financial aid

My daughter has been accepted at St. Andrews. We received a decent grant but I’m already worried about next year. I know we have to reapply each year. Does it typically fluctuate significantly?

You should talk to the SAS team directly. They are pretty forthcoming and transparent.

Yes, you have to reapply every year (I think this is true of all need-based aid for BS, regardless of school). In our experience, it did not fluctuate much.

+1 for speaking to SAS. You will definitely get the best answer there. Most schools will say that while future aid is not guaranteed that if your situation is the same you will receive same level of aid, usually adjusted for a change in tuition. My personal experience was increased aid over DS1 time in BS.

Does anyone have any experience with writing a letter of appeal? We can pay what they are asking but it is going to be very tight and probably means we won’t be able to continue my daughter’s private music lessons. This is something she has invested 7 years into so far and is interested in a career in music. Is that an appropriate reason to appeal? I don’t want to be unreasonable.

At DS’s school, private lessons are charged at a rate proportional to the amount of aid you receive. For instance, if the school gave you 25% aid, then they’d subsidize 25% of the cost of lessons. I’m not sure if this is how it works for every school, but you may ask, because this would definitely make things easier for you.

@buuzn03 says it all. Two different BS providing similar need based aid. Our contribution did not change that much only went little up as our income went up. Very generous aid at both schools. If one has opportunity to participate in math competitions or travel to different cities for different activities, it is all covered. Travelling opoortunities to different countries are covered under different competitive grants. If you are being recognized for an award that school post on their website and you have to fly, they covered these additional expanses. Very reasonable as long as one has need and drive to excel and better themselves. Very happy with both phenomenonal boarding schools providing opportunities to my kids.