Son of AGDee's College Search Thread

[KDCat]

Originally Posted by HQWest

In reality, it is not uncommon for schools to offer one aid package to freshmen and then either tuition goes up and the scholarship/aid does not or aid goes down in later years. Everyone should know up front that it is up to the university how much aid they think you need! (So for example, when your daughter graduates, they might decide to reduce Halo's aid package?)

Also, many of the financial aid programs are tied to maintaining a certain GPA. If that is a 3.5 it is not so bad, but needing to keep a 3.8 or a 4.0 could be tough. I see a LOT of transfers from private schools or out of state to big in state school happening for this reason.

There are tons of schools who DON'T do that, though. And any school should be able to state clearly what aid/scholarship money is guaranteed for 4 years as long as conditions are met and what aid/scholarship money is subject to renewal each year.

I have to confess to being biased. I think even a year in a liberal arts environment is EXTREMELY worthwhile for kids on all sorts of levels. I hope my kids take a year or two at an LAC if it's at all possible, even if they decide to transfer elsewhere to complete a degree.

[HQWest]

Product of an LAC myself, but I can see the benefits of both sides.

If money is a concern it doesn't hurt to ask, and no one will be surprised if you did. Read all the fine print. Tuition is a lot of money. How many threads are on here about transferring or having problems because of transferring? It's better to know now than be having to transfer next year because things are not all going according to plan.