<p>I'm certain that New College of FL is ranked high due to the academic quality. I've been very impressed by the education my D is receiving there. </p>
<p>The class sizes are small. Classes are taught only by professors and they are very accessible to students. Most students are very happy and intellectually engaged, so I can see why the surveys were answered that way.</p>
<p>Am I doing something wrong on the EFC calculators? For the Profile we have a combined income $68,000 but have managed to save approx $300,000 towards retirement. Our mistake was not getting this into IRA's ( got it via severance package and settlement husband received for childhood injury that was put into stock) We are nearing retirement - I'm 58 husband 51 - and don't have pension plans. The EFC numbers - I tried two -have come in at $47,000 per year and $35,000 per year. Son doesn't want to go to Rutgers due to non existant campus feel of the school and necessity to take buses to class. As Physics is his interest he needs a strong science school and is looking OOS but we can't afford that kind of EFC. Does that kind of EFC sound correct based on our financial info to any of you familiar with the EFC calculations or private/OOS public college need based aid offerings?</p>
<p>Moxy you should be using the FAFSA calculation for Rutgers, not Profile. The Profile includes your home equity, which might be why you're getting such a high number.</p>
<p>Your $300,000 in assets will add about $14,000 to your EFC. See the Financial Aid forum for more information.</p>
<p>Rutgers</a> Financial Aid</p>
<p>vballmom - sorry for the confusion. I meant that S would like to attend a private LAC in PA but that will probably not be affordable after we saw our EFC estimate in the calculators. Profile was meant as a frame of reference for the income number arrived at for the Profile, and which we used in the EFC calculators. Rutgers will be more affordable since we are in state and S will also get a reduction due to good GPA and SAT score combination. However SAT scores fall just short of the 1400 math/reading combination, so we figure he'll miss out on merit aid that would make OOS colleges more affordable, so we had initially hoped he might get some need based aid to make his LAC dream possible.</p>
<p>There are LAC's that will give merit with those stats. Look up Curmudgeon's threads.</p>
<p>You can ask the school FA office to quickly run numbers for you, too.</p>
<p>We have generous FA with a higher income and similar assets. When parents are in their fifties and savings are their only retirement provision that figures in the calculations.</p>
<p>Moxy,
No, it's my fault I was in a hurry and didn't read your post carefully. I get it now that your son isn't interested in Rutgers.</p>
<p>So going back to your original question, your EFC might be high due to your home equity. Profile schools don't fall into a predictable formula in the way that FAFSA schools do, so some might weight your home equity more than others, and some might weight the fact that you have no investments in typical retirement funds (401k, IRA, etc) and thus lower your EFC accordingly.</p>
<p>My suggestion would be to stash the max into whatever traditional retirement account you're comfortable with (you're probably eligible for a Roth IRA). This can still be done for tax year 2008, but needs to be done prior to the time you fill out the Profile. And then research colleges that are a good fit for your son that give out merit aid.</p>
<p>Thanks vballmom. We definitely will have to move $ into retirement type savings. We started visiting colleges well in advance but didn't realize how much the savings would hurt if not in "retirement" type accounts</p>
<h1>2 HARVARD..woot woot</h1>
<p>Has anyone had success with getting a college to waive the noncustodial parent PROFILE form requirement? My ex-husband refuses to disclose his tax information or to fill out the form, and at least one college (Boston College) tells us that they will not even consider my son's application for aid (he was admitted early action) without this info. I get no support from him and we have been divorced for over 3 years.</p>
<p>I have never heard of anyone so succeeding, and while I feel your pain, I hope I don't. I see absolutely no reason why a college should honor a father's unilateral decision that he is not going to support his child's education - none whatsoever. Your domestic relations are no business of a college in making its financial need determinations.</p>
<p>The question that is not addressed here is how valuable is an education from one of these schools AFTER graduation? In other words, are students holding these diplomas guaranteed better jobs, better salaries, more opportunities and greater satisfaction? </p>
<p>There was a time when the answer to this question would have been "yes", but these days, employers are looking for those who have relevant experience, great skills, flexibility, a willingness to learn new things, and NO SENSE OF ENTITLEMENT. Those who have jumped through the hoops required to get into the top tier schools can't help but feel that something is owed to them--and this often shows up in the workplace. Ask any employer if they automatically value a Harvard education over one received from a less prestigious school, and they might say "yes"--but also that they are hesitant to hire someone who has inflated expectations about salaries and the rate of promotion. </p>
<p>Fortunately, the old-boy network and alma mater ties are not as important in a connected world. Recent grads with enthusiasm, motivation and a willingness to learn --no matter where they went to school--are far more likely to land a good job than a graduate who is counting on his friends' parents to get him an interview. </p>
<p>Rather than train our kids to play the college placement game, we should be teaching them how to launch themselves into the global economy with sizzling 21st century skills, fluency in a foreign language, competence in varied work settings, a blazing sense of direction--and no debt. The smartest parents are already learning how to help their kids skip the SAT, save thousands on tuition, and blast far ahead of their peers. </p>
<p>All it takes is clarity and a commitment to doing what's best for your student rather than being controlled by the fear (and ego) stirred up by news stories.</p>
<p>Only a thought. Can you have your lawyer call his lawyer? Is legal action within family court possible?</p>
<p>Maya - bravo - excellent post.</p>
<p>Shelley, best to ask your attorney this...my instinct is the answer to your question is yes, however time is against you. Perhaps a "strongly worded letter" from your attorney might be enough to spur him into doing the right thing.</p>
<p>
I feel your pain. I had a friend back in high school in a similar situation, and she ended up having to turn down Bryn Mawr (her absolute dream school) for Elon because her father refused to pay due to the divorce.</p>
<p>It seems that Brown offers a noncustodial parent waiver application. Perhaps Boston College would be willing to work with you.
<a href="https://financialaid.brown.edu/cimages/0809_Noncust_Waiver.pdf%5B/url%5D">https://financialaid.brown.edu/cimages/0809_Noncust_Waiver.pdf</a></p>
<p>Also see this thread: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/428746-any-options-if-noncustodial-parent-won-t-fill-out-forms-support.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/428746-any-options-if-noncustodial-parent-won-t-fill-out-forms-support.html</a></p>
<p>Why on earth arent any of the uc's on there?</p>
<p>
[quote]
Why on earth arent any of the uc's on there?
[/quote]
UCSD is - number 7 public.</p>
<p>Sorry - this thread has become a huge spam magnet.</p>