Parent Testimonials About Financial Aid
Many college-bound students are unaware of the scholarship and financial aid possibilities that are available. A private college should not be ignored simply due to its “price tag”. Total costs are certainly an important consideration, but apply to the schools of your choice, both public and private, and allow them the opportunity to show what they can do for you. You may be surprised as to how “affordable” a Virginia private college can be.
Jennifer A.
We have three children, ages 29, 21, and 19. My oldest was
fortunate to find a company who paid for his two year degree and employed him
when he finished the program. With our two youngest being so close in age, my
husband and I truly were not sure of how we would afford college, but we knew
we wanted them to have the opportunity to go if they chose that path. In
looking at colleges, my daughter, who at the time had just been diagnosed with a
severe chronic illness, did not want to be too far from home. And truthfully, we agreed.
She had toured Randolph-Macon and in looking at the initial
price tag we had sticker shock. But sticker shock does not always mean that the
price tag that is on it, is what you get it for. I attended scholarship
seminars, financial aid sessions, and used numerous other resources to figure
out how to cover this expense without working until we were physically unable
to work anymore to pay for their education. I scheduled an appointment with the
GRASP counselor at her high school and after we went through all the confusing
aspects of college expenses, in reality Randolph-Macon was the clear choice. When
we
broke down the cost, it was
essentially the same as a state-funded school. In addition, once we received
our financial aid package from the college, they were also able to help us
obtain additional funding given the extreme medical expenses we were incurring.
I now have two children at Randolph-Macon and even with both
there, on a true financial aid package the cost would be extremely close to
that of a public college.