UVA Class of 2014 Forum

[sundance95]

Man, this is definitely freaking me out. My only real consolation is how much worse this budget would look if I were going to school in Philly or NYC...

[r6_philly]

Man, this is definitely freaking me out. My only real consolation is how much worse this budget would look if I were going to school in Philly or NYC...

Penn's budget is projected to be 70k.

[arism87]

FWIW, several UVA students in this forum at various times have said they didn't even come close to needing the amount of money in the budget.

[esq]

Does anyone know if by a preliminary review of financial aid, they mean that they are still looking into who will get merit/need based scholarships, or is this typically the last stop for financial aid decisions?

[r6_philly]

Does anyone know if by a preliminary review of financial aid, they mean that they are still looking into who will get merit/need based scholarships, or is this typically the last stop for financial aid decisions?

I think they have to verify your financial info after you deposit, like sending in your tax forms and such. Most of my packages say the same.

[thelaststraw05]

Does anyone know if by a preliminary review of financial aid, they mean that they are still looking into who will get merit/need based scholarships, or is this typically the last stop for financial aid decisions?

From what I've gathered (quick conversations with both the Financial Aid and Admissions offices), this is the offer.

[Malcolm8X]

FWIW, several UVA students in this forum at various times have said they didn't even come close to needing the amount of money in the budget.

Js got my package . I'm sure we don't need the whole $70K. I'm going to try and cut it down to $60K. Hopefully $58K. As little loans as possible.

[esq]

Well . . . Indentured servitude here I come!

[quetzal_bird]

I don't completely understand. UVA has refused to negotiate with any merit aid with me. I sent Trujillo an e-mail with my scholarship award from Chicago attached, and I got an email back telling me UVA won't match it because its cheaper to live in C'ville and travel is less costly. But the 70K packet is on par with Chicago's. Should I stop any discussion of merit aid with UVA at this point or keep trying? I'm not going to UVA if they can't at least match Chicago and I feel like I made that clear in my email

[c_dubya_s]

Does everyone have a $70k budget? If so then tuition went up? I will need to ask them to bump my budget for family expenses then.

Wow over $125k in loans even with a large scholarship. slightly scared for a brief moment.

I'm guessing tuition went up--it went up by $2,000 last year, so a $3,000 increase is possible this year I guess.

[OrdinarilySkilled]

Academic scholarship is merit based I assume? Mine includes one but I haven't been notified of anything. Nice surprise that suddenly swings my decision way in UVAs favor.

[Malcolm8X]

Does everyone have a $70k budget? If so then tuition went up? I will need to ask them to bump my budget for family expenses then.

Wow over $125k in loans even with a large scholarship. slightly scared for a brief moment.

I'm guessing tuition went up--it went up by $2,000 last year, so a $3,000 increase is possible this year I guess.

I'm sure tuition went up, but jeez, I hope not by $3K!

[thelaststraw05]

I don't completely understand. UVA has refused to negotiate with any merit aid with me. I sent Trujillo an e-mail with my scholarship award from Chicago attached, and I got an email back telling me UVA won't match it because its cheaper to live in C'ville and travel is less costly. But the 70K packet is on par with Chicago's. Should I stop any discussion of merit aid with UVA at this point or keep trying? I'm not going to UVA if they can't at least match Chicago and I feel like I made that clear in my email

I was really kinda hoping that they would match my Michigan offer. They don't have the excuse of cost of living difference between Charlottesville and Ann Arbor.

[suspicious android]

Academic scholarship is merit based I assume? Mine includes one but I haven't been notified of anything. Nice surprise that suddenly swings my decision way in UVAs favor.

Congrats. Mind sharing your gpa range and $$ amount? Curious to see who gets these second wave scholarships.

[quetzal_bird]

I don't completely understand. UVA has refused to negotiate with any merit aid with me. I sent Trujillo an e-mail with my scholarship award from Chicago attached, and I got an email back telling me UVA won't match it because its cheaper to live in C'ville and travel is less costly. But the 70K packet is on par with Chicago's. Should I stop any discussion of merit aid with UVA at this point or keep trying? I'm not going to UVA if they can't at least match Chicago and I feel like I made that clear in my email

I was really kinda hoping that they would match my Michigan offer. They don't have the excuse of cost of living difference between Charlottesville and Ann Arbor.

Its not even that they won't match, its just that I've sent 2 emails about aid - both of them polite - to UVA and each answer has been flippant and condescending. This is a 200K decision and they aren't giving me any useful information in order to make it. Its completely turned me off the school, and UVA was my top choice

[sundance95]

Man, this is definitely freaking me out. My only real consolation is how much worse this budget would look if I were going to school in Philly or NYC...

