<p>how much I can afford to pay. I posted here a couple of weeks ago regarding a gap in financial aid and the COA for one of my three college children. The post was about the student that is a senior. The school has now asked me what I can afford to pay - I don't know how to respond to that - I really can't afford anything - I am disabled, unable to work, have substantial medical expenses, am a single parent and have three in college. I'm looking for suggestions on how to write back that I can afford next to nothing. Thank you.</p>
<p>If they are asking…then tell them what you can afford. If that is really nothing, then document the reasons WHY this is the case. Include your documented unreimbursed medical expenses, any disability and other income you receive (including child support if you get that), and all of your monthly bills (including college expenses you actually pay for your kiddos).</p>
<p>I’ve provided that information to them already. Our file must be a couple of inches thick. Is it worthwhile to mention to them that their COA is more than what they indicate on their financial aid website (goes back to my original question) bu approximately $4000. Should I prepare some sort of statement indicating the costs, the aid thus far and the gap? The gap at this time is over $14K after grants and loans. Student has cut back - no meal plan, buys used books, sells them back, has work study, (also works during school breaks at home), took the cheapest housing available, has taken the maximum stafford loan $12,500, etc etc. GPA for past three years is 3.8</p>
<p>The only Cost of Attendance that is important is what the calculated COA the school has computed for your child. </p>
<p>In my opinion, if the school is asking again for what you CAN pay…they want the information again. If you have given it already, you should have copies of everything so just do it again.</p>
<p>Do you live close enough that you can make an appointment and do this in person…you will likely need to take your student or have the student sign a FERPA release so you can talk to the finaid folks at the school.</p>
<p>I asked for an appointment with one of the Deans (after spending quite a bit of time with the Director of Financial Aid as well as meeting with the Financial Aid Director with my child.) It is the Dean that is asking what I can afford. How would I find out what the school has determined my child’s COA to be? This semester’s bill leaves a $7K balance and that bill ONLY includes tuition, fees and room (no meals and students are required to live in campus owned housing, no books, etc.)</p>
<p>The school has a cost of attendance printed on their site for on campus/off campus/commuters. This might not be what your actual costs are but should be available to you easily. If not…just ask the finaid folks what Cost of Attendance figure they are using for your child. They will tell you. AND whatever they tell you…that is ALL that matters because that is the figure they are using.</p>
<p>If your child’s school doesn’t guarantee to meet full need, the COA is actually not going to help you at all…as the school is not guaranteeing to meet that need anyway.</p>
<p>Yes, the school has its COA on their financial aid website - it is lower than the actual costs - the COA indicated is less than tuition, fees and room and board (least expensive room). As we all know, there are other expenses (their website for international students has a higher COA). I thought I had mentioned the COA wasn’t correctly indicated. I understand the school is not guaranteeing to meet full need. My question was how do I express what I can afford and should I mention the actual costs (rather than the schools calculated COA). I hope I am making myself clear.</p>
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<p>Just tell them how much you can afford with clear documentation on why this is the case. To be honest, the cost of attendance is not going to make any difference at a school that does not guarantee to meet full need…it just isn’t. PLUS when awarding need based institutional aid, the school can use ANY FIGURE they choose for COA…it’s their money.</p>
<p>Actual costs don’t matter either as these vary wildly from student to student.</p>
<p>I know this isn’t what you want to hear…but really all you can do is provide the school the information they are requesting. You can ASK what the COA is for your child’s financial aid calculation…but really that is it. </p>
<p>Remember too that most colleges assume a student contribution and for a senior that could be several thousand dollars.</p>
<p>If you can’t pay anything, then say so…provide details/documentation.</p>
<p>If I recall, you have 3 in school, yet your FAFSA EFC was quite high for having 3 in school…were you ever able to figure out why your EFC for each child was highish when you have little income? </p>
<p>What is the FAFSA EFC for child 1…for child 2…and for child 3?</p>
<p>(I realize that some/all of these schools may also be CSS schools, but by providing your FAFSA EFCs for each kid we might have a better understanding).</p>
<p>Do you have a lot of assets or something?</p>
<p>HOw are your other children’s EFCs getting paid?</p>
