<p>Our son is a Junior. Last night I went to the FINAID site to determine a rough take on our EFC. One of the things that startled me was that while the application asks how many of your kids are in college. It does not seem to take into account that you might already be paying private school tuition. Our son is on partial scholarship (we pay 10K for him), but our daughter who attends another school is costing us too (9Kfor her). and she will be there when he goes to college. This alters what we can pay for him later. IS this not considered when you are trying to get financial aid?</p>
<p>There are questions on the CSS Profile form about private school tuition, but not FAFSA. However, that doesn't mean if the school only wants the FAFSA you can't write to the financial aid offices at the colleges he is applying to and explain your situation. </p>
<p>The Profile can get very detailed. One school's supplemental questions on the form wanted to know about the cars we had...the age, make, model and if we owned or leased. I guess they want to know where our priorities are.</p>
<p>Thanks librarymom. It just seemed bizarre to me. We live in DC. Its not that uncommon to go to parochial schools and or private. 8 years of paying for that ,12 for him =s one old Honda, zero vacations and tight funds. I'll keep reading. Thank God they're top level students. Otherwise I'd be dead in the water. LOL.</p>
<p>washdcmom..I completely understand your concern. BUT in most cases attending private elementary or secondary school is a viewed as a choice families make (and sometimes it is the best choice, or the only viable choice for one reason or another). </p>
<p>The financial aid calculations also don't consider consumer debt of any other kinds so...living in a more expensive neighborhood because it might be viewed as "safer" also wouldn't "count". Again...this is viewed as a choice.</p>
<p>I would suggest that you also consider schools where your students will be considered for merit aid. Being a top student helps.</p>
<p>If it's any consolation, we've been paying for college for seven years...almost $3000 per month. Next year, our son will no longer be in college and our daughter's EFC will double (not that she got any need based aid...but she did get work study and a subsidized loan). The college doesn't care a lick that we expended a good chunk of our incomes and home equity loan and savings on college expenses for the last seven years, are driving two cars that promise to die at the same time, haven't been on a vacation in years, and are very careful with our budgeting. Bottom line...our EFC is our EFC...and that's that.</p>
<p>Just understand DCMom, just bcos Profile does ask if you are paying private school tuition, does not mean that all colleges will give you credit for it.</p>
<p>Thumper, but if you move to an area with high property taxes and get good public schools, you do get benefit. This policy encourages more people to move to the burbs.</p>
<p>DC-most profile schools do ask the question of school expenses. It helped us when it was taken into consideration. Also, some schools have "Special Circumstances" forms. They may consider the private expenses if they exceed 10% of your gross income. </p>
<p>Also, some religously affifiated private schools recognize expenses of parochial high school. Check their web sites.</p>
<p>Thanks Pete. LOL I know his private high school here asks 900 questions each January including cost of summer camp and cars etc...I graduated from Bowdoin Magna Cum and was one of the first Af-Am females to attend. I have also served on their admissions committee. S. will apply there though it's not his first choice. (Bowdoin has always given good aid. I was the fourth child in my family in college at the same time which at the time led to a generous package. I also graduated in the top 10 of my girls Catholic prep school, had good extracurrics despite working 20 hours a week). </p>
<p>Our son visited Brown in the spring when we were up there for a conference and fell in love.</p>
<p>He just got his PSATs back in Dec (scored 200) and has an UW 3.65-3.7, been playing violin since 4 (city youth orchestra and the school's), taking this year, AP Bio and AP History and Pre Cal Honors and has nice extracurrics. We will definitely qualify for some FA because this is a house of writers/media types, but I am working closely with his dad and him (thanks to this and other websites) on looking beyond the Ivys. I do NOT want to wake up to the nightmare of many acceptances yet poorly crafted FA packages. I have to think about his sister too. He takes the SAT for the first time on March 14. We've been getting ready for that. He should do well; we'll see how it goes. </p>
<p>Thanks for the imput folks. Lots of info here.</p>
<p>Washdcmom, according to "Paying For College Without Going Broke" (2009 Edition, Kalman Chany, Princeton Review) the amount of private school tuition under the IM (Institutional Methodology) is capped at $7900.00 for an allowance. </p>
<p>So, if you are doing the CSS Profile when applying for aid, it appears that private school tuition is capped at $7900.00. </p>
<p>Buying the book now and using your 2008 Tax Returns would give you a good idea of what your EFC would be for FM (Federal Methodology) schools and IM (Institutional Methodology)
