<p>@ccco2018: </p>
<p>I see what you said. I understood that you were saying Amherst doesn’t work well for low-income students compared to Berea.
It seems that you are commenting on the general philosophy.
Then of course, Berea stands out among all colleges for admitting exclusively low-income students. This can be attributed to the specific philosophies they have and the goals they have in mind.
Of course, numerically, Berea consequently helps more low-income students than Amerst does 
As you recognized, I am attending Amherst, which is why I got somewhat upset about the perceived implication that Amherst doesn’t do enough. In fact, I and many of the students i know Have been have benefitted from amherst’s generosity toward us 
I wouldn’t be able to attend without financial aid and at another college, I wouldn’t graduate debt–free either. </p>
<p>Concerning the article, I know Denzel and he’s quite the person. I think he wouldn’t have been able to attend without amherst’s efforts and the journalist picked him very well; he’s great. </p>
<p>Obviously the article doesn’t display extraordinary journalistic finesse, but I think the gist is clear and important </p>
<p>@AmericanHope …LOL… I knew it. Only from “TRUE PASSION” comes such a defender of the Republic…
If you ask me…, it looks like Amherst is lucky to have you as well.
Keep-up the good work.</p>
<p>@AmericanHope,
One more thing…just curious about your claim that Amherst made it possible for you to attend “debt free”. However, you also shared that your cost of attendance (money your parents pay out of pocket / life-savings or re-Mortgaging to be specific) at Amherst is about $30,000/year?? I am trying to figure how this is debt-free and affordable?</p>
<p>There are no loans in the Fid Aid, we just got from A, it’s all Amherst College Scholarships, our out of pocket is <$10K so very affordable and less than In-State. So A is debt free and affordable, I will graduate with no college debt.</p>
<p>Yes…the BIG FISH…“OUT OF POCKET”…
How much out of pocket? Don’t get me wrong, it is a GREAT school, and deserves to charge whatever they seem due.
However, for a person spending about 30k/year, this might be affordable if they are making a lot of money, but to say is less expensive than most in-state or other Private schools is an Overstatement.</p>
<p>Buy my point is, it is less than my in-state costs, so A is most cost-effective vs my in-state safety, no overstatement it costs less to attend A than my in-state safety. Great colleges make it affordable!</p>
<p>^ And that is how most Colleges operate on COA e… based on ones FINANCIAL AFFORDABILITY.
So when I see a post about a student sharing how their parent is going to remortgage their house and sell apartments in order to attend Amherst when there are VERY many options out there that does not require such extreme measures makes me question the student’s affordability/debt-free claim.</p>
<p>@Englishman
Are you a parent or a student? On some of your several post you claim to be a parent talking about your son, and some you claim to be a student. Which is which?
If I may ask, what is your Out of pocket expenses/year at Amherst?</p>
<p>@ccco2018: </p>
<p>You’re stalking, aren’t you 
</p>
<p>Basically, We did a cost-benefit analysis.
My parents see my education as the single most important investment of their lives. When I move out, we are essentially paying for too much house. The area I live is really expensive. By downsizing, we will have enough of a positive difference to comfortably afford those 27.000 dollars. I can’t take on student loans, so that was never an option. I don’t know if debt is comfortable for you, but I’d rather sell a house, live on beans, sell a car, take on a third job before I go into debt.<br>
So yes, Amherst makes it possible for me to attend debt-free. And they were incredibly generous. The actual cost per student is 90.000 dollars and i don’t even have to pay a third of that.
Everyone I have met so far I love, everyone I’ve called was wonderful, and the further along I get, the more convinced I am that Amherst is absolutely perfect.
I don’t know if this is what you wanted to hear because to be honest, at this point I’m not quite sure if you are trying to prove me wrong or get me to admit that Amherst is not generous or what
I had a bad case of sticker-shock, but I’m ok now if that calms your nerves
And why are you so interested in other people’s financials if I may ask? </p>
<p>The reason for the followup question is the “AFFORDABILITY- DEBT FREE CLAIM” that you made, despite the fact that a risky situation such as re-mortgaging/selling/downsizing was at stake. So if your parents were comfortable doing this and still did not take out loans on their part to send you to Amherst, then I guess the end justifies the means.
Absolutely no interest in others finances, just seeing how Amherst was debt-free/affordable in your situation compared to other colleges.
So, its all good.</p>
<p>@ccco2018: </p>
<p>Ok then. </p>
<p>The thing is: being affordable is different from being expensive. These are two different scales so to speak. And yes, Amherst is expensive. But also affordable because we can pay for it it’s completely clear to me that for expensive things, sacrifices have to be made. Living in a smaller space to me is a reasonable sacrifice and hence doesn’t deter from the affordability. We could also make or have made different choices (saving, or hiding our assets overseas, or other things) to either make us look poorer or pay for the EFC in other ways.
But we didn’t. But in calculating the EFC, all colleges go by what you should be able to afford and not by what you think you have left over to pay. If the two differ, you have to cut your variable spending.
Which is what we are doing. Other people can’t cut their spending because they are already spending the bare minimum and colleges expect those families to pay more than is justifiable; that then makes them unaffordable. </p>
<p>^^This reminds me of the circular argument many colleges, not just Amherst, use when justifying their sticker prices:
Q: Why is your tuition so high?
A: Because they reflect real costs.
Q: Like what?
A: Financial aid.
Q: Why does financial aid cost so much?
A: Because so many of our students need it
Q: Why do so many of your students need it?
A: Because our tuition is so high.</p>
<p>^^Totally agree. As someone paying the full rate, I feel like it’s become very much a “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need” type system. I’m definitely paying for more than just my kid just because we can and they won’t let us in without doing so. Social justice with OPM while the excess of administrators haul in the hefty salaries.</p>
<p>@circuitrider and @MrMom62 ;
I could not agree more. It makes me want to keep pressing them till they “ADMIT”…lol …as in…“I knew it…there you have it…”…kind of feeling. But somethings may never happen, so I just let it be.
Some of these school really need to be put to the spot light to explain why they do what they do.</p>
<p>I Agree as well at least some colleges are keeping up with their financial aid. However, the vast majority of colleges really can’t do that. So the out-of-pocket costs for most families are in fact rising.
I think it’s especially dramatic that this happens at state schools that are supposed to be affordable. A place like Amherst is really only attainable for a very select group of students. But a state university’s mission ought to be educating the students of the state and not educating the rich students of the state while leaving the less fortunate drowning in debt or without any higher education.
If a private college or university is cheaper than the respective state’s schools, something is wrong. </p>
<p>Those state U’s actually make a profit from the OOS students that helps SUBSIDIZE the instate kids just like state funding used to do. The school and instate would be worse off without the OOS income.</p>
<p>@barrons: I didn’t mean in-state vs. out-of state at all. I was referring to every public university’s mission to educate the students </p>
<p>Now if only more colleges were like Amherst and I think 5 others, that now do not include loans in their FinAid package we would all be better and there would be no student debt crisis. </p>
<p>Loans have in many ways replaced State funding at State colleges, so State legislature’s have in many ways contributed to the growth in student loans, At least private colleges use their own funds to reduce or eliminate loans often proving to be a better financial choice than state colleges which package loans in lieu of state funding</p>
<p>^ That is not the case to majority of students. ASU, and UA in fact are more affordable to many students even OOS than most private universities in the nation. When you make more than the schools requirement, you are as well required to contribute to your education.</p>