<p>Look on the school website…in the financial aid section. If they guarantee to meet full need for all students, it will be CLEARLY stated there. Schools that do so are proud to be able to put that out there. If it’s not there…likely they do not.</p>
<p>Re: Student contribution…I’ve read that at some schools, the student contribution for a college senior can be several thousand dollars…it has NOTHING to do with the student’s summer earnings. It has to do with how much the college expects them to contribute to their own schooling.</p>
<p>Did you mention medical expenses someplace here or some other significant financial crisis? Were this recent, unreimbursed medical expenses for you or your immediate family (not extended family…helping with those would be considered a choice). If so…get that information well documented and go speak to the college financial aid folks. Some schools will consider this…others won’t.</p>
<p>Also…hate to say this…but how long have you been trying to get to the root of this…school is starting soon. Hope you can get this resolved.</p>
<p>Another option if the finances don’t work…you kid can ask for a leave of absence for the year…work to earn the money to pay the costs of attending…and return to graduate. I know it’s not a top choice but it’s an option if the school will grant a one year leave.</p>
<p>I agree with thumper, if the school does not meet 100% demonstrated need, your package could come up short (especially on the institutional money end).</p>
<p>If you are getting any “entitlements”, Pell, Stafford loans (which will increase with each year), state aid, etc. as long as your income has remained fairly stable and their hasn’t been any cuts in the program, you should be getting about the same amount of $$.</p>
<p>Does your child attend a public or private school. Do you feel comfortable disclosing the school? perhaps this way we can give a little more insight.</p>
<p>Yes yes yes it’s been mentioned. Kid did a research project with a professor that has been accepted for presentation at a worldwide symposium in December (we aren’t including that cost in the COA - professor told student that professor can get funding to pay his way). Upperclassmen aid was not reviewed until this summer package came out in late July - I’ve been in contact with the school several times since then. Kid has a high gpa (3.8) will most likely graduate magna cum laude - doesn’t matter to financial aid… does community service as well…
I am disabled and unable to work - I have a progressive disease.</p>
<p>Have you actually talked to a financial aid officer? Do they understand clearly what amount of money you are unable to come up with? Do they understand how you were able to pay for the first three years but not this coming year? It sounds like you “stretched” financially to afford this college in the first place, are they aware of this? Do they have any suggestions? If you have talked to them what are they saying to you? I find this thread very confusing and if you have talked to financial aid perhaps they, too, are having trouble understanding. If this is a college that does not meet need and in this economy is unable to help you, then perhaps the advice to take a gap year is not a bad one or at least something to discuss with the college.</p>
<p>All contact has been with Director of Financial Aid. They understand what amount of money I am unable to come up with. Yes they understand how payment was made during the first three years. I can’t get a loan - they’ve told me to find a cosigner - can’t get one…
Gap year sounds interesting - not to be negative, but where do kids find jobs these days - will they offer the same amount of aid - the economy stinks - additionally, if my kid is not in college child support will be reduced - child will be emancipated - without health insurance and all other protections…</p>
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[quote[if my kid is not in college child support will be reduced - child will be emancipated - without health insurance and all other protections…
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<p>What does this mean? The new health care legislation says that kiddos UP TO AGE can remain on their parents’ health insurance plans whether they are in school…or not. Why would your student be “emanacipated” just because he isn’t in school? What other “protections” are you talking about? Who is paying child support and is this going to his college cost?</p>
<p>Did you recently become disabled? If so, you should present documentation of THIS to the financial aid office. Perhaps that will help them make an adjustment in your son’s case.</p>
<p>New health care act does not order non-custodial parents to keep their kids on their health insurance once they’re emancipated. (Kids CAN remain on their parents’ policy.) I have an individual policy (I recently purchased under the health care reform act - it costs me $700 month - will be more starting in 2012 - with a 50% copay for my prescriptions - one of which costs me $1760 per month - another $250 per month and there are several others which I can’t afford. I was without insurance for a while as I couldn’t afford it when the cost went up to $2000 per month plus the cost of my prescriptions).
As for child support, I should have said, it will be reduced FURTHER (actually it will be zero - it was reduced substantially when the kids went to college) Children not in college are legally emancipated. (Some states emancipate kids when they graduate from high school.)
