<p>the FAFSA is not free
Taxpayers pay millions to develop, print, ship and process the applications
I personally agree that the FAFSA provides plenty of info, but disagree that you need to apply to mainly schools that require PROFILE.
I think college should be a lot cheaper inthis country but it isn't and I don't really see any changes being made. You are very lucky if you can afford a private college, let alone money to drop on a large number of applications, many kids in this country don't even dream of attending college.</p>
<p>Why wouldn't many kids "dream of attending college"? I'm not sure if you're talking in terms of finances or what, but that is the whole point of the FAFSA. Everyone can afford college.</p>
<p>no they cannot
Our EFC is about $13,000- that is about a 1/4 of our after tax income
If our daughter attended an instate public school it would cost about $13,000 so no aid, and she was offered minimum merit awards.
We opted for a private school that met 100% of need, but along with the loans we have to borrow money to meet the EFC. Many parents dont want to consider that, and I don't blame them.
Just read the boards, we have children whose parents have money but don't want to contribute anything for college, since children are considered dependents till 24, this limits aid they recieve to merit based which many schools don't offer.
Other students don't have the grades to get merit and the schools to which they are accepted "gap" or don't meet 100% of need. They don't have the money to make up difference. States are not fully funding community colleges, so even if you resign yourself to a CC you may find that you can't get the classes you need.
Pell grants have been cut, and students who were counting on them, may find that they have to pay a lot more this year. There also seems to be a trickle down effect from cutting Pell as the aid calculators are finding higher EFCs than last year for many families.
<a href="http://www.collegenews.org/x4035.xml%5B/url%5D">http://www.collegenews.org/x4035.xml</a></p>
<p>No everyone cannot afford college. Even having a Zero EFC does not guarantee you a free ride. Most schools do not meet 100% of your demonstrated need, nor are they need blind (which means no money, no school). Some schools NYU in particular GAP,</p>
<p>Say the cost of attendance is $40,000, after your parent contribution, student contribution, scholarship, work study and loan you total package only comes out to $30,000, you will have to come up with the remaining $10,000 the best way you can.</p>
<p>Some people do not have the resources or the credit to take out PLUS loans. Read on a few more threads and you will hear about a number of people who can't afford the EFC and have no way of getting the money.</p>
<p>We can make a big list of factors that happen that make college not affordable.</p>
<p>My point is these kids are venting their feelings about these charges, and should be encouraged to do so (by the way, these fees contribute to the many reasons why everyone can't afford college).</p>
<p>Posting their views on this thread certainly isn't going to change the CB's practices or policies, however, by doing so they will become experienced in speaking up for what they believe in. Hopefully, as they mature, some of them will realize that if they hold strong convictions about a service, policy, cause, etc. the way one "changes", or attempts to change things in our society is by vocalizing and becoming active.</p>
<p>Telling them that there is not much more they can do in this situation, I agree.
Unfortunately, it is the truth. Telling them that it really is necessary to discuss finances with their parents, it is a must.</p>
<p>But is it really necessary to tell them that they are "lucky" because there are many kids who can't even dream of going to college? Why the guilt trip? Afterall, they are complaining about something that affects all students, including the neediest.</p>
<p>Telling these kids that they shouldn't be applying to so many schools that require the profile or that there are many schools that don't require the SAT's, without knowing their personal goals, reason or financial situations is ludicrous.</p>
<p>It is equivalent to someone who doesn't know you, or your situation, telling you that maybe you should go get a 2nd or 3rd job to supplement your income, or send your child to a Community College regardless of whether or not they may get all the classes they need, at least it will be an education. Or maybe the other choice would be opting for secretarial or trade school?</p>
<p>IMO, in both cases, these type of comments are out of line.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Telling these kids that they shouldn't be applying to so many schools that require the profile or that there are many schools that don't require the SAT's, without knowing their personal goals, reason or financial situations is ludicrous
[/quote]
</p>
<p>No in my point of view it is not.
1. schools that require PROFILE are a tiny minority of available schools- the creme' da creme of schools. These school are very competitive, and how are you going to feel when you spend almost $600 applying to them ( application fees plus PROFILE for 8) and still don't get in?
Colleges want students who know what they want and where they fit, by applying to a huge number of schools you are saying you don't know either of those things.
