I recently was accepted into WashU for the class of 2025 ED2…
To explain my financial aid situation, my parents are divorced. I live primarily with my father and I’m a dependent of his, so I only had to put him on my FAFSA. He’s middle class, so he makes about 55k a year, and only has a house as an asset. The total EFC came around to be around. 5300…
However, on my CSS I had to put my mother. My mother owns a business which obviously is an asset and that adds to my total. However, she doesn’t profit on this business yet because it’s relatively new, so her income was 0 on her tax return.
My stepfather on the other hand is profiting off of his business, I believe over 100k a year… So that is what really hurt my offer.
My offer came out to be around 38k, which isn’t bad, but it still really isn’t affordable for my situation… My stepfather had no plans on contributing towards my college education, and obviously my mother can’t. My father can’t afford this by any means since it’s more than half of his income. Would anyone recommend I appeal since WashU promises 100% of need based aid? Is there any approach I should be taking to this? I’ll take anything.
Unfortunately for you, Wash U (and many other schools) consider the HOUSEHOLD income of each parent. So if your stepfather has significant income, they will consider his income. They are weighing the financial strength of your background against the financial strength of an accepted student who does not have the same potential resources to call upon.
I’m sorry. It’s hard to accept. Your stepfather is totally entitled to feel that he has no obligation to pay for college for you, but that’s not how Wash U sees it. You can try, but I don’t know if they will increase your aid.
I’m hoping that you have applied to other schools that are likely to be less expensive for you.
In addition to the profit from that business, it’s possible some of the tax return allowable deductions were added back in as income because they are not allowed for financial aid calculation purposes.
The Profile and non-custodial parent Profile forms include any spouses of parents. That’s the way it is.
You can contact the school and ask, but if they use this information, it’s not likely they will waive it for you.
Adding…this is not a “complicated financial situation” at all. Many students of divorced and remarried parents encounter this…and colleges all have seen this scenerio many many times.
Is your mom drawing a salary from her business? Does she pay child support?
I do think it’s worth having a conversation with WashU, I doubt they are expecting your step-dad to directly contribute to your college costs. But, they do expect your mom to…so if she is taking a salary and/or using household assets to start-up/fund a business, WashU may want those $ (or a portion of them) redirected to your college costs.
You can always appeal, but the school doesn’t have to give out any more aid.
When the school says 100% demonstrated need, they mean need as how they see it. It includes all parents, regardless of whether or not the parents choose to pay.
Yes, it sucks! The universities have a finite set of dollars, and they have to divide that money by who they need to fund: This includes students on public assistance, athletes, artists, veteran’s, disabled students, etc. This past year, the universities lost a ton of money as a result of the pandemic. Their coffers have been depleted.
If you want to appeal, that’s on you. I don’t think your offer will change. They just don’t have the money. They expect that the Bank of Mom and Dad will contribute.
There are a lot of students in this position; step parents refuse to pay and that’s their right.
It’s not only step parents. It’s biological parents too, both those who are still married to each other, and those who are divorced from each other. Parents have been refusing to pay for college for as long as there was college.
OP, I’m really sorry that you’re in this position. Wash U is a great school, and I hope that you can figure out a way to go there. But if it cannot happen, do not despair. There are other, cheaper ways to get your college degree. One is to live at home and go to the nearest state college as a commuter. An even cheaper way is to get your first two years of college done quickly, for very little money, possibly in a year and two summers, by a combination of FREE CLEP classes (see the website https://modernstates.org/) and classes at your local community college, and then transfer to your state’s flagship U for the last two years, or to your local state college if you cannot swing the cost of living on campus at the flagship state U. Just make sure to check with the advisors at both the first and the second college every step of the way, to make sure that all the CLEP classes and classes taken at the community college or state college will transfer and be counted towards your degree.
I know it’s not the college experience that you expected, that you were hoping for. But it is a very inexpensive, quick route to your college degree from a respected institution, in as little as three years. In most states, this is a do-able option on the $5500-$7500/yr that the government will lend you, plus possibly a little part time job and summer earnings, as long as you can avoid having to pay for room and board by living at home at your father’s house (or maybe your mother’s house).
I’m sure you understand that your step father did not plan to have to pay for college for you, and feels that he doesn’t have that responsibility. Try not to hold it against him or your mother. It’s too bad that it puts you into the position that Wash U will not give you enough grant money to make it possible to go there, but remember, you are not the only person in this position. There are SO many other kids whose parents and step parents make enough to disqualify their children from receiving a lot of, or even any financial aid, but who cannot or will not pay for college.
You will be able to get your education and the job you want, even if you wind up not being able to afford Wash U.
Because you applied ED, you will need to be released from your ED contract if you can’t afford to attend. That is a legitimate reason. So it makes sense to appeal in an effort to be able to accept the offer of admission … and if they say no, you will then tell them you can’t attend. They will most likely say no to your request, but you never know until you try.
Thank you guys so much for the replies, I’m gonna give the appeal a shot. If it doesn’t work, I’m gonna have to sit down with my mom and stepdad to hopefully see if they’re willing to contribute.
If not, like @kelsmom said, I can be released from my ED contract if I really can’t afford it. Fingers crossed that I can figure something out as this is the school of my dreams.
Again, thank you all so much for your time, I might keep updates on here with what’s going on. If anyone has any other input/advice I seriously appreciate it a ton.
I GOT THE APPEAL! It went through and my price dropped A LOT. I basically told them my situation as I laid it out here. My family is stoked and I am stoked that I’m able to afford my dream school. For anyone else in a similar situation and is wondering: we sent them divorce papers from my mom and dad and w-2 forms from everyone in my family.
Thank you all for your support, forever thankful <3