<p>Even though it was about boarding school, I thought that some of the comments do apply to college. And interesting that aid is not as transparent as people think, same as in college. But colleges won't comment that hockey players would get better aid than others. And the comment about what some people think is a necessary expense resonated with me. </p>
<p>Boarding schools have no federal aid, so they are completely free to do whatever they want with their money. They answer to no one but their board. I actually work at a school that also has a boarding school. Their financial aid mission is completely different than that of a college. There is just no comparison.</p>
<p>There may not be a comparison, but I found the comments about necessary expenses interesting too. I know people like this- spent thousands and thousands on summer programs related to EC’s but when it came time for college told their kids they had to go to community college because they couldn’t afford any four year schools, not even the local commuter school. I remember thinking: your tuition money was spent on those summer programs.</p>
<p>I do agree with that. I often talk with people I know about financial aid. I know for a fact that they pay thousands of dollars every year for travel hockey, dance team, horseback riding lessons, etc. Then they complain that they don’t get any financial aid. It never ceases to amaze me that people only look at those who have more … so rarely do they consider all those who have less.</p>
<p>Don’t try to equate this with college, private boarding school has it’s own admissions quirks, and limits it is really just a red herring to try to pick the similarities and differences. As Kelsmom says, it is such a different situation and 100 percent private aid. My daughter went to one of the schools mentioned, so did a cousin and a cousin’s kids. We all had very different levels of ability to pay. And different student profiles for some. They also have nowhere the endowment of colleges not even close and not at the level of the very top well endowed boarding schools either. They do well with what they have. They don’t have to give money to anyone, it is just part of the nonprofit generosity to do what they can. It was an amazing gift. Just take this as what it is–boarding school discussion.</p>
<p>SOme of my kids went to a private school with a boarding component. But it gave finanical to a number of students who qualified. Those kids on aid were specially coded and often got breaks in other expenses. I was involved in number of activities, and we would not ask for any money for events and things for kids so coded. The money either came from a fund so set up or we just ate that cost.</p>