Divorced parent contribution calculation

Paying for College
1

<p>(Since I know the answer to this question varies depending on the school, the schools I am talking about are Harvard and Yale)</p>

<p>Let's say you have two divorced parents, A and B. You live with parent A, who makes under $60k, and parent B makes about $120k.</p>

<p>Do the aforementioned schools calculate a seperate contribution from parent A (that is, 0 since H and Y have policies where households that make under 60k/year contribute nothing) and parent B (let's just guess 10%: $12,000) or are they lumped together as one $180k/year household (guess: $18,000)?</p>

<p>I know there's just one "Family Contribution" listed on the financial aid award letter, but I'm not sure if that reflects the method of calculation.</p>

<p>I sent emails to them a couple weeks ago but never got responses -- they're probably pretty busy. Does anyone know the answer?</p>

2

<p>I don't think they say parent A is x$ and parent B is Y$</p>

<p>they tell you how much you are expected to pay and your family figures out who is paying what</p>

3

<p>It is my understanding that it is the combined income of both of your parents, and colleges will not calculate separate expected family contributions by parent.</p>

<p>As your parents, they are instead considered as a "team," so to speak, regardless of their current marital status.</p>

4

<p>FYI, you will need to include income/assets of any/all step parents as well</p>

5

<p>Hmmm, so I did some digging around on the Harvard financial aid website and found this:</p>

<p>
[quote]
If we have received financial information from both your parents, the figure listed as "parent contribution" on your award letter will be the combined figure for your mother and father determined by doing a separate need analysis for each parent. If you would like to know our breakdown of this joint parent contribution, you may call or write our office. However we have split that contribution, it is really up to you, your mother, and your father to decide how to divide the responsibility for paying the bills. In most cases, we will send a copy of your award letter to your non-custodial parent so that parent is informed about your financial aid award.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>(emphasis mine)</p>

<p>Now I'm really curious: among Ivies and other top schools, is this the norm or the exception?</p>

6

<p>I think that this is the exception, I never heard of that before</p>

<p>I also never saw something like this before
<a href="http://www.fao.fas.harvard.edu/downloads/cashflow_statement.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.fao.fas.harvard.edu/downloads/cashflow_statement.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="http://www.fao.fas.harvard.edu/downloads/profile_inst_questions.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.fao.fas.harvard.edu/downloads/profile_inst_questions.pdf&lt;/a>
I would have loved to fill this out and tell them about my 1991 Civic!</p>

7

<p>I had to answer Profile questions about cars for one of D's schools (might be current school - can't remember). I knew telling them about our cars would only help our cause - as long as they appreciate frugality, that is!</p>