<p>Three of my brothers and I are within 3-1/2 years of each other agewise. We were all in college at once. My parents could not afford to pay for college for us. We didn’t qualify for grants. We all made our college choices accordingly. Did we attend our dream schools? Hardly (although I suppose we didn’t do a whole lot of dreaming, anyway, as we were all well aware of our financial situation). We went to school where we could afford to attend. That’s how life works.</p>
<p>Harvestmoon has some facts wrong. FAFSA gives out no money. It just gives out a number, the EFC and that number is based on the prior year’s tax return and financial situation , and the assets on the day FAFSA is filed. No look backs. It’s a snap shot of one’s finances not taking into consideration what happened before or after that year and that day. All FAFSA does is qualify a person for PELL which is not going to happen here, and for Stafford loans up to $5500 for the student and allows the parents to apply for PLUS if they want loans. Amherst uses PROFILE for its own money, and if the OP is looking at grant money, that’s the only place that will give it for need. I don’t think she’ll get anything either at $500K parental income even with multiple kids in college, but she can give it a go.</p>
<p>We are considered high income though not that high, and if both of our kids in college had gone to top priced privates and gotten zero merit money, I think we might have qualified for a few thousand in aid. From what I have seen, most likely some subsidization of the Staffords would have been it.</p>
<p>It certainly can’t hurt to ask about being considered at this late date. Amherst presents as good a chance to make funds available at this stage of the game, as any. BEst of luck… and please report back to let us know how your request was received.</p>
<p>We had an uncharacteristically high income in 2011 and both my older kiddos’ private schools were willing to reconsider our 2012/2013 financial needs, after initial awards were communicated. </p>
<p>We had to fill out supplemental forms and provide supporting documentation to demonstrate how income would vary for 2012 (and beyond). One school came back with an extra $2,500 grant over 4 years (an extra $10K), and we are still waiting to hear from the other school. You won’t know, if you don’t ask.</p>