<p>Hi everyone! I'm posting as an alum of Andover, but from the days before they started doing need-blind admissions. My fiance and I have been talking about how we'd talk to our kids (obviously, yet to come) about Andover. I want them to know I went there and I'd like them to see the campus, but we'd like some idea of whether we could afford to send them there before we start telling them that they can absolutely go if they get in. In other words, we don't want to get their hopes up and then have to tell them that we can't afford it. That would break our hearts.</p>
<p>Right now, we made $143,000 between us and we're in our late 20s. We're probably going to start trying for kids in 4-5 years, so we're about 15 years away from having to think about actually sending one of our kids. Assuming normal career progression/raises in our fields, we estimate we'll be making (hopefully) about $230,000 between us at that point. </p>
<p>Do you have any idea what kind of financial aid would be available to a family with approximately that income? I know Andover doesn't have a financial aid calculator or a predetermined gross income, so we really don't have any idea whether we'd be in that tough place where we can afford some tuition, but we don't qualify for enough aid to make paying tuition comfortable.</p>
<p>Is this a joke or something? Come back in 14 years and worry about it. During that period at least 3 asteroids are going to hit the earth and Big Bang Theory might end.</p>
<p>How is it ironic. But i wonder why the thread starter would spend so much time to make up such a hard to believe lie. How could someone receive gratification by making up lies and then sharing it to a whole bunch of strangers? However, considering the fact that she mentioned she was a past alumni, her connections should be great enough that she would not feel the need to ask strangers on a forum. She should also be smart enough to know that there is no reason for her to be asking that question considering that she does not even have kids. So i agree and believe that this is a joke.</p>
<p>“considering the fact that she mentioned she was a past alumni, her connections should be great enough that she would not feel the need to ask strangers on a forum”</p>
<p>The financial aid document is handled by SSS NAIS. The schools look at EFC (estimated family contribution) calculated by SSS.</p>
<p>From my experience, if you have no debt other than a small mortgage, have some retirement savings, and make over 200K with 2 children, EFC comes out to be full tuition so your child won’t qualify for financial aid. You will be much better off than most other families needing aid.</p>
<p>My advice at this point would be save aggressively: Max out 401/retirement contributions, pay off mortgage, sign up college savings/education savings account as soon as children are born.
so that you can raid those multiple accounts if the children want BS experience.</p>
<p>@spirals: It’s hard to take your post seriously because it appears that you haven’t done any reading here on CC or even perused the Andover website. If you had, you’d realize that if your unborn applicant is accepted to Andover and demonstrates any financial need, that need will be met in full. There’s your answer. Because you can’t possibly know your future financial situation, you will have to rely on the fact that if there is need when the time comes, it will be met. Will you have that need? Who knows? However, because your financial situation now is sound, you should be saving the most you can for your future children’s education, BS and/or college. Andover (any BS) will expect you to contribute sacrificially to your childen’s education to the extent that you are able. So, you will be expected to have done the best you could. It is completely pointless to worry about your future FA status now while you have a healthy income and are able to save. Start saving and see where you end up.</p>
<p>Also, you have the luxury of many years to do serious research about boarding schools beyond Andover. So, I’ll pass along the mantra of this board: Cast a wide net. Many Andover legacies did not receive happy news this application round.</p>
<p>Hi ChoatieMom! I am a current upper at Andover, and I am on partial aid from Andover. At least from my POV, Andover is EXTREMELY generous with aid. When I applied for my freshman year, I had never even heard about the school until a couple weeks before the application deadline. Since my parents had assumed that I would attend the public high school the next year, we didn’t have any money set aside for tuition. Even though our family income sits at around 200k, my mom wrote the school a letter along with our FA application, explaining all the additional fees that are not accounted for in the FA packet. To our surprise, they granted us an extremely generous financial aid package. The next year, it became apparent that we would need even more aid. My mom wrote the school another letter explaining the circumstances, and they placed us on almost complete aid. So, I wouldn’t worry too much about qualifying for aid. PA is a LOT more generous than most colleges.</p>
<p>The financial aid at Andover is extraordinarily generous. Andover is not only the sole need blind boarding school among its peer schools. It also satisfies 100 percent of financial need based upon a liberal calculation of need. That’s why Andover offers better financial aid than most elite colleges.</p>
<p>Andover’s financial aid does not just apply to tuition, room, and board. Depending upon a student’s financial need, the school will also pay for books, a laptop computer, an iPad (if academically required), test fees, college application costs, and even airfare for seniors to attend an admitted college program. </p>
<p>Long story made short: I have never met a financial aid student at Andover who was not deeply thankful for the unstinting generosity of the Andover financial aid office.</p>
<p>My son is there now as a 9th grader and it is overwhelming how generous they are with aid. I hope that every recipient is generous in giving back to the school in the years so that the tradition continues and the opportunity is open to those who never even knew the school existed. It is truly AMAZING.</p>
<p>I’m figuring that each of my children will have 2.5 kids of their own, who will be ready to attend high school approximately 14 years after they are born. None of the kid are married yet, but I like to plan ahead as much as possible. How do I budget savings for that pesky extra .5 grandchild? I will be moderately comfortable with my first husband dead and my second husband, Hugh Jackman, still fetching big bucks at the box office.</p>