How to afford a top private university?

Question

My goal is to attend a top private university, but I don't see how my family will be able to afford it. I'm currently a high school sophomore doing very well in school; however, I'm in no outside activities, no athletic programs, etc.

My mother has been ill for many years and outside activities are very difficult for me, although not impossible. Add to this the pressures of taking a nearly full schedule of Honors or AP classes each semester and I don't have a lot of time left in my day. In other words, I won't have a music or athletic scholarship under my belt and there's no time to even start at this point.

Does this mean I shouldn't even try to apply to a rather highly selective school? My Mom attended Northwestern University in the 1980s and they met her financial need, with the balance due made up with student loans. Are some colleges still so generous or has the financial aid system completely changed? Thanks.

Answer 1

Financially, schools still offer help to those who really need it. However, you've got to get in first. The top privates have tons of resources and make a real effort to make sure kids for less wealthy families can still go to their school

Are you the only caretaker for your mom? No dad? Is that why you couldn't do extra currics. I noticed you said it wasn't impossible, meaning you recognize you could have done more. Getting in to a top private uni is going to be darn near impossible with 0 extra currics. If you had to work and still take care of your ailing mom, that's a good reason. However, her simply being sick isn't.

The reason is there are lots of poor kids with a rough situation but still manage to do something. My wife is a perfect example. Poor family. On welfare for a while. Dad was really sick and finally died before she graduated high school. She still lettered in softball for a couple years and did some other stuff. Her resume wasn't nearly as full as other kids from wealthier families, but it wasn't blank. But, she had to have something b/c she wasn't the primary breadwinner in her family, altho she did share in helping care for her dad.

Anyways, what's wrong with a public school? I'm going to assume you're in Illinois? UI-Urbana is a top ranked school. Maybe not Harvard level, but still respected. If you go on to grad school, your undergrad won't matter too much anyways.

Answer 2

Apply to the school of your choice, do not let the financial aspect scare you out of it. When the time comes, apply for federal financial aid, it's called a FAFSA Form. That will determine how much free money and or loans will be given to you for that school year. Loans are on option and do not give up on scholarships, so much money goes unrewarded each year. Try a web site called Fast Web, it's www.fastweb.com and it offers endless opportunities for scholarships. Also, not all scholarships are just for outside activities. I had no time for them in high school either, but I was in AP English and excelled in it to where I was top in the class and received my school's English scholarship. Also, private schools offer more help than a regular university, speak with the financial aid department at the school of your choice to see what they can offer you and what other help there may be, good luck!

Answer 3

I believe this remark "i won't have the ability to think of of a single inner maximum faculty in south dakota that's worth that a lot money. in case you have been going to a appropriate 20 LAC or college, then you quite ought to justify the value, yet on the grounds which you're no longer, you're dropping money. circulate out." or maybe then, in case you recognize for a actuality which you are going to be a instructor or have any low paying interest, i does no longer spend that a lot quantity of money only to have a level from X college, because of the fact it quite quite quite won't rely. save your self the money, circulate out.

Answer 4

Loans. If you get in, the college will make sure that you can afford it. Then again, my real question for you is to whether your private university will give you a better education than another one that is cheaper?