<p>I work as well, by the time school starts I’ll probably have earned twice the amount of my contribution, which is good.
Basically, I’m just really concerned about consuming more than 2/3 of my parents’ savings…before my sister has even started college. I think we’ll have to pay with my work, my parents’ income and their savings. To my understanding parents can generally expect to contribute 1/3 of their savings for each child’s college tuition. Loans aren’t an option anymore…like I said Vassar gave me $3500 but I reduced them with my scholarship.</p>
<p>Can’t you take out private loans? Interest may be high, though.</p>
<p>And if you consume savings then her fin aid award might be larger.</p>
<p>neethus1- I will be calling fin. aid on monday.
My parents are amazingly awesome and said they could probably contribute about $15k from income (we don’t really spend much money). savings wouldn’t be replenished very much though…because what would have gone into savings will be going towards tuition, right?</p>
<p>My son is a freshman on financial aid at Vassar and while I know situations cannot be compared, your aid package sounds on target to me. If your parents contribute $30,000, half from income and half from savings you will be a good distance to where you need to be. Add your income, perhaps a loan? I imagine your grant may increase as your parents’ savings go down. My income is lower, my home equity less, my savings very small and I am paying 1/3 of AGI toward COA. I completely understand a family choosing not to do this but at least this year we are making it work. I was very happy for this year’s loans to be reduced by the local scholarships my son was awarded! Good luck in figuring this out.</p>
<p>I’m sure Vassar assumes it will come from savings and loans. While you aren’t expected to decimate your savings, you are expected to dip into it.</p>
<p>Like I said before, we can dip into them…but assuming my parents contribute $15,000 from income, that still leaves $25,000 to come from from savings. Over four years, that adds up to $100,000, about 2/3 of our savings. I think that’s considerably more than a dip.</p>
<p>While Vassar took away $3500 in subsidized Stafford loans, you ARE eligible to borrow $5500 in unsubsidized Stafford loans as a freshman. With your parents’ income, they should be able to pay your interest while you are in school. That will at least be helpful in meeting your costs.</p>
<p>To answer how families pay the cost - it differs from family to family. We used up all of our savings my D’s first year of college - I spent that year trying to find a job. When the savings were gone, I was fortunate enough to find a job. Every penny of my take home pay goes to her costs, which we spread out in 10 payments with a payment plan. So my new job nets our family nothing in terms of money - but saves us plenty because we don’t have to borrow - and our D gets a great education. To us, that is what we should do, so we do it.</p>
<p>I think you are mistaken that most people in that income bracket have $150,000 in savings especially with the number of children in your family. Kudos to your parents - you are in a much better position than most.</p>
<p>Kelsmom- The $3,500 loan was already an Unsubsidized Stafford loan. Since FAFSA indicated that we qualify for federal aid, this was what initially led me to believe that there had a mistake, or that the amount had been calculated too quickly.</p>
<p>They cannot take your $3500 unsub away - in fact, you are eligible for 5500. </p>
<p>Unsub eligibility is determined by Cost of Attendance - all aid (scholarships, grants, work study, sub loans). If this number is at least 5500, you DO get to borrow 5500. EFC is NOT a consideration for unsub loans. I know this for a fact, since I am an aid officer.</p>
<p>
Sweetie, you’re completely out of touch. Your parents have more savings than the vast majority of people. And $200K in equity? Many, many people’s homes are “under water” in this economy. We have personally lost over $100k in equity and have less than $20k in savings although we make more than your parents. Your parents are in great shape and I don’t think Vassar will buy the can’t afford it argument unless something changes.</p>
<p>Kelsmom- does this mean that I am not crazy and Vassar has at least messed that part of my package? Because my package was as follows:
Vassar scholarship (grant money): $10,000
Unsubsidized Stafford Loan: $3,500
Institution employment allowance: $1,750.
All of the above were used to meet my “need” (about 15-16K). To my understanding, then, if a loan was used to meet my need as determined by the college, it should be a subsidized loan?
I know this probably means nothing, but would a large amount of typo’s in my financial award statement in any way indicate that the whole thing was put together hastily?</p>
<p>zoosermom- not saying we can’t afford it. We can…by eating through all our savings and a substantial amt of income.
The point is, I wanted to know if this was out of the norm for a fin aid package from a wealthy college (this is why I researched every other college’s average aid packages for our income bracket), because I feel like they made a mistake.</p>
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<p>Read again…Kelsmom said you are entitled to $5500 in UNSUBSIDIZED loans. She said nothing about whether or not they could take away the subsidy. In fact, if the school determined that your need was met than the loan would NOT be subsidized.</p>
<p>thumper1…read again. The $3,500 UNSUBSIDIZED loan was used to meet my need. My need was not met before the unsubsidized loan was added.</p>
<p>And I know it wasn’t because, in bold, at the top of the statement, it said: TOTAL NEED: $15,xxx
and then, below it, there was the vassar scholarship, the UNsubsidized loan, and my employment allowance, and it added up exactly to $15,xxx.</p>
<p>Right…and that means that they decided you didn’t require a subsidized loan to meet your need. </p>
<p>I know you are not happy about this financial aid package…but really…the only thing you can do is talk to Vassar about it. Truthfully, I think your EFC is accurate. Their package meets what THEY have defined as your need. If you feel there is something they are missing, you need to talk to finaid at Vassar. </p>
<p>But as others have said…go in there with whatever documentation you have that shows that your need is more extreme…and hope for the best. I personally don’t think they will adjust your financial aid but I am NOT a financial aid officer. You may be pleasantly surprised. </p>
<p>Please let us know what happens as a result of you conversation with Vassar.</p>
<p>By the way…when my DS was the only kid in college, he NEVER had a subsidized stafford loan…with income and an EFC similar to yours…and a college with a similar cost of attendance.</p>
<p>OP,</p>
<p>COA = $55,000
EFC = $40,000
Need = $10,000</p>
<p>Vassar Grant $10,000</p>
<p>No need remains</p>
<p>Therefore, you would not be eligible for a subsidized Stafford Loan, only an unsubsidized Stafford Loan.</p>
<p>^ Actually, COA - EFC (55k - 40k) would equal a need of 15k. Am I missing something here?</p>
<p>neethus, you’re right: the need is $15K. With a $4K outside scholarship and part-time work during the school year, it appears the need is met.</p>