As I mentioned I do not want this to be about the situation with my x and I apologize if the back story caused that to be the case. Since I am just finding out about things as they unfold, I’m seeking information and again, thanks to everyone. On a side—— I don’t think any parent, mom or dad should accept a label of deadbeat parent regardless of the circumstance or who may or may not notice.
It’s clear that the X waiting until the Friday before the May 1st deadline to finally provide me information is irresponsible, even if the x accidentally sent the NCP waiver request form link instead of the NCP CSS link, it’s just not helpful. It’s also discouraging to encourage a child to hide what schools have been applied for especially when they are all out of price range. Kids don’t understand what it means to be in hundreds of thousands in debt when they graduate, even if the child was willing to, there is no guarantee the child would qualify for that much debt.
If anyone can explain to me how the May 1 deadline works. Also, how can I find out if my child was accepted as EA or ED? Could it be that my child already has committed to debt? Does this affect the amount I would pay? I’ve not signed a thing, just submitted the NCP CSS.
Someone mentioned earlier on this thread the NCP CSS should have been sunmbmitted in the fall, that’s where I got the info from.
I’m definitely willing to pay for college—just go into hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt. We have a lot of local colleges and in-state schools that are actually affordable and just fine academically so I agree with you on that.
The 2018-2019 Profile was available for completion and submission on October 1, 2017. Once the custodial parent completed their part…the non-custodial parent could have completed theirs.
So yes…this could have been done in the fall…or early winter.
Is this for an entering freshman? If so…it’s pretty late to be doing ANY of these forms…deadlines have long passed.
If this is a continuing student…the deadlines for submission are later.
I read that the net price is more accurate at Princeton because it allows reflection of both parents. But, would it be wise to judge costs using the Princeton NCP form for a diff Uni? Sorry if this is a stupid question.
The CSS schools can do whatever they like with the information on the CSS/NCP forms. Princeton doesn’t use the CSS.
The May 1 deadline is for accepting a spot at the school. If the student still doesn’t know the FA portion, it makes it hard. Many students have accepted a long time ago. Schools try to get the FA info out well before the May 1 deadline but that only works if the student gets the FA documentation in early.
There usually isn’t a May 1 deadline for FA. It may be much earlier for priority aid, it can be later but often a school won’t have any money left.
You need to tell your daughter how much you can contribute. If it’s $5k, that’s it. No one is going to order you to pay more, especially if you don’t have it. You need to communicate with your daughter.
Princeton’s NPC provided a more generous estimate than other schools so I’m not sure if the number would be helpful.
Also some schools will include merit $ in their NPC (if so they usually ask for GPA and test scores) but many do not. Merit is another possibility and some schools require the need based forms be filled out before they will give merit money. The most selective schools do not give merit, but others might.
The only way you can find out where your child has been accepted is from the x or child (or other family members). EA gave decisions in December. RD is typically in March, but some schools are earlier and some have rolling.
May 1 is the standard deadline to submit a deposit to accept a place for a the fall. Generally it is better to submit all financial aid documents in the fall or winter, so that a financial aid decision can be given with an acceptance. Sometimes documents are requested later if there are questions (doesn’t mean there are problems- sometimes it is just a check or clarification). I realize much of this is beyond your control.
Not a stupid question but the answer is do NOT use the Princeton NPC to compare what you might get from a different university. Just don’t. Princeton has amongst THE most generous need based aid of any college, and very deep pockets. They also have a unique way of looking at divorced parents, and remarried parents,etc.
All you can really get from the Princeton NPC is a net price for PRINCETON. Not comparable to any other college.
Just don’t use the Princeton NPC as your gauge. Don’t use Harvard, Yale or Stanford either, unless your kid is actually attending one of these generous colleges.
But in most cases, one doesn’t have to submit early.
And sometimes, if you are awaiting FA or a review of an award, they will slip the May 1 deadline a bit or allow a deposit refund if it doesn’t work out, after review.
There’s a lot OP doesn’t know. Imo, you need to focus on what you do know, which is how much you can contribute and letting the child and X know this. It should be a reasonable amount, not some lowball to make a point. Most of us felt the pinch, one way or another, paying college costs.
Do not cosign any outside loans. The only loan we posters recommend is the Direct Student Loans, which total 27k over 4 years.
Thanks! Learning curve is huge but all of this helpful info is just fantastic—such a life saver!!
I guess I just wait and see what the net price offer will be.
One more question—is the NPC done every year? For example, my current NCP CSS for 2018-19 reveals that I have other kids enrolled in college full time and both are considered dependants, but, this will change for 2019-20 as they will both graduate in January and already accepted out of state job offers they will be immediately starting after graduation. If somehow my child is given enough grant for 2018-19 making it affordable, I doubt it would be as generous when my dependents and current college students in the household changes. How do I predict/prepare for that?
The net price calculator is really set up for incoming freshmen.
The FAFSA needs to be completed annually and many schools require the Profile as well. The policies on whether the NCP Profile needs to be done again vary from school to school. Some require it…some don’t. Some schools don’t even require the Profile after the first year…just the FAFSA.
If you have two kids graduating from college…hopefully that will free up some funding for the remaining kid IN college.
The other thing is…if kid #3 is not attending a college that meets full need…that kid’s grant might not be covering a lot anyway…so there might not be any change at all in aid.
If the college does meet full need for all students…and first year, there are three in college…and the following year, only 1…then yes…your kid will see a reduction in need based aid.
I’m the one who sai you should have taken action in the fall. What you should have done is communicated to your ex and your kid how much you can contribute for college. You should have set a hard number for them before they started applications. You can’t control what they communicate to you, but you can control what boundaries you have set for them.
May 1 is Tuesday. Does your kiddo HAVE a firm financial aid offer from her colleges? Or not? If you are just now completing the NCP form…how will this kid have a financial aid award by Tuesday when she is required to make her matriculation choice?
The amount that I am to pay is set in stone in a court order. I actually went above and beyond the court order in my financial contribution limit as well. There have been no secrets or hidden agendas on my part. I’m more concerned about my child not having a Uni to go to if things don’t pan out financially with this place. I do feel my child and x, mostly my x, have the responsibility and legal requirement to communicate these matters—but, it doesn’t make them do it. I’d hope my child would want to communicate as it’s an exciting time and I have enjoyed watching and helping my step-children go through the process and wish I could do the same with this one. It sucks being treated like a checkbook. I hope it never happens to anyone here because despite that, you still always want the best for your child and certainly don’t want them to end up with high student loans.
Okay, so you’ve communicated what you can pay. Fill out what they send you promptly and pay your portion on time. It is too late to do much else. Your kids d can only take out a total of $27K total in loans by herself.
Do you and your former spouse have older kids in college?
It’s set in stone for you…but please understand…the colleges won’t give two hoots bout a court order for any amount. They will calculate your kid’s family contribution…and no court order Will change the school’s calculations. It will be up to you as a family to decide if you can pay the price…or not, and how it will be paid.
But really…it’s April 28…the finances should have been figured out so this kid could make a matriculation decision.