I think it is appropriate for a parent to talk to financial aid officers. The student can handle most things but when the parent is paying, every college we dealt with seemed to expect that financial aid communication was done by the parent.
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@kelsmom are you referring to this student getting need based aid, or merit aid? I ask, because the parent is looking for merit aid, not need based.
I am referring to need based aid. The decision not to seek need based aid is based on issues related to the father. My point is that it might be possible to bypass the need for the father’s information. OP stated that the child did not & would not be able to have a relationship with the father, for reasons OP chooses not to share with us. I think it’s possible that there are extenuating circumstances. My spidey senses kicked in … there could be issues at play that could warrant a discussion with the aid office. It would be a shame not to apply for need based aid if it might be possible to qualify for it without dad’s info.
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Read the above post by the former financial aid officer. Speaking about need based aid, not merit.
Guys, I don’t understand what the big deal is. Why would it hurt for the college to have a more accurate picture of this family’s situation? At worst, they will be in the same position they would be if they haven’t communicated. In other words: no downside!
Clearly this school is very focused on getting kids to attend. I really don’t understand thinking merit or need is set in stone. People – it is not!! There is often wiggle room (not always of course). So there is big upside in communication for this family.
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I think the parent stated upstream that their son had communicated with the AO who will be doing their pre-read. Hoping that is favorable for them.
Im talking about merit. The non-custodial parent waiver gets more difficult each year. But explaining family finances will often get a student some more merit money. If you think it’s conflating merit and need-based aid, that’s on the school. But it is very common.
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if it were me, and my kid was intent on this private school, i’d be talking to every department; kindly and appreciatively. Why not?
The state U i work at does not have extra to give to kids if they don’t fall into set programs or guidelines. Merit is transparent. Need is based on EFC and COA. but this private school is different; and i can’t see why it wouldnt hurt to talk to FA and Admissions. good luck!
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I agree that reaching out to Whitman might help.
I do hope the AO pre read is favorable
As I said perhaps I’m wrong.
But as I spoke with colleges about need (at high end that made it seem in literature I could qualify even though I couldn’t) and merit I was always told it was two separate types and decision makers.
Colleges seek to determine need. If one can’t produce what they require, I’m not sure that one can expect special treatment.
But again as you all say and as I noted I could be wrong
Once a student is admitted, and especially once a student enrolls, selective colleges want their students to succeed. The colleges are motivated to have high yield, high retention, and happy alumni. This sometimes means helping to find additional sources to cover tuition.
Despite how it often feels during the application process, colleges are not run by heartless robots but by humans. There are calculations, but there is also understanding of circumstances.
As I said earlier, I have two friends who were assisted by their kids’ universities in somewhat similar situations. One was able to obtain a CSS waiver provided by the university and signed by the applicant’s pediatrician, affirming the special circumstance in which one parent would not be able to sign the CSS.
Because the father does pay child support in this situation, it seems unlikely that Whitman will waive the requirement. But they may be able to find more merit, as happened for my other friend. Just because FA and scholarships may not fall under the same umbrella doesn’t mean they can’t talk to each other.
Whitman may not be able to budge, or they may not be able to play these games until after admission, but I see very little downside in starting a discussion now. What is your objection to this parent asking? I don’t think a FA officer would ever try to flag an application. You don’t seem to think that FA talks to those who determine merit…then you can’t believe that they communicate on an active applicant. I don’t see the harm.
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No objection to asking. Never any. You can’t get if you don’t ask.
I just don’t see it as succeeding. But maybe it does and I’m wrong.
I hope the student can attend their desired school but they prepare for the alternative.
OP, here is a post from a year ago detailing how one family negotiated more merit aid from Whitman:
You may want to contact @Essnce629 for more details. 
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