<p>We just got our FA package from my S's Top Pick BS School. The school has given us a very generous FA package. It is about $1000 more than the EFC. We're a little worried that things might be a bit too tight for us. Has anyone ever gone back and asked for just a bit more FA and gotten it? Any advice is most appreciated. Thanks.</p>
<p>Yes. I have asked for, and received more FA. But you can’t just say things might be tough. Be specific. Tell how things are now vs. when you filled out your form. Did you estimate too high on salary? Recent unexpected costs? Job changes? When I went back to the school, it was with a specific reason/request.</p>
<p>Good luck.
zp</p>
<p>Ditto. I went back to schools & received more when I presented specifics that had changed. My experience is that schools will, in most instances, work with you.</p>
<p>Yeah, my Mom messed up financial-aid the form. The school said they didn’t have anymore money or even more merit scholarships available, fortunately I managed to get a well-paying job, and my Dad is working overtime to help.
However, the man we spoke to was very nice, and it was worth a try.</p>
<p>The Dean of FA is the the decision maker. They are always willing to consider if partial FA has already been awarded, and you are very keen on enrolling. Typically they will match the EFC determined by SSS. If you made a mistake they are likely to correct it. No harm in trying. Best of Luck.</p>
<p>Remember, the school is keen on confirming your acceptance offer, since you are likely to stay with them until you graduate.</p>
<p>Thanks for all of this feedback. We actually called the director of FA at the school about a general question (didn’t bring up aid amount) and he seemed very unapproachable. We still haven’t gotten up the nerve to ask…The school was very, very generous. We’re only looking for an extra $500/$1000 and feel badly about asking. We’re still debating on whether we should talk to him and worried about his demeanor in future years. I’ll keep you posted if we go forward with asking. Thanks again.</p>
<p>If at all possible, try to find the money on your own. You’ve gotten more than the EFC and really aren’t talking about that much of a gap. I suggest your child try to earn some money babysitting or mowing lawns. When I went back, we were talking about a much larger sum.
I can understand your hesitation.
zp</p>
<p>I was in a similar situation: we got more than the EFC from our son’s school, but less than we had originally thought we could afford. I wrote out an appeal to the school and, in the process, realized that I really didn’t have much of a case–so the appeal never got sent. I’m glad I went through the process though–it helped us think through our family budget more clearly-- and I did figure out one item that I’ll explain more clearly on the SSS next year.</p>
<p>I found the FA application process very flawed (yes, I know I’m not alone) and the fact that we have two children, rather than one in tuition-based schools, didn’t show up in the EFC. So while we rec’d an offer that was generous and lowered our expected contribution, it still didn’t account for the other child’s tuition. We decided that we’d make it work if we couldn’t get more, and so I called the FA Dean and approached this from a “we’ll do what it takes, but can you help us?” perspective. While the conversation was very cordial, and I know we’re beginning a positive long-term relationship, there was no more FA money available this year. What’s more, I learned that if the other child’s tuition had been factored in, the EFC would have put my d in the “high need” pile which may have prevented her acceptance. Other factors that were confirmed were that previously enrolled students are requesting more aid, while endowments have not recovered from last year’s hit. The bottom line: it will be hard, but “the glass is definitely half full.” We are the lucky ones. I know so many families who can’t do this and FA applicants who won’t get anything. I wish we didn’t feel like it’s this or three more years of boredom and mediocre college prospects, but there it is.</p>
<p>I found that odd - the fact that I have a child in college and were paying tuition was factored into to the EFC.</p>
<p>I think the reason the other child was included in the back pages but not the EFC was that when asked “how many children in tuition-paying schools” I put one instead of two because I thought we were talking present tense (as in one child is applying to boarding school but isn’t there yet and the other is currently in a private school). It may have worked better if the question had been “how many children do you anticipate attending tuition-based schools in 2010-11?” Had I not been rushing to meet deadlines I probably would have called to ask, but from I hear, getting through may have been an issue. Luckily, the current child’s tuition is only about a 20% of boarding school tuition.</p>
