<p>Honestly @tennisandcalc, it is like you are not reading the posts at all but just want to make some point I cannot fathom.</p>
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Well yes, because she said quite directly</p>
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I don’t think it is a big leap to infer that the change was not for the better. Did you not read that? Which makes your next statement:</p>
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completely at odds with the facts as we know them since the OP also said (and I am forced to repeat myself since you apparently are not reading my posts either)
That totally obviates the first part of your statement and the second part makes no sense since, as we have already established (and we can only go by what the OP says until there is clear evidence to the contrary) their financial circumstances changed drastically. So sure, they might not have been so concerned with the FA package if they figured they could cover the first quarter and get the latest financial info in after they filed taxes in September. Or maybe they just screwed up. That part is murky, but the one thing it certainly doesn’t indicate is that they were “assuming they would be in position for a lofty need based award”.</p>
<p>Frankly, none of your posts argues anything based on what was stated, but only what you have completely assumed based on nothing. That isn’t an argument, it is a hypothetical distraction. Please try sticking to what has actually been stated, not what you apparently wish to be true. Because the latter doesn’t help the OP or add to the discussion in the least, IMO.</p>
<p>I hope you are right, @CTTC. Unfortunately wild accusations (you should have seen what I had to delete) tend to drive people away. I hope she can just ignore that. On the other hand, I really do think at this point, barring some drastic change in the facts as she finds out more, the advice already given is pretty complete. They do need to scrupulously get all the paperwork and other documentation together and have a long conversation with NU’s FA office. They really are wanting to help, as most FA offices are. They certainly can be constrained by legal deadlines and in-house budget concerns, although NU is one of the schools that is better off financially than most. I am just saying that most schools quite sincerely want to make it possible for students to move forward, rather than being an obstacle. If the family can make that easier for them to do by providing all the info needed, I feel confident NU will do all they can to get to the best answer possible. It really does hinge on the particulars in this case, as most FA decisions do.</p>
<p>Fortunately for most, the big endowment universities have means-based tuition pricing. You simply have to follow the procedures to allow them to verify the family’s financial means. </p>
<p>If there is a legitimate, verifiable change in circumstances, Northwestern and other great universities will do lots to help low income students. But you have to work within their program, and they have to be confident that there isn’t any dissembling going on.</p>
<p>Under the circumstances described, I would expect Northwesterns financial aid office to do everything reasonably possible to facilitate the admitted student’s attendance. </p>
<p>hi everyone! thank you so much for all your help! i’m sorry i fell off the face of the earth, i passed all your info off to my mom and she kind of took over. my mother is going to Chicago, and she’s going to Northwestern to speak with admissions. At this point, my sister is probably looking at deferring for a year, as a lot of you said that if she can’t start with the first trimester, it’s better to just take that year off and work. I’m trying to see if Northwestern has an official place to defer, but I’m not seeing it. Is deferment not an option at some schools? When my mom talks with admissions, is there anything specific she should ask, like to make sure the deferment is done totally right, and my sister has guaranteed admission next year?</p>
<p>But really guys, you are without a doubt the nicest and most helpful forum I’ve ever visited! Everyone had really great advice, and I’m sorry it took me two weeks to thank you guys!</p>