My daughter applied to 5 schools and was accepted to all. I know kids who applied to a lot more and were accepted to fewer. Not a chance I wanted to take. </p>
<p>
[quote]
It is equivalent to someone who doesn't know you, or your situation, telling you that maybe you should go get a 2nd or 3rd job to supplement your income, or send your child to a Community College regardless of whether or not they may get all the classes they need, at least it will be an education. Or maybe the other choice would be opting for secretarial or trade school
[/quote]
I don't really understand what you are trying to say here.
On other CC boards many students are shocked and appalled that they aren't getting the aid they need from the colleges that they have applied to.
WHile I understand the need to vent about $18 x ( x), I think it is better for these students to be informed BEFORE they apply to schools that may not give them the money they need, rather than go into a panic about it afterward as others have done.</p>
<p>sybbie, I've made it my task to become educated on the revolution in college admissions "since I was a kid," but apparently I still need much more education about fin. aid. I had neither bad or good credit when I was an undergard. I had (virtually) no credit, as I had barely worked (one, two summers) before I needed a loan to bridge the gap between my father's tuition support & my actual (meager) expenses during my last 2 yrs of college. I applied for a federal loan & got it. So now the hapless undergrad needs a bleepin' credit score? Or do they need to rely on the parents' score, & what if that is blemished?</p>
<p>BJ,</p>
<p>First of all, welcome to the board.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the kids do not realize that applying to a bunch of schools does not increase your chances of getting admitted, it actually decreases your chances because you may not be putting your best effort in to all of your applications substituting quanity for quality.</p>
<p>I see that you are from NYC, so am I. I do not know the situtation at your child's h.s. my my daughter's h.s. placed a cap on 8 applications. After much research, visits and searching to hone in on what she wanted, needed and the best fit, she could not even find 8 schools that if she got admitted to that she would attend without reservation. She applied to 7 and got admitted to all 7 schools.</p>
<p>I would not tell any one that their only choice is community college, but it does not negate the fact that some people start out in community college and finish in some of the best schools in the country as there are many roads that will take you to the same destination. In fact I believe that you should send your kid where they could get the best possible education in an environment where which they can be happy (or at least thrive). </p>
<p>I know that even with the 7 schools we spent over $600 in applications and fees. For us the 18 for the profile was well worth the money, because the middle class really are the working poor, as for me, my EFC was enough to pay tuition for CUNY/Suny schools (so had she gotten accepted there we would have been full pays), we were not eligible for NYS TAP or Pell. Because she had good SAT scores, Grades and EC's we hedged our bets and chose schools that would meet 100% need with generous grant/scholarship aid. I know for me $600 was a lot of money for me to swallow (as a single parent who provides her sole support) at the same time when schools are asking for senior dues, trip money and the list goes on. For us, it worked out as she is getting an Ivy educationfor about what we would pay as a full ride to SUNY (definitely a bigger bang for the buck). </p>
<p>We realize that everyone is only doing the best that they know how. In the end it really defeats the purpose of complaining about the amount of money to be paid to the college board because after you finish venting the same 2 options remain; you are going to pay it or you are not going to pay it. </p>
<p>Do you have to like it? Absolutely not. I complain as I am writing checks paying the bills each month, but it doesn't change the fact that if the bills are not paid, we live on the street, in the dark , go hungry etc? No, so I suck my teeth and pay my bills.</p>