schools. At least you could get a ballpark figure and know what you are up against. </p>
<p>The EFC's would be a good estimate, unless your 2009 income is drastically different than your 2008 income. </p>
<p>The book has helped our family save $1,000's over the past 8 years, we couldn't get along without this book!</p>
<p>Thanks SLUMOM. I'll go to AMAZON today and order that one. My husband and I got up very early this morning to discuss schools and our finances more. We were laughing at the radical differences from the time we applied to colleges (never having left home before--it was my first time on a plane... :) ) to today. One of my teachers encouraged me to go to Bowdoin. I barely looked around, applied ED and got in. I enjoyed my time there and have fond memories. DH went to Fordham and had applied only to McGill and one or to others.</p>
<p>Our son is very sunny, energetic and focused. He's open to new things for which I am grateful. He knows what he loves but he is always willing to consider alternatives. In thse matters, that will come in handy. From a financial standpoint, I think our best shot is to apply to a constellation of schools, a good range as to cover the bases. Wash DC has that program where they offer all high school residents a 10K annual grant towards any state schools. He is also interested in William and Mary and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill because he wants to go into pediatric endocrinology or oncology (He was diagnosed at 6 with type I diabetes).</p>
<p>We will also look at speciality scholarships. Originally he had thought of applying to Brown ED but I may discourage ED. If they come in low it would be a problem.</p>
<p>At his current high school (GDS) 6 children got into Brown ED in Dec, and there are only 126 children in that class. He has a good profile thusfar for Brown but we need to watch our steps. Much mulling and land mines ahead....lol</p>
<p>Is your D attending high school? I agree with thumper, that if the child is attending elementary or middle school, the cost probably will not be considered by Profile schools (many FAFSA only schools do not take it into consideration because it is a lifestyle choice that you made).</p>
<p>I would suggest having a range of schools that will be financiallly feasible for both need based and merit based aid.</p>
<p>For FAFSA, according to the finaid website, having a child in a private elementary or secondary school can be grounds for a special circumstances adjustment. However a financial aid officer is not required to make an adjustment - it is up to them and they have the final say for their institution. But it is always worth asking.</p>
<p>
[quote]
The Higher Education Act identifies eight specific examples of special circumstances. These examples are intended to illustrate the types of circumstances that merit professional judgment adjustments and were added during the 1998 reauthorization of the act. Financial aid administrators are not limited to these circumstances, nor are they required to use professional judgment in these circumstances, and should review each family's situation on a case by case basis.</p>
<p>The specific examples listed in the Higher Education Act include:</p>
<pre><code>*** tuition expenses at an elementary or secondary school**
* medical or dental expenses not covered by insurance
* unusually high child care costs
* recent unemployment of a family member
* the number of parents enrolled at least half-time in a degree, certificate, or other program leading to a recognized educational credential at a Title IV institution of higher education
* proceeds of a sale of farm or business assets if the sale resulted from a voluntary or involuntary foreclosure, forfeiture, or bankruptcy or an involuntary liquidation
* additional costs incurred as a result of a student's disability.
* or other changes in a family's income, a family's assets, or a student's status
<p>Our D is in parochial school now and in 7th grade. When our S begins freshman year of college; she will be entering 9th grade private high school, parochial or independent. I am notorious for asterisking things. So I will take my shot and present the case. I will inform everyone of his admissions offices of her high school tuition and they can consider or not (clearly --their rules, their perogative). Most of the elite colleges know that DC public schools rank last or near last and everyone does not move to Mclean VA or Potomac MD. When I was coming through they were visiting DC (the city) culling and poaching women and URMs from the parochial and private schools. I do recall Bowdoin taking into account that I had two younger siblings at parochial schools. My father at the time was working two jobs and my mom part time teaching.</p>
<p>The cap of $7900.00 appears to be per sibling/dependent in your household. I just did the CSS Profile myself on Dec. 28th & it does ask that question for tuition paid for the applicant's siblings. You can't include the private school tuition for the FA applicant of course. </p>
<p>Some schools want to know about the cars you own, year purchased, make, model and how much you paid for them. As my husband always says "They are looking for Jags". I took great delight in putting down my 2000 Chrysler mini-van, a 1998 Dodge Dakota pickup & my H's 2007 Toyota Matrix. Not exactly luxury vehicles, here! LOL</p>