Financial Aid Packets for Masters programs

[emma1frost]

After having made a decision about a masters program I was surprised to learn that the school I accepted will not be sending a financial aid packet. Is this normal?

I got a letter from the department I applied to about a scholarship, which was great. But nothing more about how to cover the rest of the tuition and fees for the year.

Maybe this is the way grad programs do things? I remember during the undergrad process there was a itemized list of fees/tuition as well as how to cover them and what options I had.

After a great follow through in the initial application process, I feel a little thrown to the curb during the financial portion of the process.

What's going on?

[jcassidy81]

I'm having the same difficulty. One of my programs has advised in my acceptance letter that it would be coming "in a few weeks" (that was on 2/28), and the other advised that I wouldn't receive one until AFTER I accept (which is bizarre to me).

Have you tried contacting the financial aid department directly? This was helpful for me.

[emma1frost]

Yes, I got the same answer from the financial aid office. They said I would only get the semester invoice once I accepted and matriculated into the program. Which is odd because how else can I make an informed decision unless I know all the financial repercussions.

Very frustrating. I have emailed both the financial aid office as well as the grad school department and I have both been given vague answers or just quoted directly from the website.

[jcassidy81]

That's extremely frustrating - sorry to hear that. Depending on what your degree is in, I guess it's not completely out of the question - the one program I am waiting for the fin aid package from told me straight up in my interview that there's no money to be given (which I appreciated). Did anyone tell you prior to your acceptance (i.e. in your interview) that assistance was or was not an option?

Otherwise, I would start tracking down alternative ways to pay for the program (i.e. scholarships, grants, loans). Unless you're already aware of them, Fastweb.com is a great resource, as well as The Foundation Center (http://foundationcenter.org/). Best of luck!

[emma1frost]

Thanks! The weird thing is that they did offer me a scholarship. It covers only a part of the full amount, but then silence after that as to how I am supposed to pay for the rest. It's not like I can go and get myself a federal stafford loan by myself. That stuff is passed through the school, right?

[Lia19]

I think submitting the FAFSA is the crucial thing; that is how Stafford loans and work-study get doled out, both at the undergraduate and graduate level. Did you submit a FAFSA?

[rockhopper]

Did any of you sign an official acceptance letter? I have not yet committed anywhere but the place that I'm considering has sent me an official letter with the exact financial aid offer they are making me. It's pretty much a contract and I feel safe with it, knowing the chairperson of the department has signed it, too.

I have declined other schools who have not offered me anything by the way of financial aid. There's no way I'm taking out more loans than what I already have from undergrad, and I'm definitely not working full time in grad school

[emma1frost]

I think submitting the FAFSA is the crucial thing; that is how Stafford loans and work-study get doled out, both at the undergraduate and graduate level. Did you submit a FAFSA?

Yes, I filed a FAFSA way in the beginning of the process. Which is even more frustrating because I submitted everything they needed before all their deadlines and still this strange limbo.

[Canadianlinguist]

I am an international student, applying to linguistics MA programs. I have a linguistics degree, a french degree, an educational (TESL) minor. I have been rejected from one school and accepted from another and am waiting on six. As an international student you can imagine my sadness when I got into Syracuses MA program without funding. It is hard to inmagine anyone who can afford to go there without loans. It is impossib le to get American loans and the Canadian goverment won;t grant you loans to go to American schoosl. As a graduate from a state university in the U.S (where I was on an athletic scholarship), where my whole life is, and my degree isn't respected by Canadian grauate schools. Anyways, Syracuse gives TA's to MA students that teach forigen langauges (expect french of course because they fill those spots with their own program), basically making it understandable. However, I am scared, about not getting funding anywhere. I talked to my parents and they said that they could figure it out for me if I get tuition coverecd. SO I need some kind of assistantship, somewhere, but right now I am worreid about syracuse because thats where I have the acceptance....Any suggestions?

[PrattIAFF]

Thanks! The weird thing is that they did offer me a scholarship. It covers only a part of the full amount, but then silence after that as to how I am supposed to pay for the rest. It's not like I can go and get myself a federal stafford loan by myself. That stuff is passed through the school, right?

Typically, the award yuo get automatically from the school is merit-based. These fellowships/scholarships/assistant-ships come from the department that administers your degree program. It sounds like you've heard all you are going to about funding from the degree program itself.

There is a separate process for applying for need-based aid through the University's financial aid department. They can offer help with grants, loans, federal work-study, etc. So now it's time to visit, call, or email financial aid to determine what your options are.

[nimo6211]

Hi: I have been admitted to UChicago -SSA MA and the department offered me a scholarship that covers half the tuition. I also received a preliminary aid package (loans and work study) but with a shortfall of $13,000 (as per COA) that is not guaranteed because it is a Gradplus loan and depends on credit check,. What happens if one's credit is poor and cannot secure a co-signer? Are there any other options apart from, worst case scenario, withdraw for a local state university that has given me a financial aid package with loans half the cost? The problem is I am still an unclassified student because I have not received an acceptance letter from SFSU. Furthermore, their MSW program is not as attractive as UChicago's.

So, I am kind of stuck in the same "sinking" ship right now.

[Rachel B]

Hi: I have been admitted to UChicago -SSA MA and the department offered me a scholarship that covers half the tuition. I also received a preliminary aid package (loans and work study) but with a shortfall of $13,000 (as per COA) that is not guaranteed because it is a Gradplus loan and depends on credit check,. What happens if one's credit is poor and cannot secure a co-signer? Are there any other options apart from, worst case scenario, withdraw for a local state university that has given me a financial aid package with loans half the cost? The problem is I am still an unclassified student because I have not received an acceptance letter from SFSU. Furthermore, their MSW program is not as attractive as UChicago's.

So, I am kind of stuck in the same "sinking" ship right now.

Are there opportunities to work on campus? Have you looked at outside scholarships or fellowships? What about private loans through a bank?

Edited April 18, 2012 by Rachel B