<p>Hi--</p>
<p>My family found out today that my father lost his job. Among the myriad of problems that this causes, I'm wondering what I should do about the college applications that I have already submitted that listed my father as employed. Is it worth it to contact the schools to let them know that this has changed? (This applies to: the University of California and Scripps). Also, because I have already submitted one application using the Common App, I'm unable to change any of the information in that section for future applications. Does anybody know what I should do? Thanks so much for any help.</p>
<p>I’m sorry, this is tough on families.</p>
<p>Don’t do anything until you’re accepted. He may get a new job quickly, and your freshmen year financial aid will be based on 2010 earnings anyway. Colleges are not expecting you to pay totally out of current income, they assume savings and perhaps borrowing.</p>
<p>If your dad is unemployed long term some of the more generous colleges might adjust your aid if you appeal your package. Talk to each school when you get accepted.</p>
<p>And consider adding some more schools with good merit aid and maybe some CSUs which cost considerably less than UCs.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for the quick response and for the good advice. I’m definitely rethinking my college list now, haha. I have another question, one that I probably should have mentioned in the first place: I’ve already been accepted to Tulane and the University of Pittsburgh. Should I contact them now, or wait and see whether or not I’m sure I’m going to go there? Thank you.</p>
<p>When you get your aid packages you can call financial aid and tell them the situation. In all probability, no college will adjust a package until your dad has been unemployed for a sustained time. But do call and talk through their policies with each college.</p>
<p>sorry about your dad’s job.</p>
<p>Colleges aren’t going to do anything with such new info. As far as schools are concerned, your dad may get another job within a few weeks, so they’re not going to do any work that might not be necessary. colleges usually don’t respond until the parent is unemployed for at least 12 weeks.</p>
<p>Are you instate for Calif? If not, it’s not going to make ANY difference to a UC since they don’t give need based aid to out of state kids.</p>
<p>What are your stats? Are they high enough for huge merit from UPitt and Tulane?</p>
<p>Thank you. I wasn’t anticipating any huge difference in terms of aid, etc., but I just wanted to make sure that it wouldn’t be a problem if I didn’t change the information. I am in-state for CA, if that matters.</p>
<p>I got offered 25k per year from Tulane and 10k per year from Pitt. My UW GPA is 3.7 and my W GPA is 4.0, SAT is 800CR 720M 800 W.</p>