the finances of the various schools and was shocked to learn that some of the schools she's been talking to give NO MERIT aid. DC has excellent grades, community service, ECs, and athletics.

I get she's one of many like man others . . . and I know at DC there are no athletic scholarships. But, how are people affording places like Wellesley? Their website and what I'm finding says they give ZERO aid on the basis that, essentially, "everyone there is special."

Yes, she can look elsewhere. And she is. But it is so sad to have to shut down a possibility that would, honestly, be such a perfect fit for her in every way. With room and board, etc. the cost per year is nearly $80K!!!! Two years would eat up more than our 529 has in it. Super bummed to have to limit her.