<p>But hey maybe it's just me and as I get older I would rather have my dander up about something different. From the kid's point of view- If it makes you feel better to get your vent off, by all means, but by the same token, you gotta take responsibility for your actions especially for perdicaments that are by our own hand. Everyone chooses the number of schools they want to apply to . The very needest gets fee waivers (hey, it may only be 4 but it is a cost savings). Those that bring the A grame to the table at the elite schools with deep pockets, will end up with very generous merit aid- but you have to pay (fees) to play.</p>
<p>Well I guess there is a lot I wasn't considering, but I was speaking more in terms of attending college at all...not necessarily attending a "top school" or whatever. Lots of people try to make excuses and say that they can't afford it, but I guess my point was that if you want it bad enough you will find a way.<br>
I know plenty of people who didn't have their need met, too high an EFC, etc...but some of them took a year (or even two) off to work and save money/build credit, some went to cc's, and some took out insane loans.<br>
Anyway...I guess it was somewhat ignorant to say everyone can afford college. What I meant was that virtually every person in America can get a college degree sooner or later if they work hard enough and have enough determination.</p>
<p>A PLUS loan is a parents loan that is based on their (the parent's) creditworthiness</p>
<br>
<blockquote> <p>With the exception of probably 50 colleges in the country (mostly the Ivies, Elite Lac's and a some other tier one schools) the vast majority of the over 3000 colleges in this country does not require anything from the college board.>></p> </blockquote>
<br>
<p>DS goes to Boston University. They require the Profile. I don't think it is top 50 and it certainly is not an elite LAC. Are they tier 1? Still...the $18 was well spent considering it netted $12,000 a year of merit aid (they require the Profile for ALL aid freshman year). The merit aid was actually a music merit award, but the Profile was required as part of the finaid process.</p>
<p>The question was, does a student need to go through a parent to obtain a loan these days? I'm sure that a parent's credit history can be used as a path; that was not the question.</p>
<p>Anyone know the answer?</p>
<p>Thumper, BU is pretty much considered in the top 50 of National Universities by many guides. It may fluctuate down to top 60, but when you are considering how many schools there are, I would say they are 1st-2nd tier, depending on who is doing the tiering Many of the schools that require Profile, do make it worthwhile as they tend to be the schools that give the most money in financial and/or merit aid.</p>
<p>You don't necessarily need a parent to get a loan. Usually, if you don't have any credit history, most private banks will give you one but you will have to pay a higher rate than if you were to have a co-signer with good credit. :D</p>
<p>Sybbie, just wanted to say thanks for the welcome! Actually I've been a long time lurker, but finally took the bait and posted. Congratulations on your daughter's accomplishments!</p>
<p>My son's HS does not have an official cap on the number of applications the kids can submit, but they do advise strongly against applying to more than 8 schools. They introduced a new policy this year whereby if the student chooses to apply to more than 10 schools they must pay $2 per additional transcript. My son only applied to 6 schools, he's been accepted at 4 and we are waiting on the final 2.</p>
<p>I'm a single mom who has spent the last 17 years encouraging her son to have confidence in himself, reinforcing his self-esteem and courage. As you well know, you can't go far without those living in NYC. It is a fantastic, but tough city. If you don't speak up, its easy to get lost in the crowd. To top it all off, I'm a huge consumer rights advocate, so hopefully you will have a better understanding of my reactions to the post.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I'm sorry but your information is wrong. This is a list of some of the schools that require the Profile and many of them are not creme'da creme. </p>
<p>ADELPHI UNIVERSITY NY
ADRIAN COLLEGE MI
