@thumper1 yes, the FAFSA was filled out for this year. I can have it sent to the colleges that she’s applying to. She is hoping to go somewhere this fall, but she’s not crazy about the choices she has (since most applications had closed) and feels stressed having to make a decision so quickly. She doesn’t want to get it wrong since it’s her second school.
Roch did give us $10K after the appeal, but in the same breath told us we wouldn’t be getting it next year (when we have a son heading to college and their tuition goes up to $82K). Their reason was due to an increase in salary (a bonus actually). It wasn’t that big, trust me. We could swing the tuition (she has some merit) but we can’t justify it. Roch is great school, but she can get a good education elsewhere for substantially less.
One of d’s friends at Roch found out just yesterday that her FA was cut in half. Across the board her friends had cuts though not as drastic.
Their full coat of attendance will be $82k…not just the tuition.
I’m sorry to hear about this…but a bonus is a bonus and is considered income. It was significant enough to move your daughter to a different level of institutional need based aid.
It’s hard when this happens…but it did…and she will be OK once the dust settles.
I would say…send the FAFSA now…why not? It’s free and won’t take too long to add the other schools.
@thumper1 you’re right, on all counts. Deep down I know this. It still sucks. She was extraordinarily happy at Roch. Perfect fit. We live frugally, own old cars and an old house, and we do all our own repairs to them. I left the workforce to homeschool my kids while my husband had his own business for ten years, lean years. Nothing going into retirement. And we’re just not willing to sacrifice putting away for retirement now or saddling our kid with debt. But she will be fine, and we are fortunate that this is our biggest problem right now. I will send the FAFSA to the schools on her list and see if we’re eligible for any loans.
As a sophomore, she is eligible for $6500 in Direct Loans. If you don’t get subsidized, YOU can pay the interest for the year…thus subsidizing it yourselves. That’s what we did for one of our kids.