What percentage of the child support I receive do you think should go to the college? (PS I don’t receive very much as it was reduced when the kids went off to college - it’s suppose to be only enough to basically feed them when they’re home on breaks from school as I supposedly have no expenses for them while they’re away. Of course, I am still suppose to maintain a home for them.)</p>
<p>I’m a little confused by your use of the term “emancipated”…maybe because I’m used to this term as it pertains to students who are “emancipated” (similar to divorce but with parents and kids) from their parents for one reason or another. Minors can be “emancipated”…separated from their parents…but I never heard this term with regard to students who are not attending college. There are many students who do not attend college, but I’m not sure the term “emancipated” would be used to describe them. </p>
<p>I hear your concerns regarding health care costs for yourself. If these are new costs with lower income levels for you as a parent…you need to document this with the financial aid folks. </p>
<p>Does your school require financial information from the non-custodial parent (child’s other parent)? If so that could also be a factor in the financial aid package your child receives.</p>
<p>It sounds like you have many “layers to the onion” here. You need to get them all in order…ask the school what it would take to file a special circumstances consideration filing…and see if your situation is considered such. If it is…and the school considers these (totally up to the discretion of the school)…it is possible your financial aid situation could be adjusted using professional judgement…assuming there has been a significant change in your financial situation that is not reported on the financial aid forms(FAFSA/Profile).</p>
<p>It sounds to me like the aid does not cover the costs … which is different than the cost of attendance being less than the actual cost of the school.</p>
<p>Financial aid CAN cover the cost of attendance, but it rarely DOES cover the cost of attendance. </p>
<p>Does you child receive a Pell grant? If so, how much is the grant? What is the make-up of the aid package? I suspect the student may be receiving as much aid as the school is able to give.</p>
<p>Thumper1 - When children of divorce are legally emancipated, it means the non-custodial parent has no legal obligation to contribute financially to support the child. You do appear confused. If a child is no longer attending school, they are considered emancipated. In the eyes of the law, they are expected to be self-supporting. I’m curious what percentage of child support you think should be given to the college. I checked the school’s website as you suggested - it does says they meet 100% need.
Kelsmom - I have three in college - one received a Pell Grant (see prior posts).
Anyone have an opinion on speaking to someone other than the financial aid office regarding all this? Child attended for three years with the only financial aid being Stafford loans.
My original question pertained to the amount that financial aid office uses as the COA and the actual COA. Child right now with loans and their earnings will be contributing $20K.</p>
<p>Is the child that you are referring to now a Pell grant recipient? Are all 3 of your children undergraduates? If yes, and you are the custodial parent where all 3 schools are receiving your same information from the FAFSA, then how are the other 2 children not Pell grant eligible? If you have 2 children in grad school, then I understand how only one child is Pell grant eligible (and it would be your child who is a rising senior).</p>
<p>Testing for understanding. You stated that for the past 3 years, if the only thing your child received was stafford loans. </p>
<p>It sounds as if your son’s school never gave him institutional aid and never met his financial need (even though loans are considered meeting financial need). If the school has never given your child any institutional aid, why would you expect things to be different this year? </p>
<p>As a senior he can borrow, 7500 in stafford loans with an additional 4000 in unsub loans if you are not PLUS loan eligible.</p>
<p>Is there any way that your son could be eligible for departmental scholarships from his school? Since he has made some connections with a professor through his paper presentation, is there any way that he could become a TA for this professor (perhaps getting some tuition remission)?</p>
<p>have you asked the financial aid office for a professional judgement override based on your situation?</p>
<p>This child did not receive a pell grant - another one did. Another child received a pell LOAN. All three are in undergraduate school. There are no TA’s where this child goes to school. This student was offered two preceptors position after their sophomore year (Positions pay NOTHING).
I would expect things to be different this year as the amount of income is much, much less than previously (about 10% of what it was). Need was met previously through financial aid indicating Parents PLUS loans to meet the need.
