Anonymous
Post 03/12/2024 13:29     Subject: Re:Heartburn from being full pay
Anonymous wrote:OP here. She ED'd because we can pay. Just feeling some buyers remorse.


You can afford it. What’s the problem? Imagine if your kid got in somewhere you couldn’t afford.
Anonymous
Post 03/12/2024 13:29     Subject: Heartburn from being full pay
Many of these types of schools do not offer much merit aid. You can see a list here.

https://www.collegetransitions.com/dataverse/merit-aid

Boston College - 1%
Boston University - 4%
Villanova - 7%
Northeastern - 30%

I'm not 100% sure how accurate this is, but as others have suggested, you can also look at the common data set.
Anonymous
Post 03/12/2024 13:25     Subject: Heartburn from being full pay
When starting at her SLAC, DD and her friends (all kids of color) said there was group hostility directed at "full pay" students, including group chants and taunts etc. They weren't specifically identified as full-pay, and probably no-one knew, but they were shaken up and subsequently went to great trouble to conceal this. They went to great trouble to conceal this, and some started to avoid students who weren't from upscale towns or private schools, or who "seemed like scholarship students." All these kids are super liberal and progressive, but that "full pay" had a stigma and they wanted to go incognito.
Anonymous
Post 03/12/2024 13:16     Subject: Re:Heartburn from being full pay
OP here. She ED'd because we can pay. Just feeling some buyers remorse.
Anonymous
Post 03/12/2024 13:00     Subject: Heartburn from being full pay
Anonymous wrote:Why did she ED there if chances of merit were low?


This is what I don’t understand. My DD knew very clearly what $$ we had to offer her. She applied accordingly.
Anonymous
Post 03/12/2024 12:58     Subject: Heartburn from being full pay
Why did she ED there if chances of merit were low?
Anonymous
Post 03/12/2024 12:56     Subject: Heartburn from being full pay
Schools publish the percent who get financial aid, which would include merit if the school offers it.
Anonymous
Post 03/12/2024 12:55     Subject: Re:Heartburn from being full pay
OP here. Thanks all. Good tip on CDS. I now see that yes, 50% seem to get no financial or merit aid at this school. Jeez.
Anonymous
Post 03/12/2024 12:53     Subject: Heartburn from being full pay
Anonymous wrote:My DD got into a good (for them) school ED. Was a reach but not a tippy top school. She is passing up merit aid at several similar schools to go to ED school. We get no FA and can afford to pay the tuition, not easily, but we can do it. Is my DD going to be one of the few people at school who is paying the full amount with NO merit aid? I guess my question is what percent of kids at schools like BC, BU, Villanova, NE - very good schools but not the absolute top - pay full freight with absolutely no merit aid? BTW, these are not the schools DD is going to but I wanted to give some basis of comparison.



Same boat.

Or, rather, I could buy a boat if we weren't full-pay at a highly-regarded state university rather than taking merit money at somewhat lower-regarded (but still very good) universities.
Anonymous
Post 03/12/2024 12:53     Subject: Heartburn from being full pay
No, at the schools you mention usually about half to just over half of students pay full price.
Anonymous
Post 03/12/2024 12:53     Subject: Heartburn from being full pay
Even if you had aid elsewhere, it likely wouldn’t be 100%. So, your really complaining about the difference between full pay and a moderate discount. Let’s say the discount for some is $25k a year, or $100k over four years. If you can afford to pay full freight, are you really going to derail your kids choice and education for 100k? The difference isn’t going to make a big difference in your life, like early retirement. So, pay it and get happy. You and your kid will better enjoy their experience.
Anonymous
Post 03/12/2024 12:47     Subject: Heartburn from being full pay
50% of kids probably pay full freight there. That's how they got in.
Anonymous
Post 03/12/2024 12:46     Subject: Heartburn from being full pay
Anonymous wrote:Many of the schools you listed offer very little merit aid. Look at the CDS for the ED school - it will tell what % get merit aid and what average award is.


This is true. Some of those were on my DD's list and no longer are for the reasons you note. Their merit aid is really nonexistent for other than a few superstar recipients (which my DD has great grades and ECs but is not a superstar as defined by these schools).

We also will not get FA.

My DD has decided to go for lower ranked schools where she'll not only grad debt free but have money left for grad school.
Anonymous
Post 03/12/2024 12:43     Subject: Heartburn from being full pay
Many of the schools you listed offer very little merit aid. Look at the CDS for the ED school - it will tell what % get merit aid and what average award is.
Anonymous
Post 03/12/2024 12:40     Subject: Heartburn from being full pay
My DD got into a good (for them) school ED. Was a reach but not a tippy top school. She is passing up merit aid at several similar schools to go to ED school. We get no FA and can afford to pay the tuition, not easily, but we can do it. Is my DD going to be one of the few people at school who is paying the full amount with NO merit aid? I guess my question is what percent of kids at schools like BC, BU, Villanova, NE - very good schools but not the absolute top - pay full freight with absolutely no merit aid? BTW, these are not the schools DD is going to but I wanted to give some basis of comparison.