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The FAFSA EFC is going to be pretty straight forward and the family will get an estimate the moment the press the submit button. Yes, there may be some latitude as far as how the school distributes institutional aid.
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<p>Question, sybbie, as I confess I know far too little about financial aid. Is the college obligated to accept the FAFSA EFC in determining need-based aid? Or can they ignore it and make their own, independent assessment of the student's EFC?</p>
<p>There is a difference between schools that use the federal methodology (FAFSA only schools) and school that use the institutional methodology (the FAFSA + the CSS profile or the FAFSA + the school's own institutional aid form)</p>
<p>At minimum you file the FAFSA (at almost every school) to determine your eligibility for federal aid (Pell/ SEOG grants, AAG, Stafford and Perkins loans, state aid, etc). Most public univeristies will just require the fafsa (the exception may be UVA, UNC- CH, Mich and a few others which may require their own forms)</p>
<p>The CSS profile is used at different colleges that distribute their own institutional aid (Many of these schools have much deeper pockets).</p>
<p>Many schools that use a federal methodology to determine EFC will require only the FAFSA. Schools that use an instutional methodology or a combination of the 2 will require the CSS profile or their own FA forms.</p>
<p>Differences between the IM and FM models are</p>
<p>IM collects information on estimated academic year family income, medical expenses, elementary and secondary school tuition and unusual circumstances. FM omits these questions.</p>
<p>IM considers a fuller range of family asset information, while FM ignores assets of siblings, all assets of certain families with less than $50,000 of income, and both home and family farm equity.</p>
<p>FM defines income as the “adjusted gross income” on federal tax returns, plus various categories of untaxed income. IM includes in total income any paper depreciation, business, rental or capital losses which artificially reduce adjusted gross income.</p>
<p>FM does not assume a minimum student contribution to education; IM expects the student, as primary beneficiary of the education, to devote some time each year to earning money to pay for education.</p>
<p>FM ignores the noncustodial parent in cases of divorce or separation; IM expects parents to help pay for education, regardless of current marital status.</p>
<p>FM and IM apply different percentages to adjust the parental contribution when multiple siblings are simultaneously enrolled in college, and IM considers only siblings enrolled in undergraduate programs.</p>
<p>The IM expected family share represents a best estimate of a family’s capacity (relative to other families) to absorb, over time, the costs of education. It is not an assessment of cash on hand, a value judgment about how much a family should be able to use current income, or a measure of liquidity. The final determinations of demonstrated need and awards rest with the University and are based upon a uniform and consistent treatment of family circumstances.</p>
<p>Except in the most extraordinary circumstances, Colleges classifies incoming students as dependent upon parents for institutional aid purposes, even though some students may meet the federal definition of “independence.”</p>
<p>Students enrolling as dependent students are considered dependent throughout their undergraduate years when need for institutional scholarships is determined.</p>
<p>For institutional aid purposes a student may not “declare” independence due to attainment of legal age, internal family arrangements, marriage or family disagreements.</p>
<p>Your COA (cost of attendance) is tuition, room board, books travel expenses and some misc. expenses associated with attending college.</p>
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Unfortunately, she is very condescending toward the other kids, she really has no friends in school and is not looking to make any. The other students do find her hard to work/get along with (it is going to be an uphill climb).