<p>Gotcha!</p>
<p>Can you contact the school and explain?</p>
<p>I did have a lovely conversation with the FA Director and learned the things I stated earlier (no more funds available, etc.) and that next year I will fill the form out better and maybe get more. We’re talking about a 3-4K difference per year which impacts lifestyle for sure, but isn’t a deal breaker. After everything I’ve read all over this site, and given the unpalatable option of staying home, I choose to be grateful rather than risking starting off on the wrong foot with the school’s FA people.</p>
<p>I hear ya.</p>
<p>With so many CC families and students reporting that they received no FA I think getting any support seems like winning the lottery.</p>
<p>Good luck! Your child will love BS.</p>
<p>Thanks, Exie. I’ve enjoyed reading your posts. Since we’re sending child 3K miles to school you can bet I need all the consoling I can get. This has been a great site and I read your posts with interest and empathy.</p>
<p>My DD got into an independent day middle school and the school offered her FA based on the amount I said I could pay on the SSS form (which was about $1k less than EFC). Since she is only starting 6th grade, I need her to go to after school care which is $2750/yr. Her acceptance letter stated to call the school if she needed full time after care and they may be able to reduce it. I called and they reduced it to $1k so I’m basically paying exactly what the EFC was, except it is for both tuition and after care.</p>
<p>I figured it never hurts to ask. I could have squeezed out the full amount if I shaved our family budget a little bit more. But this will allow us a bit more freedom for all those “extras” that I’m sure will pop up over the course of the school year.</p>
<p>Thanks again to everyone for their feedback. I guess I could have been clearer…the school did NOT match the EFC recommendation. The amount that they’ve asked us to pay is about $1500 more than the EFC. </p>
<p>I totally recognize that they have been very, very generous. With two kids in independent schools and not having any sense of the “extras” at BS next year, I am just worried about surprise expenses. I guess we’ll just have to manage the best we can. </p>
<p>I like the idea about having our son work over the summer for extra money…that should help. Thanks again to all who posted.</p>
<p>Dadprep,</p>
<p>The surprises should be few. The school pretty much spells out the “big ticket” items up front in the admit package (technology fees, estimated cost of books, etc.)</p>
<p>It’s possible to manage the rest - do own laundry rather than take the service, budget for discretionary items such as the campus grill, or voluntary excursions into town, etc.</p>
<p>There will be so many other kids on campus in a similar situation - tight funds - that your children won’t be alone or feel deprived. Because prep school campuses are pretty much self-contained (food, entertainment, etc) they’ll do fine.</p>
<p>We’re looking at converting credit card points to flight credits on Southwest to help take care of travel home. </p>
<p>Things will be tight here too (we have one in college) but I know from personal experience it will be worth the stretch for us to do it.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Dadprep- There is a thread somewhere on here about the surprise costs for BS. You might want to try and find that. Most of the surprises have been things that are not required but that we really wanted to participate in, mostly because we miss him. Like parent weekend which entails hotel, car and food, care packages, etc. Like I said none of that is necessary just things I like to do because I miss him.
However we did have one surprise that was necessary and that was when he broke his arm 3 days after parent weekend and I had to fly back out for the surgery and stay for at least a few days of his recovery. Another hotel, car and lot’s of food and even polo shirts to wear because his school has a dress code and he didn’t feel comfortable in just a t-shirt even though the school said it was ok.
Still every penny has been worth it.</p>
<p>A related side note…any BTDT experience with the laundry options? The service is a big ticket item for us–but I don’t honestly see my 14 year old boy (whom clearly, as my husband’s Great Aunt Zoe would say, hasn’t been brought up right) EVER doing his laundry. I think he’d wear the same stinky, dirty shirt for a week and not even notice. If he has laundry service and parental reminder e-mails, I think said shirts will make it into the laundry pile to be washed by someone else.</p>
<p>I’m anticipating that all of this will change naturally as he grows older, as it did for me. Curious to know what others of you on a budget have experienced or done or plan to do.</p>