<p>let me break this down:
1. To cover all the cost of a BS education, the school spends more than 40K per year. The endowment makes up the difference for - yes every student. Where does the endowment come from - philanthropist and successful alumni, some of who might be on financial aid when they were there.
2. "need blind admission" only garantees that the schools don't take a student's financial situation into consideration when making admission decisions and meet 100% of the admitted students' financial need. But first a student has to meet the admission standards. The schools usually ask for academic excellence and impressive extracurricular records from the applicants. Many kids coming from economically disadvantaged background simply didn't have the oppotunties to reach what it takes to be in. That's why a smaller percentage of student body is on aid. Even so, more than 40% of Andover students are on financial aid. </p>
<p>I think you jumped in something you really don't quite understand.</p>
<p>I think I understand... I am a 4th generation BS...my son will be 5th. I am not ultra-wealthy but just remember the majority of the endowments are made by past gens of FP. The idea of FA did not truly come into vogue until the late 60's. Some ...yes but not like today. Those receiving FA from endowments should be grateful and I'm sure they are..but those not receiving what they are entitled to need to step back and ask why they deserve a free or partial ride! I agree we need to take a chill...but those bit..ing about FA should stop whining and focus on other ways to best educate their child.</p>
<p>And the other billions????? I notice they do not promote the other wealthy donors. This is a type of reverse elitism to promote them as an EO school. If you could add it up there is about 1 immigrant(fit the need candidate) to every 1000 more fortunate donor. I am happy for this man and glad he feels an obligation to pay it forward, but this is getting way off subject. The final point is...just because you qualify...DOES NOT mean you are entitled to financial aid! I don't understand what is so difficult to understand. It is at the school's discretion who they give their money to. I am not trying to be an elitist, but if you can't afford the tuition, how will you afford the thousands and thousands your child will need to not be set apart from the haves and the have-nots? If you are scrounging for that last dollar for tuition, the living and social expenses will blow your mind. I'm not saying it is right, but it is what it is.</p>
<p>This discussion was begin to explore who ,needing more than 50% financial aid, was getting admitted and has turned into a lecture on some misperception of posters entitlement to FA. I am happy that some of you are 3rd, 4th 5th generation BS attendees, which has nothing to do with the point that it is easier to get into BS if you don't need FA (or if you are the child of school employee, athlete or politically connected) and that BS are not accepting the best qualified applicants in every case, but those best able to pay.</p>
<p>Would you please point out where someone explicitly claimed to be entitled to FA money? You seem awfully passionate about this, and I can't imagine that you would keep coming back to this thread to rant about it if it never really happened.</p>
<p>Still, I haven't seen such a claim of entitlement, so I must have missed it. Where was it?</p>
<p>Bs4me, You have totally misunderstood the purpose of this thread. Nobody here feels entitled to anything...just trying to understand the reality of how these decisions are made and see if people in similar situations ended up with similar results. We are all just parents trying to navigate through this maze and help our children and next year's children to understand what's going on. I don't understand your anger or why you even decided to post on a thread that does not pertain to you. </p>
<p>Please know that I am happy for you and your kids and really wish we had your resources. I wish you and your family well and think that if you need to vent any more you should start a new thread. Thank you to all the folks who have responded in helpful ways.</p>
<p>actually a member said and I quote "I am becoming spiteful of those who can pay for BS". FA is a gift, a charity case if you will and yes I become miffed when people assume these schools will give everyone financial aid if they need it. I'm sorry if you can't afford it, but there are options to supplement public schools. All BS's are saying is that they do give out handouts to those who are lucky enough to get them but it is at their discretion and it is ludicrous to think that they are saying on their websites that all will receive it/
Good luck to all but make sure you take hidden costs into mind as you budget. They can run upward of $10,000 depending on many variables ie sports, travel, materiels, outings</p>
<p>And people have to remember a few things
[ul]
[<em>]The guy funding your financial aid is probably some super rich guy... ie. Oscar Tang gave PA 25 million dollars? Are you spiteful he can pay? That 25 million is being used towards financial aid and that is what makes PA need blind
[</em>]If it weren't for the kids who pay the full tuition, the kids who need scholarships would not receive scholarships close to that quality, the institutions would not be able to afford so much...
[li]At top schools (and top as in top because these are the few schools able to afford such a disproportionately high education) they pay something like 82k per student. Even full pays are on scholarship[/li][/ul]</p>
<p>Thank you for pointing that post out. I knew you couldn't be imagining it.</p>
<p>But that's only one person, a child, and he/she posted</a> it on another thread entirely. I'm not sure why you would come to this thread and start a post with this:</p>
<p>
[quote]
It sounds to me that most of you FA feel you are entitled to money for bs...
