<p>so are you an international?</p>
<p>no. I was born here but raised in different countries.</p>
<p>so the 75 K or 100 K income of your parents is a US income or they live in foreign country with that income.</p>
<p>It is important because if your parents made that kind of money say in India or Nigeria or China, no one will believe that yor parents have such a low assets. That kind of income in those countries is super rich and no one will believe that your parents have such low assets.</p>
<p>i know, but over the past few years my mother and I lived here. so my father supported us.
Also since my parent's financial situation next year is the most important factor in my college contribution, i expected the college to be more understanding because I have emphasized that my parents will have $0 in cash or bank savings.</p>
<p>"Also since my parent's financial situation next year is the most important factor in my college contribution,"</p>
<p>No your entire financial situation come in to play.....why do you keep bringing up next year's situation? What is your family's net worth not just in US, but entire world?</p>
<p>The way your picture is emerging to me looks like this (and perhaps the fin aid people might have arrived at the same conclusion).</p>
<p>You were born here, but are an internaltional. Your parents have relatively high income, and are savvy enough to know that as a US born you may get good deal of fin aid. So your father sends his wife and you to this country for a year or two and supports you for a while. Hoping that this will result in a discounted education in a top tier school.</p>
<p>first of all, since I was born here, I am a citizen. also, we came here because that was the only choice we had. My father was supposed to return to his country of origin. But since my brother and I studied in an American school, there was no way we could return and go to college. So we came here while my father got to stay there more for some reason.</p>
<p>So you're saying that I'm not even American and I'm just using the citizenship for my advantage.</p>
<p>wow I am offended by your post.. though I know you're trying to help.</p>
<p>it's in no way discounted considering cost of education in other countries. And if the financial officers made decision taking that into account, it would be a discriminatory one. Would it have made a difference if my parents paid U.S. taxes. It's just absurd if you meant what you have said.</p>
<p>I am getting offended by international students that come on here complaining about not getting enough aid. My daughter is just a regular US student from a working class background. She is above average and has great stats and we are dissappointed in her pkgs. also. She will most likely be going to the state college becasue they met our efc with Merit money and need based grants. By the way the efc for us will still be a struggle and she will be passing up her dream school because the pkgs are 3-4 times our efc and impossible to bridge that gap. It seems to me students like my daughter are getting the short end of the stick becuase the schools are giving aid to international students. Nothing against you but cash in some of your parents assets or go to the school your parents can afford just like most of the kids from true middle class backgrounds have to do.</p>
<p>as I said, I am American...... what you are saying is just prejudiced. just because my parents are not American, I should not get the same opportunity as others because I am a leech that takes things away from people like you?</p>
<p>I'm sorry for getting angry.. but that is what seems like you are implying.</p>
<p>I dont' want to offend you in anyway.. But I've noticed a lot in this forum, some antipathy against international students? You think they are taking your sons and daughters, and gradsons financial aid away?</p>
<p>when 100 international pays $40,000 yearly for "American" education, there is 1 international student that gets 20,000 for scholarship. And you are complaining about internationals......</p>
<p>I understand that you are frustrated as me. But I just can't comprehend this.</p>
<p>I think you and one of your parents needs to CALL the financial aid office together and speak with a financial aid officer. You need to know exactly how they calculated your EFC and what they calculated it to be. If the other school gave you all need-based aid and it is substantially different, this can be a starting point. If it is a private school then the second school probably used Profile also. As a matter of fact, I think I would call that school first to see how they calculated your EFC. There may be something they took into account that the Ivy school did not or that the Ivy did not know about. That gives you a place to start comparison of the two schools but without knowing exactly how each school came to its conclusion of your need, it is tougher to make a justifiable appeal.</p>
<p>Now, if the PRIMARY difference between the schools offers is that the second school gave you more grants and fewer loans, there isn't really anything to compare. Here is an example.</p>
<p>School A cost of attendance is 45,000 and calculates your EFC at $23,000. Offers you $7,000 grant, 3000 work study and 12000 loans. </p>
<p>School B cost of attendance is 44,000 and calculates your EFC at $22,000. Offers you 12,000 grant, 3000 work study and 7000 in loans. </p>
<p>In this case, the EFC isn't substanially different. School B offered to cover the amount over your EFC more heavily in grants and less heavily in loans. School A may or may not match the grants/loan offer and they have already told you no to this. That is substantially different than if school B had determined your EFC was only $17,000. A $6000 difference in EFC is a lot and would warrant a further look. In that case it would be worthwhile noting what caused the difference in the calculations and trying to appeal on that basis. </p>
<p>Also, keep in mind that if your savings disappear this year as you say they will and your parents income drops, next year you will probably have a lower EFC at Ivy school and may be eligilbe for more aid. This is something to discuss with the FA officer also. Those conversations are frequently easier in person or at least over the phone instead of just email. Good Luck.</p>
<p>You were given the same benefit as a US born person. You are just complaining that they did not give you enough. Unless you become totally honest and describe your situation in detail no one can give you real advice. The way you started the thread and then expanded on the situation will lead many to believe that you are trying to game the system. May be it is not true in your case, but there are hundreds of people who have tried to play the game I described earlier. The early players got the benefit, the late players or even deserving people may be suffering or are paying the price. And it is not that you did not get any aid....you did get the aid. Financial people in their professional judgement decided that this is what they want to give you based on the data you supplied.</p>
<p>thanks keepmesake that was very helpful.
thanks simba.</p>
<p>anyway, I think the rest of the problem is for me to deal with.</p>
<p>One school probably counts home equity as an asset (less grant $) and the other does not (more grant $).</p>
<p>And something that we have to keep in mind is that nobody has to give us anything. I wish we had free higher education in this country, but we don't.</p>
<p>^ Very true</p>
<p>two things to keep in mind that may have effected the EFC. Just because your brother did not/will not receive aid does not increase/decrease your need.</p>
<p>For example, let's say the with the info provided the school determines that your family is capable of paying $40,000 total family EFC. With two kids in college, most profile schools will expect each student's EFC to be 60% of that figure -- so about $24,000. If school A refuses to give a dime, it doesn't change school B's offer for the other student. So Student attending School A would pay full cost and student B will pay $24,000</p>
<p>also -- you say the next year your parents will have no more savings. This implies that they have some savings now. What is happening with that savings? Schools will expect any money your parents or you had in savings when the Profile and FAFSA were filed to be allocated to college expenses -- since you know those are coming up quickly. The only exception would be for something like medical expenses.</p>