AGNES SCOTT COLLEGE GA
ALBERT SHANKER COLLEGE - UFT NY
ALFRED UNIVERSITY NY
ALVERNO COLLEGE WI
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF PARIS CO
AMHERST COLLEGE MA
AQUINAS INSTITUTE OF THEOLOGY MO
AUGSBURG COLLEGE MN
AVE MARIA COLLEGE MI
BABSON COLLEGE MA
BARD COLLEGE NY
BARNARD COLLEGE NY
BATES COLLEGE ME
BENEDICTINE UNIVERSITY IL
BENNINGTON COLLEGE VT
BENTLEY COLLEGE MA
BOSTON COLLEGE-STUDENT SERVICES MA
BOSTON UNIVERSITY MA
BOWDOIN COLLEGE ME
BRADLEY UNIVERSITY IL
BRANDEIS UNIV - UNDERGRADUATES MA
BROWN UNIV-NEW FRESHMEN&TRANSFERS RI
BRYN MAWR COLLEGE PA
BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY PA
BUTLER UNIVERSITY IN
CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY CA
CARDINAL STRITCH COLLEGE WI
CARLETON COLLEGE MN
CASE WESTERN RESERVE-ALL UNDERGRAD OH
CHAMINADE UNIVERSITY OF HONOLULU HI
CLAREMONT MCKENNA COLLEGE CA
CLARK UNIVERSITY MA
COCHRAN SCHOOL OF NURSING NY
COLBY COLLEGE ME
COLGATE UNIVERSITY NY
COLLEGE OF NOTRE DAME-CA CA
COLLEGE OF SAMPLE VA
COLLEGE OF ST ELIZABETH NJ
COLLEGE OF THE HOLY CROSS MA
COLORADO COLLEGE CO
COLUMBIA COLLEGE-SOUTH CAROLINA SC
COLUMBIA UNIV-COLUMBIA COLLEGE NY
COLUMBIA UNIV-ENGINEERING NY
CONNECTICUT COLLEGE CT
CORNELL UNIV-ALL UNDERGRADUATE NY
CORNELL UNIV-VETERINARY MEDICINE NY
COVENANT COLLEGE GA
CULVER STOCKTON COLLEGE MO
CURTIS INSTITUTE OF MUSIC PA
DARTMOUTH COLLEGE NH
DAVIDSON COLLEGE NC
DAVIS & ELKINS COLLEGE WV
DEPAUW UNIVERSITY IN
DICKINSON COLLEGE PA
DOWLING COLLEGE NY
DREW UNIVERSITY NJ
DUKE UNIVERSITY- UNDERGRADUATE NC
EASTERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC NC
EDGEWOOD COLLEGE WI
ELIOT SCHOOL FINE & APPLIED ARTS MA
ELMIRA COLLEGE NY
ELON UNIVERSITY NC
EMERSON COLLEGE MA
EMORY UNIVERSITY GA
FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY CT
FORDHAM UNIV-LINCOLN CENTER CAMPUS NY
FORDHAM UNIV-ROSEHILL CAMPUS NY
FRANKLIN & MARSHALL COLLEGE PA
FRANKLIN COLLEGE SWITZERLAND NY
FURMAN UNIVERSITY SC
GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIV-ALL UNDERGR DC
GEORGETOWN UNIV-ALL UNDERGRADS DC
GESTALT INSTITUTE OF CLEVELAND OH
GETTYSBURG COLLEGE PA
GORDON COLLEGE MA
GOSHEN COLLEGE IN
GOUCHER COLLEGE MD
GREEN MOUNTAIN COLLEGE VT
GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS COLLEGE MN
HAMILTON COLLEGE NY
HAMPDEN-SYDNEY COLLEGE VA
HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE MA
HARVARD COLLEGE MA
HARVEY MUDD COLLEGE CA
HAVERFORD COLLEGE PA
HEBREW UNION COLLEGE - CA CA
HEBREW UNION COLLEGE - JIR NY
HEBREW UNION COLLEGE - OH OH
HILLSDALE COLLEGE MI
HOBART & WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES NY
HOLY CROSS COLLEGE IN
ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY IL
ILLINOIS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY IL
INTERNATIONAL FINE ARTS COLLEGE FL
INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY BREMEN<br>
ITHACA COLLEGE NY
KALAMAZOO COLLEGE MI
KENYON COLLEGE OH
KING'S COLLEGE, THE NY
LAFAYETTE COLLEGE PA
LAKE FOREST COLLEGE IL
LANDMARK COLLEGE VT
LEHIGH UNIVERSITY PA
LINFIELD COLLEGE OR
LONG ISLAND UNIV NY
LONG ISLAND UNV-CW POST CAMPUS NY
LOYOLA COLLEGE IN MARYLAND MD
LOYOLA MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY CA
LYME ACADEMY COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS CT
LYNN UNIVERSITY FL
MACALESTER COLLEGE MN
MANHATTAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC NY
MARLBORO COLLEGE VT
MARYGROVE COLLEGE MI
MASSACHUSETTS INST OF TECHNOLOGY MA
MCGILL UNIVERSITY<br>
MERCER UNIVERSITY GA
MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE VT
MILWAUKEE INST OF ART & DESIGN WI
MONMOUTH COLLEGE-IL IL
MORAVIAN COLLEGE PA
MORRIS BROWN COLLEGE GA
MOUNT HOLYOKE COLLEGE MA
MOUNT MARY COLLEGE WI
MUHLENBERG COLLEGE PA
NAZARETH COLLEGE OF ROCHESTER NY
NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIV NC
NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY NC
NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY MA
NORTHWESTERN UNIV-ALL NEW STUDENTS IL
NORTHWESTERN UNIV-CONT UNDERGRAD IL
NORWICH UNIVERSITY VT
OBERLIN COLLEGE OH
OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE CA
OHIO NORTHERN UNIV-FRESHMN&TRNSFR OH
OHIO WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY OH
OLIVET COLLEGE MI
OTTERBEIN COLLEGE OH
PATRICK HENRY COLLEGE VA
PATTEN COLLEGE CA
PINE MANOR COLLEGE MA
PITZER COLLEGE CA
