<p>^^I think schools that do would tell you. If they don’t want to be overwhelmed by FA applicants by not telling the truth, they’d better tell the truth. I read from a nationally well-known day school’s FA policy that FA applicants will be placed in a more competitive pool, and the school is doing just fine. It’s their school. They can have their philosophy and ideas on how they want to run it.</p>
<p>I agree. There was some debate earlier in this thread about whether FA kids were in a seperate pool or not. That’s why I posted that.</p>
<p>It seems like most schools publish that FA puts one in a more competitive pool. I know that Exeter does, for instance. Some don’t come right out and say it, but almost all imply it.</p>
<p>Does Exeter separate full pay and FA applicants? It sounds to me like they don’t. From an earlier report, the process may be something like this: They’d rate students based on non-financial factors first. Then before making the final decisions, based on FA needs of the admitted and FA budget, they may drop some FA applicants who have high ratings and pick some full pays who have lower ratings. This is different from separting FA and full pay applicants in the first place, and let the FA applicants compete with other FA applicants and only take as many as - say 25% of the incoming class - from the FA applicant pool. You may argue in either of the processes FA applicants are disadvantaged, therefore effectively have to be more competitive, which I agree.</p>
<p>I don’t think Exeter seperates them. I would think that most schools do as you described. It’s only that one school that I know of. I mean, I can’t think of any reason why FA apps would need to be in earlier if they weren’t a seperate category. But again, what do I really know? Not much, it seems at times.</p>
<p>As far as how any of this effects my family, all I can say is “meh.” The chips will fall where they may and there’s not much I can do except for hope for the best and prepare for the worst. :)</p>
<p>I will say (again) that even though most schools only offer “need based” aid, the way it actually plays out, all FA is merit based because only the kids they really want a lot will get it.</p>
<p>And I apologize for misspelling separate multiple times. A can never remember whether there IS “a rat” or there ISN’T “a rat”</p>
<p>Isn’t it kind of smart if someone that wasn’t able to full-pay, full paid the first year and requested FA during the next three years to get out of the FA pool where competition is fierce?</p>
<p>You can’t do that, not unless there is a significant drop income.</p>
<p>^^Agreed. You have to really make a case such as employment lost, disability or death of a major wage earner, disasters, etc.</p>
<p>^^ If you’ve had two in prep school and the next year, one will move on to college and another into prep school, how will that look if you applied for aid (but hadn’t applied before)?</p>
<p>No significant change in circumstances, no job loss, just adding college tuition.</p>
<p>^^ The difference between college tuition and BS tuition is rather negligible so I cant see how that would matter much to a school, if you were paying 2 tuitions last year and are paying 2 tuitions this year. Also chances of you getting aid in college are much greater, so chances are your tuition will be reduced.</p>
<p>^I agree. It seems that many colleges don’t consider boarding school/private secondary school tuition paid for siblings as “necessary spending” because it is after all a choice, while boarding schools do take the college tuition paid for siblings into consideration.</p>
<p>DAndrew is correct, most colleges do not take prep school tuition into consideration. Although I think the CSS profile has it on there, but the FASFA does not. Or maybe it was one of the school supplements…can’t remember exactly. Definitely the federal form does not, but some schools have supplements. </p>
<p>
My daughter was waitlisted last year and knew that she would be applying again this year - and was encouraged to by the admissions officers at her 2 favorite schools. We had been in contact with them several times between March 10 and April 10 (as per THEIR instructions) providing them with additional information, she wrote a letters to them reinforcing her interest in their school (and for the one that was her first choice, she said that), and when it didn’t pan out, we asked what would make her application stronger for this year - what would put her out of the wait list pool and into the accept pool. Neither seemed to have any problem with us asking, and I asked some pointed questions - was it scores? recommendations? etc… This was AFTER April 10 though.</p>
<p>Linda, do you think they were candid in their responses? I don’t see why they wouldn’t be, but I’m curious if they gave you specific, useful information?</p>
<p>I asked a couple of the schools last year for reasons as to why I was rejected/waitlisted and one gave an honest answer while the other was generic (“we have too many qualified applicants with very few spots”).</p>
<p>I have a friend whose son applied to HADES last year- he was WL on all, and he is legacy (Mom went to Hotchkiss) and very bright (currently going to a magnet IB program in our area that is VERY competitive). He was number one on several WL but because of number of acceptances never got called 
She used her contacts to get an honest answer as to why he was not accepted (apparently had great interviews) and she was told it was because they had requested FA, and that in this economy FA applications were limited.
Coupled with the fact that his dad lives in Palm Beach it may have seemed like a slap in the face to the AO- who knows?
Anyway, this wa enough to convince me NOT to request FA for my daughter</p>
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</p>
<p>I don’t understand. How can requesting FA be optional? I mean, either you can pay the tuition or you can’t. Am I missing something?</p>
<p>Oh neato, you are so naive! ;):);)</p>
<p>yes, you are missing something–loans.</p>
<p>the fact that he was waitlisted at all schools, says that FA might have put him over the top if he didn’t need FA.</p>
<p>Many families who can’t afford to pay and who could make use of FA (non paid back grants), will take out loans. </p>
<p>The schools send you information on loans from various lenders if family needs to go that route</p>
<p>I think the schools send all families of accepted applicants information on loans. </p>
<p>There are also families who would prefer not to ask for help from grandparents or the great-aunt, Miss Havisham.</p>
<p>For those who can comfortably swing it w/o FA, they get the advantage of FP, fair and square. Unfortunately for folks not having the necessary means even by stretching, FA is the way to go. It is what it is.</p>
<p>The AO who told your friend “FA was the reason” might not be sharing the whole truth as BS gives out FA to a lot of people for a lot of reasons every year. If one does have justifiable financial need, it would be nice to find out why he/she didn’t get FA. I doubt an AO would be willing to give a straight answer on that one.</p>
<p>Miss Havisham! LOL! </p>
<p>Or maybe there is money set aside for college that parents would rather not use?</p>
<p>Still - the EFC is what it is. If it comes back at 50,000; why would anyone click the “submit” button? I mean, what’s the point if there aren’t extenuating circumstances? The availability of loans and the credit market wouldn’t change whether a family could afford it or not and as far as I know, the FA office doesn’t facilitate loans other than sending a pamphlet or two.</p>
<p>Am I showing further evidence of my naivety? ;)</p>