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<p>And this will be the kid/parents who complain that schools reject those who are overqualified for the less qualified student. People who, even in the college admission denials still see nothing about themselves that warrant deeper thought or consideration.</p>
<p>Thanks, sybbie. So I guess schools that use the IM have some latitude in determining the extent of a student's need according to their particular methodology. Otherwise there would be no way for them to fine-tune need-based aid in the ways outlined in the Atlantic article. (Merit aid is a whole 'nother story.)</p>
<p>Articles like these remind me to remind my kids that neither their self-worth nor the extracurricular choices that they make in order to become the people that they want to become should in any way be influenced by the social engineering judgments of college admissions committees. </p>
<p>Not to frown on it, but almost anyone can work in a soup kitchen. Peer tutoring when you've got the hardest course load offered by your school is underrated and among the most noble and direct ways that you can use your special gifts and talents to give back to your community. I hope her parents are proud of her. </p>
<p>There seem to be enormous opportunities for talented students to find their intellectual peers quite a ways down the food chain, and those schools that are lucky enough to get the great students that fall through the cracks like this are better schools because they go there. </p>
<p>This is also why I want my kids to have two safeties. If you're down to your safetys because you've been facing a lot of rejection, it's theraputic and self-assuring to have to make an affirmative choice to attend one and reject the other.</p>
<p>Some other fine college will probably think that the peer tutor/girl scout is exactly what they're looking for. One person's trash is another's gold.</p>
<p>My son really liked Tufts and planned to apply until he saw the application. Is it just us, or is that supplement the most pretentious out there?</p>
<p>ClassicRockerDad, this is exactly the conversation I have to have (again) this week with my son. What feels like a very personal decision comes down to so many things that you have to remove yourself from taking it personally. The article gave me a stomachache. We live in a decent place and have saved for college forever. Though I think S is unique and fabulous and worthy, and definitely didn't encourage him to be or do anything he wasn't for the sake solely of college applications, now I'm afraid that being smart, talented and maybe not unique enough won't be enough to break into the college "business......."</p>
<p>Very much knock on wood - our kids have had very uneventful childhood. Whether by luck or our hard work, they haven't had to worry much or be distressed about anything. They are not spoiled kids. We also have very good relationship. Overall, happy and well adjusted kids. Frankly, when time came for my D1 to write all of those essays she had no real major adversity or great insight to write about. What's wrong with happy, hard working, well rounded kid? Why is it more desirable to have over come some horrible experience? The fact I have done my job in providing my kids with a safe, happy environment is putting my kids at a disadvantage when it comes to college process? (D1 did get into Tufts) I didn't like the article.</p>
<p>I realize that the article focuses on applicants who have overcome obstacles to excel. That makes for interesting reading, after all. But I don’t think you need to attend a failing school, have a parent in prison, or live in a gang-ridden neighborhood to get an admissions committee’s attention. What you do need to do (once getting past the academic threshold) is to distinguish yourself <em>in some way</em> through your essays. There are so many ways for an interesting kid to accomplish that. Applicants who haven’t had to overcome significant obstacles are fortunate, not unfortunate!</p>
<p>The article clearly points out what has become more and more apparent to me. For the selective schools, on paper, for the most part, every student looks the same. If you are applying to those schools, you can assume that everyone has great grades, great test scores, great recommendations. It's not that from a statistical standpoint you don't deserve/fit the school. The issue is what makes you different. How can you differentiate yourself from the pack. What passion/uniqueness do you bring to the table that the other 10,000 candidates (who look just like you) don't have?</p>
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The fact I have done my job in providing my kids with a safe, happy environment is putting my kids at a disadvantage when it comes to college process? (D1 did get into Tufts) I didn't like the article.
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<p>I didn't have that take on the article at all. I thought the point of it was that an applicant (regardless of his background) has to make himself/herself stand out in some way that catches the eye of the admissions committee or piques its interest enough that it wants to admit the applicant, especially if his/her scores and GPA aren't at the top of the college's requirements. </p>
<p>D1 graduated from Tufts. D2 didn't apply--she took one look at the supplemental application (not the same one that D1 filled out) and said "forget it."</p>
<p>I really wonder if schools want that many "unique" students. There are many psychologist on CC, and probably would know this more than I do - I personally think highly intelligent or gifted people do not necessary have the best people skills (I am sorry if I am offending some people here). How many people do we know in our life where we say, "He/she is so smart, but I don't know how he/she gets through life," or "He/she is the best (violinist, vocalist, swimmer, soccer player...), but you couldn't carry on a normal conversation with him/her." What about psychological scars those students may have because of "adversity"? How many of those highly "unique", "gifted" people could each college campus have?</p>
