Prior to considering applying to Lafayette, we consulted their NPC calculator. It estimated a cost we felt comfortable with, understanding that the actual award would fluctuate. Three visits later and an acceptance, we were told, despite an appeal, that we would get ZERO dollars in financial aid from them. Is this how they get so many applicants? I would be interested to hear from others on this subject. Our efforts for admission there were a huge waste of time and money.
Interesting. What was the result when you ran the NPC?
Around $22k.
I don’t want any parent to go through what I went through. Lafayette broke my child’s heart. I NEVER would have brought my child there had I ran that calculator and been told I would pay a full ticket price.
You stated in another post." My son was awarded plenty of financial aid at other comparable schools" so hopefully he has found a great college home.
In terms of Lafayette “breaking your child’s heart” – it is too bad that that things didn’t work out as you hoped (the NPC is a useful but imperfect tool) – but that is exactly why it is a a terrible idea for any applicant to fall for one college above all others – there are just too many variables in play (in terms of acceptances, affordability etc.).
I wish you son success and happiness in his chosen college. It is time to stop looking behind and focus in on looking at what is ahead. I’m sure his chosen college is lucky to have him.
@madaline2019
Do you have business income that could make the NPC calculator inaccurate?
Did you ask why their actual determination differed from the NPC? Did you send them a screen shot of your NPC inputs and results? They should be able to tell you if you made a mistake or explain the differing outcomes.
Do talk to the financial aid officer st Lafayette and tell them that their NPC was way off for you. Do report this on our Financial Aid forum that asks how your schools did in accurately calculating aid on their NPC
Did your child’s Other schools come out close in the other NPCs? Is Lafayette the only PROFILE school? Is there a noncustodial parent in the picture or business income?
To answer all of your questions…first, to happy1 - I can’t control how my child feels. He is human. We carefully chose colleges that we felt we could afford. And, no, I am going to continue to look back. It is not right what they are doing. I’m not going to just sit here and allow other parents to go through this.
No, no business income. No abnormal circumstances. I completed the NPC exactly right - so right in fact that the college he is attending gave us the EXACT number it showed (which happened to be the same EFC that Lafayette’s showed).
I did appeal their decision of ZERO dollars. They denied us again - not even $1 of aid. I have since contacted them again by phone and email. I am not letting this go. It is wrong. I will add it to the financial aid forum and I will continue to get to the bottom of this no matter how high I have to go.
Also, forgot to mention that the school he is attending also requires the CSS profile. Very close in nature to Lafayette.
Also, for anyone out there still deciding - make sure to get in writing your current financial aid is guaranteed for four years as long as your circumstances remain the same. Very important I would think for a school that has such a misleading NPC.
I appreciate the fact that you are doing this. It is a service to future families and students. I’m sorry I did not address how your son is feeling. Of course, he’s upset and so are you. I would be as well. Unfair, deceiving systems bother me greatly. I am truly sorry.
I would let Lafayette Presidents, Admisdions and board know. The NPC being that far off is a problem. Unless some explanation is forthcoming, it’s deceptive. Schools have been caught doing deceptive practices, lying about stats before. It happens.
It is also possible that Lafayette has some rare consideration for some financial issues that are not mainstream enough to include on the NPC. I’m hoping that is the explanation. I do believe that the financial aid offices owe each candidate an explanation of their award or lack thereof. Especially if the awards are way off their NPC. I’ve seen some unusual things considered in the aid apps.
Lafayette guaranteed to meet full need of all accepted students though they are not fully need blind in admissions. Not doing so is a breach of their own policies.
@madaline2019
– As parents we did work hard to control how our kids felt about colleges – we always kept our kids from setting their sights on one school by constantly reminding them that things would have to work out admission-wise as well as money-wise for any given school to “happen” . We kept discussing that if one school didn’t work out they would have many other great choices. This might be something to keep in mind if you have other kids go through this process so they can’t be similarly hurt – I think the advice given most often on CC is to avoid “dream schools.”
–As others suggested if you wish to pursue this I’d contact the Financial Aid office and ask for an explanation. I would also let Admissions know that is the reason your S will not be attending.
–Again I wish him well at whatever college he ends up at.
To cptofthehouse: thank you for your kind comment. I have a friend who works in the financial aid office of a college much further away than my son would have wanted to travel. I have leaned on her for guidance, I am also not stupid. Believe me, there are no rare circumstances here. There is only one answer - they accepted him and refused to meet his need - not just his need - but any need!. Period. Not one dollar.
MODERATOR’S NOTE: Since the OP does not like answers on the thread, I am closing. Keep in mind that even if you don’t like replies you’re getting, you need to remain polite.