<p>My son has narrowed his list down to 9 schools and we have viewbooks coming.</p>
<p>Since financial aid will be a major component affecting his admission process, I thought it would be good to evaluate each school's FA policies. I have reviewed each school's website -- but they don't always tell the whole story and are generally vague about some details (understandably, since every families situation is different).</p>
<p>I am thinking of emailing each school and asking them these questions:</p>
<p>What percentage of determined financial need do you strive to meet for each student?</p>
<p>Does minority, religious persuasion or athletic status affect the financial aid amounts awarded?</p>
<p>Are loans included as part of the financial aid award? If so, would they be included in a financial aid award for a student who demonstrates significant need (parent income under XXX and no assets)?</p>
<p>I would wrap the questions up in a nice letter -- but I am hoping that if I get some answers, I might be able to determine which schools would not provide the type of FA award my son would need to attend.</p>
<p>Do you think this idea is a good one? I know I am letting them know early in the process that my son will need FA, but since he absolutely will -- I don't see the harm.</p>
<p>Any ideas for other questions I should ask?</p>
<p>thanks!</p>
<p>I don't think you'll get an honest answer to the second question. </p>
<p>If it was me, I'd call and ask verbally rather than in writing - hoping to make it more conversational; the answer to one question may lead to others...
Also, asking questions via a phone call in a conversational manner, laying out your family situation, etc. may seem less "blunt" then just typing out the questions above. </p>
<p>On school websites, I have seen schools designate who is in charge of FA so I would ask to speak with that individual. </p>
<p>Also, as schools will be letting out in the next week or two, I would call/write soon - many staff/faculty go off on trips, etc/ during the summer break.</p>
<p>thanks -- a phone call does sound like a good idea, and calling soon.</p>
<p>I should probably not ask the second question "Does minority, religious persuasion or athletic status affect the financial aid amounts awarded?". My guess is that those factors and many others definitely do go into every admissions decision and financial aid award, but the importance changes each year. Not only am I not going to get a clear answer -- but the answer won't help me decided whether my son should apply.</p>
<p>One school's web site I was on recently (can't remember maybe Westminster?) said that financial aid was competitive...let me find it and post the quote.</p>
<p>Here it is...Westminister...</p>
<p>Applicants for financial aid consistently outnumber the grants available. Thus, **financial aid is awarded on a competitive basis to students of significant ability and achievement whose families demonstrate financial need*. This need is established through an analysis of the Parents' Financial Statement (PFS) by the School and Student Service for Financial Aid and the Financial Aid Committee.</p>
<p>Financial aid grants are made possible by the generosity and loyalty of Westminster alumni and friends. Recipients must reapply each year. To ensure the renewal of a grant, the student is expected to perform academically at a level commensurate with his or her ability, to carry out his or her obligations responsibly, and to adhere to Westminster’s standards of personal conduct.</p>
<p>Applying for financial aid does not affect your child's prospects for admission to Westminster. No student will be denied admission because of financial need. Applicants for financial aid consistently outnumber the grants available. *Thus, financial aid is awarded on a competitive basis to students of significant ability and achievement whose families demonstrate financial need. **This need is established through an analysis of the Parents' Financial Statement (PFS) by the School and Student Service for Financial Aid and the Financial Aid Committee.</p>
<p>I think it is likely many schools have the same "policy" but this was the first I had seen in writing.</p>
<p>You will get a lot of vague answers and platitudes such as "we work with every family and situation," just apply and don't worry about the money, it works out for almost everyone," "Loans are the last resort."</p>
<p>Then, a year later the very same people will tell you "a great education is worth sacrifices," and We had hoped not to include loans but."</p>
<p>They are never going to tell you the big bucks go to minorities and athletes! That what they want in addition and use aid dollars to get changes every year. They might need dancers for the dance program this year and classics scholars next.</p>
<p>The question you really want answered is this: Is there significant aid for non-hooked white candidates who are not athletes or national level scholars?
