<p>The questions regarding contribution to the other twin's college education are perplexing. I seem to be boxed in to saying the other twin's education will cost 60K, because that's how much some of them cost. Then, I would enter 55K as my contribution to that education, and that we have 20K to contribute to the applicant's education. Then I enter the same responses on the other twin's CSS. My question is, other than communicating that both kids are applying to some expensive schools, what is the point of these questions in my situation, and do the schools really take my conjectural responses seriously?</p>
<p>I seem to be boxed in to saying the other twin’s education will cost 60K, because that’s how much some of them cost. Then, I would enter 55K as my contribution to that education, and that we have 20K to contribute to the applicant’s education.</p>
<p>???</p>
<p>Are you being asked what is the COA of the sibling’s school? Or are you being asked how much will you be PAYING for the other sibling’s school?</p>
<p>it’s not honest to put $60k, if that’s not what you’d be paying…especially if you’re putting that for each CSS app in regards to the “other” child.</p>
<p>Are you saying that you have $75k to pay each year? If so, why not split it?</p>
<p>Because I want the applicant school to respond as if I’m getting no aid from the other school, which could happen.</p>
<p>I would suggest you put an explanation on both of your students’ profile forms that you do not know how much you will be paying since they are twins applying for freshman year. You could put $60k in the expected COA since that sounds realistic (but depends on where they are applying). Maybe put 20k as your contribution for each or some other reasonable amount? Don’t they also ask what you would be willing to contribute in another area of the Profile? Maybe match that up to what you will be paying. Either way I would then add the explanation. </p>
<p>At the very end of the Profile you have a small area for explanations. Make sure you note the item # that your comment pertains to.</p>
<p>I strongly suspect that this is the most irrelevant item on the Profile. You could say you plan to contribute 0, and it’s not going to make a bit of difference if the school thinks you can pay $50,000! Conversely, I doubt the school will take aid away if they think you can afford to pay $15,000 and you say you could pay $17,000. In other words, put what you think you could pay.</p>
<p>In addition to Kelsmom’s answer you could also use the EFC for each…which would be the the minimum most people will pay.</p>
<p>I don’t think the OP’s question was what to put for how much she could pay - mea culpa I brought that up. When you fill out CSS and indicate you will have another child in college they want all the info about the sibling i.e. school name, COA, FA award and how much parent is paying. When you have twins it is a whole different scenario because you cannot provide all that detail for the sibling because they are applying as freshmen simultaneously.</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>Good point about “twins” and not knowing how much the “siblling’s school” will cost. There must be a way to indicate that in the special info area.</p>
<p>Telling School A that you (might) have to pay $60k for the “other kid’s school” (School B) won’t likely get you more aid from School A. </p>
<p>School A isn’t going to give you extra money because School B gave crappy aid to the “other kid”. School A isn’t going to effectively let you give School B more of your money. Going to a school that doesn’t give much aid is a luxury choice. </p>
<p>Since it sounds like you’re not sure what you’ll get from these schools and could end up paying most/all the costs of both schools, I hope that you either have back-ups or can afford to pay for both schools.</p>
<p>Oh, I see … I would put the maximum I might get stuck paying!!! ;)</p>
<p>Definitely put the maximum you might have to pay. If one kid goes to a cheaper school, the schools might ask you to pay a little more in your final award when the numbers are all settled, but if you underestimate costs you don’t want to be left scrambling and begging at the last minute.</p>
<p>I still strongly suspect that the schools don’t pay attention to this. But I certainly would err on the side of the maximum, just in case.</p>
<p>The problem she should look out for is if the school A gives twin A a certain amount of aid, assuming twin B will be paying the maximum, but then twin B doesn’t have to pay the maximum.</p>
<p>Will those chickens come home to roost (or is it pigeons?) the next year when she’ll have to put down what she actually paid for the other twin’s freshman costs? It might then reduce the aid from school A and make it unaffordable. </p>
<p>This must happen to siblings all the time who both attend schools that require this information. You fill out the profile for the older kid, not knowing how much the younger kid (rising freshman) will cost. It might be wise to plan for a reduction in aid in case one of the twins has to pay less than the maximum figure you quote on the application.</p>
<p>I guess you’d have to call the school to find out how they use the info. I honestly cannot imagine that it makes any difference to the school. There is no way to know what the next year will cost for another kid … they could get a scholarship, or they could switch schools, or they could lose a scholarship … there are so many variables. My take on it is that schools will determine aid based on the fact that there is another child in college at the same time, but without consideration for what the actual cost of that child’s education really is.</p>
<p>I just filled out all that information for my twins, and I used the Special Circumstances area (or whatever it was called) to elaborate. I explained that the co-twin didn’t know where he/she was going yet, but anticipated COA was x amount. I had to do the same for my twins’ little sister, who might be going to a private school if she doesn’t get accepted into the public high school’s magnet program.</p>
<p>I assume that there is further contact between family and colleges once each party has narrowed down the options. Don’t the colleges follow up after the award is offered to see what the other likely school for the other twin is offering, and actually make adjustments? Is it unreasonable to assume the schools might actually caucus?</p>
<p>Some schools have a form that is required to prove the sibling is in college and the FA and net cost. I would bet the more generous schools (100% meet need) typically do this. Some will accept the letter of award (financial aid) some will require signature from the actual Financial Aid office. If you search the schools website for “sibling enrollment verification form” or something similar you can probably find the form.</p>
<p>OP – my twins were both accepted ED to Profile schools. I filled out each Profile with the approximate costs of the other’s first choice school, and then listed what I felt we could pay for each kid. Neither FA award has us paying what I put down, so I don’t think this is a critical area. </p>
<p>I believe I may have to provide proof of enrollment/attendance at some point, but so far have not been asked for it. I also have no idea how this will play out next year.</p>
<p>I think JenPam’s written explanation sounds like a good idea.</p>
<p>OP, my twin daughters both attend private LACs which use the Profile. They are sophomores this year. We did exactly what GeminiMom is suggesting when we were applying for first year FA- approximated the COA of each twin’s first choice school, and used our EFC as a guide to what we felt we could afford. We added additional information in the “Special Information” section. We were required to fill out a form for each school confirming where the other twin had enrolled last year, but neither school has asked for it yet this year.</p>
<p>When in doubt, call the FA offices of the schools they have applied to- in our experience, they have been quite helpful!</p>
<p>*Don’t the colleges follow up after the award is offered to see what the other likely school for the other twin is offering, and actually make adjustments? Is it unreasonable to assume the schools might actually caucus? *</p>
<p>Are you asking if School A calls up School B to discuss the award of the sibling attending School B? Not only do I doubt that, but I think it might violate privacy issues. It’s one thing for YOU to provide the info about each twin to each school…it’s another for one school to call another school to discuss students’ awards. Besides, I doubt they have the time to do this.</p>