<p>my family's combined income is <60k this year, but apparently we are able to afford MIT if we sell our house and other property =(</p>
<p>For real? how come they did that?</p>
<p>Maybe you added an extra zero when typing in your family's income or something... I would call them and check on that.</p>
<p>Maybe it has to do with 401k/pension stuff? What other assets does your family have? Bank accounts full? Also, when you submit your CSS profile, it tells you about how much aid they think you're quallified to recieve. Does this jive with the amount they are offering? Maybe there was a disparity between your CSS profile and your FAFSA and they need more information or clarification? I'd call the Finaid Dept.</p>
<p>Guys, before you start worrying what I would suggest is contacting your Loan Counsellor (if you've been assigned one) if not, contact someone from the financial aid office. They always listen and I was able to negotiate my finaid package twice. Dont lose hope, MIT Rocks :)</p>
<p>I am not a financial aid guru, but I agree with the advice to talk to MIT and "not give up". There could be glitch or maybe you have circumstances that did not show in the forms. (I have no mortgage debt and have some money in pension/retirement accounts. My income is greater than what you stated, yet MIT still gave some need based aid (which we are very grateful for). However, I do have two sons in college.)</p>
<p>But, you must also understand that a large portion (maybe a majority, maybe almost all) could have attended a different school for less money - in many cases maybe a LOT less money. My MIT-attending son was a NMF. He could have had free tuition and room/meals and laptop and some research money from one southern state school. (He had not even applied there.) He had better financial offers from Michigan (he is out of state) and CMU - both excellent, excellent schools. But he went to MIT. He is very happy there and we have never looked back.
- an MIT dad</p>
<p>=( I must really suck at talking with adults, because the fin aid person assigned to me by MIT was neither nice nor helpful. the person was like "well i dont have anything to say. we determined that you had no need. there are loans and stuff... sorry, thats all." any suggestions on what i should say or questions to ask? how do you negotiate...</p>
<p>to people who have sent in required finaid documents for awhile now,</p>
<p>does the finaid tracking still say that you still require those documents? i sent in my us citizenship documentation about 1.5 weeks ago, but the finaid tracking still says that the finaid office hasn't receive my document yet. i'm a bit worried because i can't make my decision to go to mit without seeing my finaid package... and i want to reply (to attend mit) by mid april... i don't like sending in things so close to the deadlines (although i do it often).</p>
<p>Hey, TheRestIsSilence, this might be a good time to sic your parents on the office, if you have sufficiently rough and tough parental units.</p>
<p>With matters directly relating to you like admissions, it's best if you call yourself. Financial aid relates to your parents' income, and therefore I have always held the firm opinion that parents should get involved. (Plus I don't like negotiating. My dad relishes it.)</p>
<p>
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I must really suck at talking with adults, because the fin aid person assigned to me by MIT was neither nice nor helpful.
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</p>
<p>I got the same impression. Though I haven't actually received their financial aid package yet, they seemed curt and somewhat rude when I called them. I can't imagine trying to negotiate with them :(. Any idea how we to approach the finaid operators effectively? Or is it something you just have to do in person?</p>
<p>I'm having the exact same problems as zking. I haven't even gotten a financial aid package, and the financial aid person I talked to acted like they weren't going to give me one.</p>
<p>Anybody going to have to turn down MIT because their parents are afraid to foot their share? I probably will. Oh well, maybe for grad school...</p>
<p>I've heard that you can get better answers through email. Maybe written correspondences go to different people and are better reviewed? I think they're just swamped with people trying to send them stuff or bargain their package down. I'd assume a well thought out email which provides specific proofs of your need will be more effective than a general and less directed telephone conversation.</p>
<p>my parents don't speak english, so i'm completely on this alone =(
do you think if i wait to talk to someone at CPW it'll be too late? i'm really afraid to call them again because im always routed to the same person...</p>
<p>I don't think it will be too late at CPW.</p>
<p>TRIS, are you international?</p>
<p>no i'm not international</p>
<p>Hey, did you guys see that you can make an appointment at CPW to talk one-on-one with a financial aid person? You sign up in La Sala de Puerto Rico (on the 2nd floor of the Student Center), and appts are available for all day Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.</p>
<p>Do we need to make the appointment before, or do we do it when we get to CPW?</p>
<p>You do it when you get to CPW. Check-in should also be on the 2nd floor of the student center (maybe 3rd floor, there will be many signs), and anybody you ask will be able to direct you to La Sala.</p>
<p>Thanks Mollie!</p>