<p>DD is devastated. She got in (Yay), but her FA letter is way lower than we'd hoped. She got a $26K package, but that still leaves $20k. Our family finances have changed dramatically since last year's taxes, but it is almost impossible to prove until next year's taxes (very complicated situation). A merit scholarship (engineering perhaps?) would have been her saving grace, but there was none mentioned in her online FA award. Rice is her number 1 pick school and she REALLY wants to go there. Heartache!!!</p>
<p>Why don’t you try calling the financial aid office and explain this complicate situation?</p>
<p>I could (and probably will). But I’ve already been through this with Georgia Tech and they wanted paperwork that just doesn’t exist. DH has been self-employed for years. 2008 was a pretty good financial year for us, but his work has now totally dried up. There are no paystub records and such to provide. There are no cancelled contract records to give. His income has just shriveled up. (Yes, he’s a Jack #ss! that I’ve been fighting with for years over his lack of records!) Now to add to the complications, I filed for divorce today. What a mess!</p>
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<p>Daughter gets in to Rice and Mom’s life is in an upheaval, parents about to divorce. Sounds to me that this one is on you- take it all, anything you can muster together and talk to the folks at financial aid. It seems to me with the availability of campus jobs, tutoring and student loans you might find a way to tackle this 20k per year “problem”.
You have a great kid, heartache indeed.</p>
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Doesn’t mean Rice will. Calling their FA office will definitely be the place to start if there is any hope, and if there isn’t any hope then at least you won’t worry anymore.</p>
<p>yeah you might as well try. the worst they can do is say they cant help you.</p>
<p>You can let them know a change in status. They know things changed this year. However, if you have saved money over the good years, they will figure you can spend some of that now even though it is a bad year.</p>
<p>I didn’t get a chance to call the FA office yet. (Busy looking for a new place for me and 3 kids to live.) We don’t have savings, but we own our home outright (about $240K). Husband won’t pay anything towards her college other than incidentals, especially since she’s got an offer from Pitt that will only cost her/us $5K/yr. He believes she should get her own loans like he did. (He went to the local university and lived at home in Canada). He has never even heard of Rice nor does he see value in one school over another.</p>
<p>I’m not sure if this is a legit possibility, but what about a gap year? A chance to work and make some spare $ and then you can submit this year’s tax returns for finaid?</p>
<p>Pitt’s a reasonable alternative. You’ve got more important issues than seeing your daughter get her “top choice” school.</p>
<p>Well let me tell you, you guys picked a hell of a time to divorce. I feel sorry for your daughter, and can only be thankful that my parents are 1.) rational people and 2.) get along.</p>
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<p>Most parents I know put their child’s happiness above all else. Considering the situation, it probably wasn’t the <em>best</em> time to file for divorce, but that’s not really my business. Rice’s FA office accommodates such drastic circumstantial changes as described above and it’s definitely worth it to call them. She has nothing to lose.</p>
<p>I was also accepted but can’t afford to attend…I received no need or merit based aid and there’s no way my family can pay 160k. =/ I’m probably gonna end up at UPitt or USD unless I get accepted to HYPS and they give me some aid…</p>
<p>I am putting my children’s happiness above all else. I don’t have just the one child that is going to college, there are two younger ones that I needed to get out of a horrific homelife.
And divorce or no divorce, we still would not be able to afford the $20k/yr in family contribution. </p>
<p>I e-mailed Fin-Aid today. No response as of yet. (I got voicemail when I called.)</p>
<p>I think Soulside’s statement “Most parents I know put their child’s happiness above all else” is very idealistic, but not very realistic. Parents shouldn’t jeopardize their home, retirement and other children’s needs (not wants) so that one child, no matter how beloved and precious, may attend the one special school that they think will lead to happiness. More than one school can meet this child’s pursuit of happiness quest and also allow her mother to have some financial control over her future. Sure, land64shark can call the FA office, but by no means should she begin self-flagellation if the money isn’t there. Make a reasonable inquiry, and then move on.</p>
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<p>Same here! I got no need based aid, no scholarships. I may be just going to Georgia Tech then.</p>