<p>Everyone is just worried about being PC.</p>
<p>Again, I don't see anyone complaining about those vacations or expensive clothes, etc . I said that some kids have to accept that people they know will have things they don't. Thats it. Also, you have no idea what percentage I or anyone else on here may pay. There seems to be a little bit of anger at people whose kids get FA and I am at loss to understand the apparent level of resentment, as I did not notice this in our school experience. Perhaps if we thanked our benefactors for the "charity" we receive more sincerely some posters would feel better. My post about talking to kids about what they may deal with was meant to be good natured and, re-reading it, I see no class envy or anger.</p>
<p>wow! FA related topics can get pretty intense for some posters.....Almost as emotional as a discussion of what constitutes "preppy" attire at BS :)</p>
<p>One of my children goes to a small day/prep school.
They have a nice endowment and get healthy contributions each year.
I know of a few children who get FA and their parents brag about it. To me its like they think its funny they are getting a great education and the rest of us pay full price. Sorry if I offend anyone but I am not the only one who feels this way at S school. Not sure how it is at BS as we are not there yet.</p>
<p>hockeymomofthree - BS removes the parents' involvement so no gloating and no resentment from parents. Better all around! :) I truly think the kids care less then their parents might.</p>
<p>thank you hockeymomof3 for being brave enough to step forward and express your opinion straight out without hiding behind inuendos. And yes, maybe those of you who are fortunate enough to receive FA should be grateful for the amount you received and not for what you didn't. I don't think many have addressed the fact that it is "charity" or don't want to claim it as their own. Please step forward to tell me what you think it is if not charity. Quick question: If your child could work in the kitchen, be a waiter in the dining room, locker room attendee, laundry collector or housekeeping in dorm common area as partial pay for their education would you still do it? Please be honest if you can.</p>
<p>creative1.. I dont know what school you attend, but most schools depend on parent involvement for quite a bit. There are constantly luncheons, meetings, dinners and yes...charity work. Maybe it is some of the FA parents who are not involved but at most schools parental involvement is in the hundreds(note enrollment at under 500 children). Don't be so sure kids notice or care(even the most well bred) because some do. I'm not saying it is right but it is what it is.</p>
<p>SPS - 100% boarding so maybe less involvement than other schools and I am biased by that in my comments. There are parents involved in fundraising and such but the meetings on campus are few and their presence isn't felt much. There are some kids who care - learned behavior from their parents in the examples I've encountered - but I still think the vast majority of the students aren't overly concerned.
My guess is it varies from school to school?</p>
<p>Where do you see that any of us are not greatful for what FA we did receive? Our kids must have gone to different schools. As part of my daughter's award (a majority of which was a named scholarship) she did administrative assistant work for one of the deans several days a week every week. Financial aid is a tool schools adopted when they attempted to diversify student body. Webster's defines charity as "1) Provison of aid to the poor 2) Something given to help the needy" (New Riverside Dictionary) based on these definitions and the positions the schools we have dealt with have taken, I believe your definition of charity is at odds with Websters and most private schools. It seems you are out tot browbeat anyone with the temertity to apply to one of your schools and not pay full tuition. And if many of the schools actually cost more to operate than full tuition isn't evryone (unless you are big contributor to the endowment) also a charity case? If we all admitted to humbly asking for charity could we get back to the original thread/ who is getting admitted when they get more than 50% FA?</p>
<p>FA is win/win all around. Yes, the recepients benefit but the schools and their communities do as well. They get the cream of the crop - academically, athletically, artistically, and in terms of diversity. The schools fight over the best candidates. I definitely think my child's experience is enriched by the diversity and presence of FA students. I would be much less inclined to send my child to a school with all or almost all FP students. It would be a much different experience.</p>
<p>Its very easy to generalize and blame an entire group of people. For example ALL FA apps. are not grateful etc, or ALL FP apps. are snobby. I can only attest to the experiences that I have had and am having.