I appealed the first decision when we first got it about a month ago. They increased the aid slightly.</p>
<p>The only ones who can adjust NEED BASED aid are the financial aid office folks. You need to provide a clear and COMPLETE explanation to them. </p>
<p>Does this school use the CSS Profile or their own school form in addition to the FAFSA? If so, there could be something on THAT form that is causing your “shortfall” in need based aid. Could there be something on the non-custodial parent Profile, for example, that would increase the amount you would be paying?</p>
<p>In any event…are these medical circumstances NEW? If so…document how this year is DIFFERENT FOR YOU FINANCIALLY than the last three. You will need documentation of all unreimbursed medical expenses. If you are disabled, you will need documentation of that as well. The school needs to understand how your financial situation has so dramatically changed. Otherwise, they will not be able to make an adjustment.</p>
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<p>Parent Plus loans are PARENT loans. If the school uses these to meet full need, it is NOT a school that meets full need for STUDENTS.</p>
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<p>Was THIS child in college when the other one received a Pell Grant? If so…this child should have gotten one as well.</p>
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<p>Are all three in college NOW? Did you list that correctly on your FAFSA/Profile? Are they all members of your family (can’t be independent students or in grad school in most cases)? What did their FAFSA EFC calculations indicate THEIR EFCs would be? Is one getting a PELL grant for the upcoming school year? If so…if they are listing YOU as the custodial parent…they should ALL be getting the Pell Grant…one would think.</p>
<p>I do not understand how one of your kids can be Pell eligible and the other 2 not be Pell eligible unless the Pell Kid got some kind of professional judgement.</p>
<p>My opinion only on this one. If the child is at a residential college…MOST of the child support should be given to the college as that is where the child is spending most of their time.</p>
<p>IS there any way that you can get an upward modification to that your ex can pay a part of the college cost. You can also request that your ex carries kids until they are 26 (unless they get a job with health insurance) </p>
<p>What is the legal age limit for child support? In NYS a child can receive child support until their 21st birthday, it does not matter whether or not they attend college.</p>
<p>The above was posted by the OP in October 2010. </p>
<p>But again I ask…does the school require information from the non-custodial parent. If so, the family’s contribution could very much be affected.</p>
<p>I know the OP started by asking about the differences in COA that the school might be using…but really…what matters is how they are computing your family’s NEED. It sounds like the school is seeing LESS need than you are. Whether that is accurate is a completely different story. If it’s not…you need to provide the school with complete and well documented information so they can consider your circumstances. They MIGHT make a professional judgement to up your kiddos age, or they might see an error in either your forms or their aid calculation that would make this happen.</p>
<p>Thumper - my child support was reduced because the kids are in college - a judge also determined that when they’re not with me they cost me nothing (like my mortgage payments. property taxes, etc. go down when they’re not here - not to mention child support is suppose to cover more than housing costs) and I should only get child support when they are home from school - 22 weeks a year (it’s actually more time that they’re here). I do not get the same amount of child support I did as when they were in high school - it was reduced by over 70%. ALL three are in college - the pell grant was given to one kid when all three were/are in school - it makes no sense to me either. I have paid, thus far, about two times my annual income in college expenses - my ex has paid, in total, less than 30% of one year of income for three kids to go to college - he will not pay anymore. (and don’t get me started on what lawyers told me would happen with all of this.)<br>
I asked for an upward modification in child support - like I said it was significantly reduced…</p>
<p>Check EACH of their FAFSA forms. Is the information on them the same? If so, if one received the Pell, the others should as well…unless the others have the father listed as the custodial parent on the FAFSA (sounds like his income is higher) and the one who got the Pell has you listed.</p>
<p>Check the SAR for each of these three kids in college. What is the FAFSA EFC for each of them (there will be SOME variance because of income they have earned…or savings they have). </p>
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<p>Sounds like the father has significant income. That being the case…if this is a school that uses the CSS Profile non-custodial parent info…this could VERY MUCH be affecting the amount of institutional aid your child receives.</p>
<p>IF THIS child’s school uses the CSS Profile and requires non-custodial parent info (assuming YOU are the custodial parent)…the info on the Profile could be affecting your aid.</p>
<p>Also, remember that your aid was determined by your INCOME in 2010…if it is significantly reduced as of this year…2011…that might or might not be considered by the college.</p>
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<p>P.S. I know this isn’t going to help you…or make you feel better…but in MOST places, child support ends at the child’s 18th birthday.</p>
<p>Dad doesn’t/hasn’t/won’t submit any financial forms - he’s been relieved of ANY contribution. And, you’re right he has significant income. The schools are aware of the court’s decision, that’s how we got some aid from this school.
I was hoping that when a kid was a senior, an honors student and received no aid previously, the school would help them out so that they could graduate from that college.
You’re right your comment regarding child support after age 18 doesn’t help and your previous comments didn’t either. I am just looking out for my kids.</p>