<p>I agree that catching someone's eye in this process is a good thing, but that doesn't allow a lot of consideration for the humble kid who leads by quiet example - unless that very trait is eye-catching. Frustrating to me is that anytime S has been offered a helping hand - an extra letter or a phone call on his behalf -- to ANY of his schools, he has said thank you but no thank you. He wants to "get in on (his) own merits." While admirable I also think it's short sighted and naive, but there was absolutely no convincing him. And while this alone would set him apart from those who would sell their soul for admissions, it's not like you put this on your application! :)</p>
<p>My daughter recently had to write a scholarship essay about the greatest challenge/obstacle she's had to overcome. We are very middlin' middle-class (just barely squeaked above $60K AGI for the first time last year), but our kids have led lives blessedly free of struggle and strife. We live in a beautiful part of the country, peaceful and familiar. They are the products of a happy home and a happy marriage. They have always learned quickly and relatively easily. They have been perfectly healthy. Their needs have always been met -- and no, that doesn't mean cell phones, iPods, cars, unnecessary clothing, or vacations. ;)</p>
<p>So my daughter is thinking, how can I possibly answer this essay question???</p>
<p>I read her essay later, and it was really lovely, I thought. First she wrote how we all have our struggles in life, and that hers did not compare with the struggles of people who have experienced poverty, illness, disabilities, or family discord. She wrote that she would not consider her struggles in that class at all, but, as she was expected to respond to the prompt she wanted to talk about how her own perfectionism is her most difficult challenge, and how it can stop you in your tracks if you let it. Anyway, it ended up being a very interesting essay that revealed a lot about her, about her perspective on herself, and maintained a tone of humility understanding that this is a "struggle" on a pretty rarified level compared to many.</p>
<p>I don't know if she'll get that scholarship, but she did write a nice little essay.</p>
<p>I'm glad my kids have had a peaceful, happy childhood. It's utterly different than mine was, so I consider it a great success. :)</p>
<p>As to FA question, in my family's experience there is great latitude in how Profile schools will calculate need-based aid. For us, Amherst was the worst offer and Colgate the best.* As to "FA Review" helping in unique situations, again speaking only of our family we had 5 items to discuss and I went 0-5. Don't count on it. Have options.</p>
<p>Make sure you have the FA conversation with your kids long before April and remember to find that financial and admissions safety FIRST. As always, just my opinion. </p>
<p>*2006, before "no loans". But even removing loans from the equation (and some extra cash for a Alumni Memorial Scholar designation) Colgate was still several thousand more generous in our instance.</p>
<p>As to rest of the article, nothing we haven't been saying on CC for a good while. ;)</p>
<p>I have an idea!</p>
<p>The admissions office at each college should flip a coin at the start of the process. Heads, you build a well rounded class of nice well rounded students like they used to, weeding out those too focused on one thing. Tails, you build a nice well rounded class the way they do now by putting together specialists. Then nobody will know in advance how to game the system and kids will just have to be who they want to be. </p>
<p>I hope some college admissions office is reading this :-)</p>
<p>I have yet to see articles about this that don't glamorize college admissions folks. They would all like to be heroes and grant admissions and financing to kids who inspire pathos, which decisions don't personally cost them a sou. They get to be heroes at no cost.
My daughter applied to an elite school with 2350+ SAT and Subject Tests. She was also one of the dozen or so best ballet dancers her age (SAB study). But the icing on the cake was that she endured surgery on both knees. One of her recs was from a ten year ballet teacher who was there when she was wheeled into surgery. After months on crutches and in passive motion machines, she came back to dance a lead role in a major ballet in our city (Chicago).
After her Ed application was in, I said "darling, I've tried not to say this, but I think you have the complete package". How to be a match at HYP.</p>
<p>Interesting (and depressing) article. My kids have both refused to write about one of those life-changing catastrophic events that happened in our family. 1) They felt it was exploitative. 2) They both insist it has not rocked their universe <em>that</em> much -- which speaks to their resiliency, but that's something the adcomms likely won't ever hear about. </p>
<p>We told the GCs about my illness, our family's response and how our Ss have handled it. I have no idea if S1's GC ever mentioned it. I'm not too optimistic S2's GC will, since she doesn't meet individually with students or parents before writing letters. (That's a whole 'nuther rant.)</p>
<p>Remember that these schools had already admitted the shoo-ins. These sessions and this article were focused on the second round, those who weren't shoo-ins but had overcome something special and therefore deserved a second look. It doesn't mean that kids who've had no adversity aren't admitted!</p>