<p>Well, we’re back to where we were - I mentioned I am disabled - (have physical and cognitive impairments) and I’m told to give the school information that they already have and are not requesting again. This kid has $12,500 in loans (see above) for this year. is working and saved money from their summer earnings. Other children have max loans and work and have grants from their schools. I cannot get a cosigner for a Parents PLUS loan. Was just looking for suggestions on how to tell them I can afford nothing. Paperwork I have completed previously indicates this as well. Is it worthwhile to say I can pay a small amount(I guess I’ll go without some/most of my medications again) than to say I can pay nothing. My out of pocket medical expenses total over $2700 per month ( can’t afford that either).</p>
<p>I think your best plan is to lay it all out with the financial aid folks…</p>
<p>You know…if you really can’t afford anything, they need to hear this (again) and why. If you paid anything out of pocket last year, they may be wondering why you can’t do so this year (even WITH your documentation…they still may be wondering…especially at a school that doesn’t meet full need anyway).</p>
<p>You can refer to the information they already have regarding your medical expenses, disability, etc. </p>
<p>Did you apply for a PLUS loan (no cosigner…just you) because if you do and you are denied a PLUS loan, your student is eligible for additional Stafford loan money that is in their name only. But you have to apply for the Plus and be denied for eligility for that extra Stafford money (which I think is about $9000 additional a year).</p>
<p>Yes, I applied for PLUS loan - was denied - can’t get a cosigner (I did get one previously but that relative can no longer do so, in fact they were recently laid off - I was court ordered to take out loans previously - they total well over my annual income so that’s how I paid - the financial aid office has been made aware of this as well ) - that’s how my kid was able to borrow $12,500 (it’s an additional $5000) this year for stafford loans (see post above). I’m also months behind in my mortgage because my support was reduced substantially AFTER the kids started school … According to most folks on this site, that really doesn’t matter. When I first meet with this school in January 2011, after my ex spouse was relieved of any responsibility to pay after that previous fall 2010 semester (and showing them the Court Order), the financial aid office awarded my kid a large sum of money so that the spring 2011 was practically paid in full. MY ex’s EFC (without adding his wife’s substantial income) is over $250K. (I’m certain the CSS Profile would have it higher - he owns a $3million home, has vacation property, etc.) The school has waived the requirement for my ex to complete any forms for this school year.</p>
<p>*Is it worthwhile to say I can pay a small amount(I guess I’ll go without some/most of my medications again) than to say I can pay nothing. My out of pocket medical expenses total over $2700 per month ( can’t afford that either). *</p>
<p>No…don’t tell them that you can pay anything…you can’t. Show them your RX costs and other out of pocket expenses. </p>
<p>go there with all your paperwork in order…and with copies for them… use a pen or highlighting pen to indicate the important points in the copies.</p>
<p>Since your ex is affluent, isn’t he required to provide you with some kind of spousal support since you’re disabled?</p>
<p>I’ve been divorced for many years - don’t get me started on how badly I did in the divorce (my legal fees back in the early 90’s were over $100K took me years to pay off not to mention I had to sell the house). Have yet to meet a lawyer who doesn’t tell me how poorly I did. I was not disabled when we got divorced. The financial aid office is aware of my support amounts.
As I indicated,I asked for an appointment with the Dean, the answer I got was how much can you afford to pay.</p>
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<p>Then hopefully they will do so again this year…good luck to you when you speak to them.</p>
<p>they awarded the same amount for this year (but unfortunately, of course the costs are more than twice as much since it’s two semesters - not one like last year- and the costs have increased).</p>
<p>*I asked for an appointment with the Dean, the answer I got was how much can you afford to pay. *</p>
<p>Tell them and show them that you can’t pay anything.</p>
<p>How much is your FAFSA EFC for this child and for your other children? Each has his/her own EFC.</p>
<p>And if your FAFSA EFC is very low (which will support your inability to pay anything) you might want to mention that as well.</p>
<p>Give the school any information they request at this point. It sounds like they are looking for good evidence to perhaps help you. If the documentation supports it, perhaps they will help again this year.</p>
<p>Yes, with three kids in college what were the EFCs…unless one works alot they should be pretty similar and I would think fairly small if you are in the situation you say. It sounds like this kid is at a private college since you mention the kids father’s EFC? Can one of the other kids take a semester or two off from college until you can get this one graduated?</p>
<p>Oh…and if the EFC is higher than what you can pay…the school might be able to use the information you provided to process a special circumstances consideration…and the finaid folks could exercise professional judgement based on the info provided to reduce that EFC…so give them what they are asking for.</p>