La Salle College Counseling
Early Spring Senior Newsletter
Senior Spring Checklist
Check Application Portals - Admissions decisions for La Salle seniors are continuing to arrive. Check your emails and application portals. You might have good news in your inbox! As you hear back from college, please update the admission decision in your SCOIR account. And stop by the counseling office to give us your news–would love to hear your updates! National Decision Day is May 1.
In your portal, please stay tuned to due dates and offer acceptance instructions. Tip: At some schools, you must apply for housing right away.
Comparing Financial Aid Awards
After students have received decisions from all of their colleges, one factor in comparing options will be financial aid awards from each college. Unfortunately, colleges do not use a standardized format for the information in these awards, so they can vary widely and be confusing or even deceptive in the way they present the awards.
Among some of the terms you may see on a student’s financial aid award letter are:
Grants or Scholarships:
Student Loans:
Subsidized loans do not accrue interest until after student graduates while unsubsidized loans do accrue interest. Student loan payments do not start until six months after graduation or when the student ceases to be enrolled. Interest rates for student loans are controlled by the federal government and will be predictable.
Parent Loans:
These loans are frequently included in award letters, but they are usually private loans that a family is responsible for securing and paying back beginning immediately when their student enrolls.
Student Work-Study:
Enables a student to work on campus, but the student must still get and keep a job, which can be a challenge for some students as they adjust to college.
Consider using this award letter comparison tool to gain further clarity on the cost of attending a particular college here: https://www.collegecovered.com/award-letter-tool/
Please schedule an appointment with your La Salle College Counselors to get further guidance on understanding and comparing financial aid award letters.
Financial Aid
Can you appeal your financial aid award? The answer is yes if certain circumstances apply.
Can you negotiate your financial aid package? Yes, sometimes colleges will negotiate.
Please see Link on how to effectively approach both of these questions.
Negotiating for More Financial Aid: Five Effective Things to Say
College Visits, Admitted Students
Will you be visiting colleges over spring break? If you are an admitted student making a final decision, you may be able to attend a specific event designed for accepted students. Contact your school for more information. Or, your school may recommend that you contact the admissions office and let them know you’re planning to visit campus for decision-making purposes. Either way, coming prepared with a list of questions that are important to you will help make the visit more productive and efficient. Taming the High Cost of college has a comprehensive and downloadable list that can help you identify some questions you may consider asking on your visit. Or you can find 5 excellent questions on the College Covered handout.