With many students visiting campus, the main question I hear from parents and students is, “How can I get financial aid?” (which is actually pretty fitting since I work in financial aid).
1. Use the Net Price Calculator.
Even though I can’t tell each student what they may potentially receive once they apply, I can lead them to our Net Price Calculator (NPC). The NPC can provide an estimated financial aid package, including the overall net price that a student can expect to pay to attend Rochester. Each school is required to have a NPC on their website, but what makes our NPC awesome is that it is specifically designed for the University of Rochester. When filling it out, remember that the information you receive is only as good as the information you put into it.
Another question I receive from students and parents is, “Can you tell me what merit scholarship I will be getting?” The answer is… no. Your merit scholarship is determined during the admission process, which is separate from our financial aid application review. Even though we can’t tell you what you might receive, take a look at the NPC. On the results page, there is a choice that says “show merit profiles.” You’ll be able to browse six merit profiles, choosing the one that fits your academic qualities best. I want to stress that even if you feel you fit into one of the merit profiles provided, it’s not a guarantee that you’ll receive that scholarship. The NPC gives you an idea of what your options are in terms of financial aid and the impact that a merit scholarship will have on your estimated costs.
2. Meet your deadlines!
And now I’m going to share with you a secret on how to get the most financial aid you are eligible for at University of Rochester. . . . Meet your deadlines! Yep, that’s it. Once you complete your requirements, the elves (putting a little holiday flavor in this blog) in the Financial Aid Office put together your financial aid package. Once you find out that you have been accepted to UR, your financial aid package will follow a couple of weeks later (as long as you have completed all your requirements). Since we are working toward being a paperless office, your financial aid notification will arrive via email. It’s important that you check the email account that you provide on your admission application since that’s the email we’ll be using.
3. Talk to your counselor.
The Financial Aid Office is here for any questions you may have during this sometimes stressful time. Even if you haven’t applied for financial aid but you have a few burning questions that you need answered, give us a call! Our front desk staff are very helpful and can answer a lot of your basic questions. If you don’t have time to call, you can always send an email to your counselor as well. Don’t be nervous to get in contact with us; we’re pretty cool people!