Penn's budget is projected to be 70k.

Then either this will be more than enough (as arism pointed out) for UVA or Penn's is going to feel very tight. Likely somewhere in between. There's just no way that C'ville is going to be as expensive as Philly.

[r6_philly]

FWIW, several UVA students in this forum at various times have said they didn't even come close to needing the amount of money in the budget.

Js got my package . I'm sure we don't need the whole $70K. I'm going to try and cut it down to $60K. Hopefully $58K. As little loans as possible.

You don't have to ask all the loans to be disbursed if you don't need it. You can just reduce the amount prior to disbursement. This budget only shows your eligibility to borrow.

[sundance95]

If one requests less then the total amount available, will it be possible to later get the rest if needed? Or is it one disbursement and done?

[thelaststraw05]

I don't completely understand. UVA has refused to negotiate with any merit aid with me. I sent Trujillo an e-mail with my scholarship award from Chicago attached, and I got an email back telling me UVA won't match it because its cheaper to live in C'ville and travel is less costly. But the 70K packet is on par with Chicago's. Should I stop any discussion of merit aid with UVA at this point or keep trying? I'm not going to UVA if they can't at least match Chicago and I feel like I made that clear in my email

I was really kinda hoping that they would match my Michigan offer. They don't have the excuse of cost of living difference between Charlottesville and Ann Arbor.

Its not even that they won't match, its just that I've sent 2 emails about aid - both of them polite - to UVA and each answer has been flippant and condescending. This is a 200K decision and they aren't giving me any useful information in order to make it. Its completely turned me off the school, and UVA was my top choice

You are a better person than me. For me it is that they won't try to match or give me something. I just want to be able to make a reasonable decision that keeps me near my wife.

[r6_philly]

Man, this is definitely freaking me out. My only real consolation is how much worse this budget would look if I were going to school in Philly or NYC...

Penn's budget is projected to be 70k.

Then either this will be more than enough (as arism pointed out) for UVA or Penn's is going to feel very tight. Likely somewhere in between. There's just no way that C'ville is going to be as expensive as Philly.

Philly has expensive side and not so expensive side. You can certainly get away with 5-600/month housing with a roommate. But you can also easily spend 1500+/month. Food/groceries are a bit cheaper down there but it's not that bad if you don't shop on/around campus.

Edit to add: housing will actually be less for me here in my house. I only pay $1250 a month for my 3BR single house.

[r6_philly]

If one requests less then the total amount available, will it be possible to later get the rest if needed? Or is it one disbursement and done?

I have not tried this, but you may want to have the larger disbursement in the Fall, and reduce it in the spring.

[esq]

Man, this is definitely freaking me out. My only real consolation is how much worse this budget would look if I were going to school in Philly or NYC...

Penn's budget is projected to be 70k.

Then either this will be more than enough (as arism pointed out) for UVA or Penn's is going to feel very tight. Likely somewhere in between. There's just no way that C'ville is going to be as expensive as Philly.

Philly has expensive side and not so expensive side. You can certainly get away with 5-600/month housing with a roommate. But you can also easily spend 1500+/month. Food/groceries are a bit cheaper down there but it's not that bad if you don't shop on/around campus.

Edit to add: housing will actually be less for me here in my house. I only pay $1250 a month for my 3BR single house.

R6, are you still considering Penn and Cal? Or have you made up your mind on UVA?

[r6_philly]

R6, are you still considering Penn and Cal? Or have you made up your mind on UVA?

Still considering. I laid out my offers from multiple schools on spreadsheet and they all have PV within 20k of each other (still waiting on Boalt). So basically seeing the financials has been no help! I will visit and regroup. Maybe whoever wants to up the aid will get my deposit? lol They are all quality schools, I am sure I can get a wonderful education no matter which I choose, so maybe cost is back as a #1 factor.

[socraticmethodman]

ugh, 70k in loans

[esq]

Still considering. I laid out my offers from multiple schools on spreadsheet and they all have PV within 20k of each other (still waiting on Boalt). So basically seeing the financials has been no help! I will visit and regroup. Maybe whoever wants to up the aid will get my deposit? lol They are all quality schools, I am sure I can get a wonderful education no matter which I choose, so maybe cost is back as a #1 factor.

Not a bad spot to be in for sure. Cal has a Wine Law focus, if that helps at all.