<p>Lets say hypothetically that a full pay student's parents need financial aid in the second year in school, how do schools view this? What if the school declines aid, do they ask the student to withdraw? Thanks.</p>
<p>My guess would be that a currently enrolled student would have priority for FA (assuming good academic standing) over an applicant. </p>
<p>I did read an article (last year?) that FA funds have shrunk because endowments have taken a big hit from the global economic crisis, and on top it that, FP students have been requesting FA because their families finances have also taken a hit.</p>
<p>They will consider financial aid, if your circumstances have changed radically, but they might place you on a waiting list. They assign financial aid to new students and those already approved for it first (or, at least, they work that way at my sons’ school).</p>
<p>The student needs to withdraw only when the school can’t offer the FA the family needs and the family can’t pay tuition through other means. I think most schools will TRY to help if the family’s financial situation has changed significantly, which can be verified by reviewing past years’ finanical documents (tax returns, W2’s etc). It does happen that some students have to leave in subsequent years because of financial reasons.</p>
<p>At my school at least, FA will go to the students who my school has already agreed to give it to first (aka returning financial aid students) then others can apply. I know I had to apply for more aid last year, and I received it. In the case that the school can’t supply enough FA for said student, then it is up to the student whether or not they can continue attending the school.</p>
<p>^^That’s a better explanation than I gave.</p>
<p>According to PA, existing students can apply FA if the financials of your family change significantly. They stressed that they do not like students who did not apply FA in order to get in, and apply later. They think it is dishonest.</p>
<p>@f2000sa: regarding your post…They stressed that they do not like students who did not apply FA in order to get in, and apply later. They think it is dishonest.</p>
<p>If your statement is accurate, PA is obviously not need blind, which would be even more dishonest…</p>
<p>They “do not like” doesn’t mean they would not objectively evaluate your financial need. Dishonesty shouldn’t be encouraged should it? According to Andover school newspaper:
[quote]
Fried said, “The fact that the Board of Trustees and Mrs. Chase maintained the [Need Blind Initiative] in the face of adversity and that no student has had to leave the Academy during the current economic recession for financial reasons is a memory that will be etched in my mind and heart forever.”<a href="%5Burl=http://phillipian.net/articles/2012/01/05/fried-named-15th-head-brearley-school%5DFried%20Named%2015th%20Head%20of%20Brearley%20School%20%7C%20The%20Phillipian%20Online%5B/url%5D">/quote</a></p>
<p>Dishonesty shouldn’t be encouraged should it?</p>
<p>No, nor should it be alleged…in the current economic recession</p>
<p>What’s “alleged” is dishonesty, a cheating behavior based on the assumption that not applying for FA would increase one’s chance of getting admitted, NOT the true financial situation change after enrollment due to the recession.</p>
<p>Everyone knows PA alleges to be need blind; therefore, why would any applicant not apply for financial aid unless they felt they could afford the cost of tuition or unless they knew PA were truly not need blind. In today’s economy, finances can change rapidly. Assuming that a FA applicant is dishonest or cheating is ridiculous unless of course PA is truly not need blind.</p>
<p>
Why? Because there are people who suspect or believe “PA is truly not need blind”.</p>
<p>Weatherby: I see your point, but even IF Andover is truly need blind (see me resist my usual rant), most schools are not and OP was asking about schools in general, not just Andover. </p>
<p>It’s also true that families’ assessment of need can vary widely; some families may feel that they should qualify for aid while living in a house, owning cars, and spending on vacations, food, and electronic “necessities” that would be considered over-the-top luxury for other families; so I could see, hypothetically, a situation where the family and school would not agree on a family’s need.</p>
<p>That said, if a student is doing well at school and the family faces a serious economic setback, most schools would certainly reassess their financial needs. At least that’s how I’ve read the financial need page on schools’ websites.</p>
<p>To clarify, the issue at a need blind school like Andover is honesty, not financial aid. </p>
<p>Applicants to Andover certify that all admission information they submit is “factually correct and honestly presented.” They also acknowledge that they may be subject to “admission revocation” if the certified information is incorrect. </p>
<p>Thus, an applicant requiring financial aid would act dishonestly by filing an application as a full-pay student to Andover. This dishonesty, not the student’s financial need, would upset Andover because honesty is the “basic value” of the school, the one “on which [its] community rests.”</p>
<p>It was a hypothetical folks. One of the parents could lose a job and can’t afford the tuition the next year. There is no intent to be dishonest about it.</p>