‘Dollars and Sense’ Answers Financial Aid Questions

This week more than 30 families will receive detailed information about their financial options at ONU, thanks to an innovative series of seminars, called “Dollars and Sense,” hosted this week on the ONU campus.

Limited to just eight families per session, the seminars offer individual meetings with financial aid counselors, personalized financial aid package estimates and group sessions to learn more about admissions, finance options and to talk with current ONU students.

“We kept it small because a large part of the event is an individual meeting with a financial aid counselor,” explains Melanie Weaver, director of financial aid. “Our hope is these families can learn early on that ONU is affordable for them and take out some of the mystery that seems to exist because families typically do not get complete aid packages from us until March.”

In addition to having their questions answered, families can eat lunch in the dining hall and tour campus.

“The families I’ve met with were happy to get an idea of what to expect on an award package and had many questions about the process and loan options available,” Weaver added.

Betsi Werling, assistant director of financial aid, added, “
I have enjoyed the meetings because it allows us to get to know a family and provide a more personable experience. I think the families appreciate receiving the information we provide. Many times families just look at sticker price alone and I would say all of the families I have met with really can see how to make ONU a reality."

According to Dean Karen P. Condeni in admissions, these events cover four separate seminar days but additional appointments are occurring. “We found that parents really appreciated this opportunity, so once our openings filled up, we decided to arrange other times beyond the four days.”

The seminars are directed to parents of high school seniors, some who have already applied to ONU.