Hello there, I'm a junior trying to plan my college expenses and Russell Sage College is one of my considerations. I did some research but didn't find explicit answers. Can any Russell Sage students shed some light on their financial aid process? Like what kind of aid is easier to get and how to increase my chances of getting it? Thank you!
Russell Sage College offers a combination of need-based and merit-based financial aid. They use the FAFSA to determine eligibility for federal and state aid, as well as their own institutional aid.
For need-based aid, the best strategy is to complete and submit your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) as early as possible. Since the FAFSA is always released on October 1, it's wise to have everything ready and submit it on that same day if you can. The closer to that date, the better, as some aid is awarded first-come-first-served. Make sure to input the Russell Sage code on the FAFSA so they receive your data.
The FAFSA calculates your Student Aid Index (SAI) - formerly EFC - which is used to determine your federal aid eligibility. Russell Sage, like many colleges, also uses this figure to award its own need-based aid. The lower your SAI, the higher your demonstrated need, and the more likely you are to receive need-based aid.
On the other hand, merit-based aid at Russell Sage comes in the form of scholarships, primarily based on your academic record - your GPA and course rigor, primarily. They don't seem to require any separate application for most of these scholarships; they automatically consider all applicants. They also consider your extracurricular activities and leadership roles, looking for a depth of involvement rather than breadth. Think less about the number of activities and more about your meaningful engagement within a few.
Additionally, you can search for external scholarships and grants, which can help offset costs.
All in all, the key to increasing your aid at Russell Sage is maintaining a strong academic record, being actively involved in quality extracurricular activities, and filing your FAFSA as early as possible with all the proper details.
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