[HGSE Fall 2015]

Unfortunately, I think the idea is that this is Harvard and they don't need to give decent financial aid in order for students to go there.  Seems a bit mean spirited for students who probably aren't heading into especially lucrative careers after the degree, though.

 

I actually did e-mail financial aid a formal request for review, explaining that some specific personal situations, and that the FAFSA is psychotic and clearly doesn't understand the cost of living in the Bay Area.  They reviewed my letter and awarded me $7k in additional Perkins Loans and also $5k in FWS, which I originally didn't get -- even though I received it at the other schools to which I applied.

 

So, not a huuuuge amount but definitely a help!  I would encourage you to reach out to them if you have a financial situation not captured on your FAFSA.  This at least made me feel like HGSE wants me to be there, which I think might have been half of my frustration

[HGSE Fall 2015]

This is the response I got when I emailed the Financial Aid office:

 

We use various criteria in determining your eligibility for specific awards, and unfortunately you did not qualify for a Federal Work Study Award or Federal Perkins Loan.  Later in the year if funding becomes available and we are able to adjust our eligibility requirements we may award these funds and would notify you of the change if this is done.  Since there is no guarantee of additional funding we recommend that applicants make their admissions decision based on their current financial aid package.  Hopefully this helps answer your questions- best of luck and have a good day.

 

Has anyone else e-mailed or called Financial Aid?  Anyone had any luck with getting more money?  I am so, so frustrated at my measly aid package... HGSE has always been my top choice but I am freaking out about money, especially after being offered so much at Columbia.  I also can't believe I didn't qualify for work study since I did qualify at Teachers College.  Anyone having luck with this?

[HGSE Fall 2015]

I got the max grant, but they paired that with an unsubsidized loan that doesn't come anywhere near covering program expenses (and nothing else).  It would be nice to have a conversation and learn a little more about their methodology.  Yesterday they weren't answering the phones -- understandably -- but I think I'll also try to get in touch with them somehow.

 

I feel you.  I'm so confused about their methodology.  I was also accepted into Teachers College and given $23k in merit-based and experience-based (Americorps) awards plus the $20,500 in Unsubsidized loans, $7k in Work Study, and a $12k PLUS loan.  TC seems to be calculating need based on the tuition PLUS the cost of living, which is why the grants and loan offerings add up to well over their $43k tuition.  I don't see anything that comes close to the $70k Harvard states as our total budget in my measly offering of $8k in need-based grant coupled with the Stafford loan.

 

Has anyone been able to talk to them about their allocation process?  Is this just because they're Harvard and don't actually give a sh*t if I come there next year or not?