POMONA COLLEGE CA
PRATT INSTITUTE NY
PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE SC
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY NJ
PRINCIPIA COLLEGE IL
PROVIDENCE COLLEGE RI
QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY AT KINGSTON<br>
REED COLLEGE OR
RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN RI
RHODES COLLEGE TN
RICE UNIVERSITY TX
ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY RI
ROSE HILL COLLEGE SC
ROSEMONT COLLEGE PA
SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY-CT CT
SAINT ANSELM COLLEGE NH
SAINT MARY'S COLLEGE IN
SAINT PETER'S COLLEGE NJ
SALVE REGINA UNIVERSITY RI
SAMPLE UNIVERSITY AS
SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY CA
SARAH LAWRENCE COLLEGE NY
SCRIPPS COLLEGE CA
SEABURY-WESTERN THEOLOGICAL SEMNRY IL
SETON HILL UNIVERSITY PA
SHIMER COLLEGE IL
SIENA HEIGHTS UNIVERSITY MI
SIMONS ROCK COLLEGE OF BARD MA
SKIDMORE COLLEGE NY
SMITH COLLEGE MA
SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY TX
SPELMAN COLLEGE GA
SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE MA
ST JOHN'S COLLEGE MD
ST JOHN'S COLLEGE-NEW MEXICO NM
ST JOSEPH COLLEGE- LOYOLA CHICAGO IL
ST LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY NY
ST MARY'S COLLEGE-MICHIGAN MI
ST MICHAEL'S COLLEGE VT
ST. OLAF COLLEGE MN
STANFORD UNIVERSITY CA
STONEHILL COLLEGE MA
SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY PA
SWARTHMORE COLLEGE PA
SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY NY
THE COLLEGE OF WOOSTER OH
THE COOPER UNION NY
TIFFIN UNIVERSITY OH
TRANSYLVANIA UNIVERSITY KY
TREVECCA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY TN
TRINITY COLLEGE CT
TUFTS UNIV -UNDERGRAD MA
TULANE UNIVERSITY LA
TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY AL
UNION COLLEGE NY
UNIV OF DAYTON OH
UNIV OF DUBUQUE IA
UNIV OF EVANSVILLE IN
UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA-CHAPEL HILL NC
UNIV OF NOTRE DAME-UNDERGRADUATES IN
UNIV OF PENN PA
UNIV OF PUGET SOUND WA
UNIV OF ROCHESTER-EASTMAN SCHOOL NY
UNIV OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CA
UNIV OF TORONTO<br>
UNIV OF WISCONSIN-WHITEWATER WI
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO IL
UNIVERSITY OF PORTLAND OR
UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER NY
URSINUS COLLEGE PA
VANDERBILT UNIV-ALL UNDERGRAD TN
VASSAR COLLEGE NY
WABASH COLLEGE IN
WAKE FOREST UNIV-ALL UNDERGRADS NC
WARNER PACIFIC COLLEGE OR
WASHINGTON & LEE UNIV-UNDERGRAD VA
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY MO
WELLESLEY COLLEGE MA
WELLS COLLEGE NY
WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY CT
WHEATON COLLEGE MA
WHITMAN COLLEGE WA
WHITTIER COLLEGE CA
WILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY OR
WILLIAMS COLLEGE MA
WOFFORD COLLEGE SC
WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE MA
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA LA
YALE UNIVERSITY - UNDERGRADUATES CT</p>
<p>does anyone know how the fee waiver thing works? because i've qualified for fee waivers for many things at my school but for some reason i didn't qualify for the CSS profile fee waiver... is it because we own a house? but even then we still owe 90% of the house... i'm wondering, are their qualifications for fee waivers really extreme? or did i do something wrong in my profile?</p>
<p>This is the only info I could find. Maybe you could call them and ask them to explain the procedure:</p>
<p>How Much Does It Cost?</p>
<p>"You'll be charged a nonrefundable registration fee of $5 plus $18 for each college or scholarship program to which you want information sent. A limited number of fee waivers are granted automatically to first-time applicants based on the financial information provided on the PROFILE."</p>
<p>Fastlane,</p>
<p>I think the real point that EK was trying to make even with the list that you supplied it is not even 250 colleges out of the over 3000 colleges in the country. So while approximately** 8% of the schools in the country ask for the profile 92 % of the colleges in this country do not.**</p>
<p>ok I stand corrected ;)
But as the PROFILE seems to exist to ferret out extra sources of existing funds like home equity, you may find that the schools that don't require PROFILE to have a more accurate idea of your ability to pay.</p>