How many of these kids get big money with no loans?</p>
<p>You will not get a straight answer.</p>
<p>I made the first call today -- to Midland school.</p>
<p>I asked how generous they were and was told that they do have students with 85%-90% aid (yes -- white males). They have a set amount (she wasn't sure offhand what it was, but she thought about $4000) that is required from everyone -- it is what they calculate it costs to raise a teenager at home. Other than that, they use SSS to evaluate need. For students admitted in the first round, they look at the need and the pool of money available and distribute according to need. They do not use FA funds to add minorities or athletes to their school population, those are not factors that are looked at for FA. They do have a commitment to diversity, so the minority factor may be important in admissions.</p>
<p>She was exceptionally nice and very frank with her answers. the one thing she stressed was that Midland would make sure that money would be available for a strong student who was a good fit for Midland -- it is not a school that every student would enjoy, but the school looks to be a perfect for my son. She said visit was required, so we are planning one this fall.</p>
<p>So -- the important points I got from the conversation:</p>
<p>The child needs to be a strong student and overall citizen (ECs, community service, etc) and have the commitment to the environment and community that Midland is known for. A visit and an oncampus interview are necessary for the best chance of aid and FA.</p>
<p>FA is available to those with demonstrated need, but no 100% grants. Each family will pay at the minimum a set amount. Applying at the first due date is important for maximum FA.</p>
<p>I really hope it works out for your son Steph. Just look hard at what they say. They don't use aid to achieve diversity? I find that one very hard to believe. When you are dealing with schools with small endowments it's tricky.</p>
<p>they use admissions to diversify, not aid. In other words, if two candidates apply and they are exactly equal (doesn't happen, but you get the point) and one is a minority -- the minority will get an offer of admission. I understand that and I am ok with that. FA is distributed strictly according to need and no other considerations for kids who are admitted. And the FA pool is divided amoung those admitted who demonstrate need. We will have to hope that his application is strong enough for admissions and the pool is not so great that our demonstrated need can't be met.</p>
<p>Steph, it sound like your sons are the type who beat the odds. For most I'd have to say don't take these claims at face value. I have now searched this site pretty comprehensively and the FA results have not been good for non athletes/non urms. That meshes with what I saw in real life. Your oldest son with offers at Exeter and Andover with no loans seems to have beaten all the odds so I know why you are trusting of the schools. You are the exception though.</p>
<p>Though I don't remember signing one, I wasn't surprised when Goaliedad said they ask you to keep aid confidential. They would not be comfortable with the process being transparent.</p>
<p>It isn't so much that I "trust" the system -- but that I am trying to understand it. The only school that I have talked with so far is Midland -- it stands to reason that they don't give a tip either admissions wise or FA wise to athletes -- they don't consider competitive athletics a big part of the school. In fact, when I asked about students getting better aid for athletic potential, she laughed and asked if I had read the school's website. So that information matched exactly what I would have expected.</p>
<p>She was very upfront with me as far as minorities -- the school has a real commitment to diversity and when looking at the pool of applicants, a good minority candidate will get the tip. So -- FA isn't what is used, but the admissions process. That makes sense to me -- I agree with the commitment to diversity and have no issues with giving those kids a plus during admissions.</p>
<p>so -- for the one school I have spoken with, I believe what they are saying. Another school may not be so upfront with me -- it is usually pretty obvious when you are speaking with them. I am doing quite a bit of research regarding the financial aid in order to eliminate schools that don't sound like they will give the type of aid my son will need.</p>
<p>Keep in mind when you mention that you have researched this site extensively three things:</p>
<p>This board was new as of last fall, so you are seeing a limited number of posts. In addition, this board has a limited audience -- I would hazard that very few boarding school parents participate and post information on this board. </p>
<p>Many people are uncomfortable discussing financial arrangements and so don't post.</p>
<p>The schools I am looking at are not the top ten generally referred to on the board -- in fact, there are several schools (Midland and Conserve) that I never heard mentioned until I brought them up. I rarely hear of anyone speaking of FA other than the top ten. </p>
<p>because of these three factors, I would much rather trust my research than the posting on this board. I do read and take into account the collective knowledge on this board -- but I am not going to accept it at face value without any back-up.</p>
<p>It doesn't make sense to me Steph simply because it's hard to find urms who can pay in the BS world. Sure it can come down to semantics, they may only accept who they can fund, but how does a school with a $4MM endowment fulfill their diversity needs without throwing money at it?</p>
<p>I really don't know, but my instinct is the unheard of schools will be harder to get money from. If Midland is like many schools, they'll ADD that $4K to your EFC. I would trust your research but read between the lines. Sure sports isn't the ticket at a school in Wisconsin with no one to play against but something IS and also they'll never tell you openly what % of aid dollars go to urms. </p>
<p>Some of these schools don't sound better than local HSs, so it scares me to look too far down. There's a pretty big drop off after the top schools. Conserve has kids coming in with a 75% average SSAT yet graduating with an 1150 SAT. Huh?</p>
<p>My opinion is you have to develop something these schools really want to have a fighting chance at the money and it will be something different at all these places. What they mean by a good fit is the fit that benefits the school.</p>
<p>There isn't a lot of meat on this board, but there are multiple grumblings of top kids who did not get money, had to withdraw aid requests, were put on aid waiting lists (absurd) and everything other than being happy getting what they needed.</p>
<p>ok -- I give up, I don't want to continue to argue with you. I know how I am approaching the process and I have every confidence that my son will be successful. That doesn't mean he will get into every school he applies for or get great FA from every school -- I don't expect that. What I do think will happen is that he will be admitted into at least one school that is an good fit for him and the FA awarded will be enough that he can attend. We shall see.</p>