My S is on a wait list for one of his first choices. I cant help but be frustrated knowing he wants to go there and someone(anyone) is taking his place be it because they fill a need of the schools diversity and or athletic or musical talent.</p>
<p>I don't think that FA applicants "take spots" from full pay applicants. If you look at the stats, the schools decide how many full pay or FA slots they will fill, and then they fill them. For a wait-listed full pay student to get a spot, another full pay student must decide to give up the spot. Likewise, if a full pay spot opens up, they won't take a FA applicant to fill the spot. </p>
<p>I'm only a parent, I don't work in admissions, but that's the only way I can explain the percentages of full pay and financial aid students remaining so consistent for so many schools over years. If it weren't being closely managed, it would fluctuate much more.</p>
<p>Well at need blind schools it doesn't matter. Likely means FP were able to take advantage of more EC activities and made them look better on paper. I don't think schools have quotas on how many FP and how many FA.</p>
<p>WOW... I'm absolutely amazed at where this thread has gone. </p>
<p>BS4me, please start a separate thread to vent your anger. I'm really not sure why you find service to others to be a problem. Perhaps I should have my child spend their vacation licking your boots instead. All I can say is that I'm glad you are in the minority and that most of the folks on this site disagree with your attitude and the things you think are important. Good luck to you... you may win at the bank but you lose in life. </p>
<p>Peace Out.</p>
<p>It is very rare to find a BS where the cost of educating/housing a student is ~$40K p.a. Typically, the true cost far exceeds this amount and the the institution shoulders the responsibility for the remainder. </p>
<p>Cutting a check for the invoiced amount doesn't make a student a Full-Pay; this is a misnomer that may help some sleep better at night but unless your family is making a $500K+ donation for the new school planetarium, all students' educations are subsidized...it's only to what degree...</p>
<p>hockeymomofthree, I think they may be confused about whether what they got was need based FA or merit based scholarships. I don't think reasonable people would brag about their needing financial support, - although I won't say that they should be ashamed of it either as some people might hope - what's to brag about really?</p>
<p>As to "My S is on a wait list for one of his first choices. I cant help but be frustrated knowing he wants to go there and someone(anyone) is taking his place be it because they fill a need of the schools diversity and or athletic or musical talent. " It's a totally different issue, unrelated to FA applicants. Or did I miss something here?</p>
<p>My experience is that what you bring to your application affects your FA even if it is not a merit based scholorship. I have friends on FA but they were offered beyond their demonstrated need because the school really wanted them for one reason or another. Some for their brains, others for their athletic ability, and some for both.</p>
<p>Kaleigh... does Peace out mean we are done listening to your infantile attitude and reverse elitism? How about a little gratitude to those of us who do pay your aid. I think if more of us who do send generous endowments to schools realized your sense of entitlement rather than feeling grateful the money you so "deserve" would slowly drift away. This is my last comment on this so to the very few of you who are so offended by my truthful comments.."the truth must hurt". Best of luck scrounging for more money to climb the ladder</p>
<p>I'll take a middle angle on this.</p>
<p>@bs4me: Not everyone, actually only a FEW people, thinks his aid is deserved</p>
<p>At people who think they are entitled to aid: I understand society is not equal, not equal at all, but that's how capitalism works. Rich folks. Middle folks. Poor folks. It is for those on the upper side to help balance the scale. Hence we pay the aid, and it is likely a guy who needed NO financial aid who supports your fa (some 50mill donor or something). </p>
<p>I think everyone, including those who received NO fa, should appreciate what we have. I understand that no one on this thread is being ungrateful, I would just like to point out that we should all thank the stars for the opportunity we have.</p>
<p>And as an edit to that, just for reference on up, middle, and low... I think some 4 percent of the people make over 100k... Gives us all some perspective... If you are full pay it is as if the BS is paying one student (for no work) more than the avg american salary. Just for perspective</p>
<p>Well said principalviola! I know I am grateful!</p>