[/quote]
</p>
<p>This accuses "most of" the posters on the thread (since it is a thread about FA applicants) of claiming entitlement to FA. What makes you think <em>most of</em> the FA applicants and/or their parents on this thread feel that they are entitled to FA?</p>
<p>I don't know either, I just replied to the latest post. I am not accusing most, if any, of CC posters. I was accusing whoever made that post, and follows such thinking. I do not think most of them are, just a response the the post former to mine.</p>
<p>I know the subject of what else will have to be spent beyond tuition and FA. We are waiting that second wave of good/bad news, but just had a discussion w our wait-lister, based on her older sister's experiences as day student at BS and fact there is still a younger brother
1) You will not be able to go the places some of your friends do on vacations. We were happy to attend a pro baseball game, one friend attended world track & field champioships in Japan, another the Olympics, 2) Our vacations may be Cape Cod or New Hampshire (short drives/ your friends may be Paris or London 3) Books are a substantial expense $500-1000/ oldest d was good about going early and buying used books saved about 50% 3) Unless Powerball comes through study abroad is unlikely. 4) If you aren't geographically close, frequent visits are difficult. Knew a number of FA parents through sports who drove from NC, Iowa, etc for big weekend or events/ kids understood they could not be there all the time. 5) Its hard to be best dressed. 6) Unless close relative was president it may be hard to be considerd well connected . This may seem a little trivial but all these things come up. Our experince was that there were substantial additonal expenses though they were containable. It is really critical that the child/young man/woman knows there are limits going in. There is a great education available, though it is not the only path to future success, and there is not an enormous amount of elitism among the kids, at least as far as I saw. Best wishes to evryone as we wait it out</p>
<p>Yes, thank you, lhr2545. That is definitely a conversation we'll need to have this summer. </p>
<p>I think that most kids from families with limited resources understand the financial limitations but I'm sure it's still tough to watch your peers take off for exciting vacations and such. It will be a character builder but they'll also have a base of 25-35% of kids who share their circumstances so I'm not too worried. Life is full of choices and lessons. It's important to reach for the stars but also to be happy with what you've got and make the best of situations. </p>
<p>Perhaps while peers are jetting around the world the time can be used in service to others. There is always someone in greater need and these life lessons stick with a person. I also really don't care if there are people who don't like my teen because of materialistic things. Those who matter don't mind and those who mind don't matter.</p>
<p>My daughter hasn't really had the experience that lhr2545 talks about. Her friends go home for breaks, not to amazing destinations. She seems happy enough wearing her Walmart jeans. She told me the only girl who brags about her clothing is one that is on full financial aid. The truly, truly wealthy kids would never stoop so low to brag about their material possessions. </p>
<p>Other than $800 or so in books, $100 a term for sports uniforms (if your kid is on a sports team), and $100 for the yearbook, we haven't encountered any other hidden fees. Just spending money for your kid and when he/she runs out, that's it.</p>
<p>From the conversations with several current parents, kids in the schools with greater diversity don't feel so separated by their financial backgroud or FA status. I would think conflicts of some sort at times are inevitable and expected. Just like in CC, occasionally you can encouter some mean-spirited condescending figure trying to make you feel like you are taking charity from him/her pocket. Of course we can also see someone from an economically disadvantaged background being overly sensitive and ranting all day. This is real life. We just need to deal with it when stuff happens.</p>
<p>Not to generalize but a lot of the really monied folks are old money and most old money thinks it's gauche to talk money or be ostentatious. They will vacation a lot and to some wonderful places but a lot of their consumption isn't overly conspicuous. There are some folks that are so wealthy that it would be impossible to keep up even if you desired to do so. My child hasn't experienced much flaunting of wealth or name dropping besides a small handful of students. </p>
<p>I agree with others, though, that at the top tier schools there is so much diversity that your child will find plenty of others in similar financial circumstances and, therefore, will not feel out of place at all. Just make it clear to your child about what you can afford and what your financial values are.</p>
<p>Following on photoOp's observations, I'll just add (from the perspective of a boy's mother), that clothes seem VERY inconsequential. All I see on weekends are jeans and t-shirts and sweatshirts on the boys; they could really care less. While every BS is bound to have some kids from very wealthy backgrounds, I think it is rare if this is evident or flaunted. Maybe my S is just oblivious, but he wouldn't have a clue or care as to who has money and who doesn't. I think this is one thing that BS's are fairly good at -- levelling the playing field. What he is aware of and respects are special talents of his classmates-- like "he's the one whose on Varsity hockey as a freshman"; "that person is amazing in math class."</p>
<p>ok.......obviously a lot of the posters here aren't willing to call a spade a spade. If FA is not charity then please explain to me what it is. I am all for FA but let's look at it realistically and call it what it is. Also all the underlying jibes are a cover for those who are either angry at their lot in life or too insecure to say how they really feel without hiding. We are way off topic on this thread. Also, th comment about service to others....the parents of those children going on great vacations are probably paying your childs tuition. Let's get real about that.</p>