Special circumstances, EFC *way* too large - help!

<p>g30rg3, let’s also be realistic, you are a high priority admitted student and schools would make sure that you will be able to attend. Do not assume that the same treatment is being done for an average admitted student. You have top scores, and in science, from a highly underrepresented state, athlete, stellar ECs, you received likely letters from all the ivies and now debating between Harvard, Yale and Stanford.
BTW, did you choose Yale, or Harvard? And congratulations, you worked hard and you deserve it.</p>

<p>^^I think I’m going with Harvard. Haven’t actually committed yet though, but I’m 99% sure it will be there. And I’m not sure if you meant that I was an athletic recruit for college, but I’m not. Only played in high school lol. But again, I’m not sure that you even meant that. </p>

<p>And thanks!</p>

<p>*Assuming the business is payed for by the end of the year and that debt vanishes, then yes, my financial aid will too probably. But like I said, they looked at our individual situation, in which my parents simply could not afford an Ivy league price tag, and gave me that amount of aid. *</p>

<p>If that’s the case, how are you going to pay for your second year when your financial aid package changes with your income situation?</p>

<p>When did the word “paid” become “payed”? I see this a lot.</p>

<p>Anyway, Ana is right. You were given a very special exception that most schools would not give. For you to have gotten those likely letters, you have some hook, diversity offering, or something. </p>

<p>While your dad may be contractually bound to invest half of the income back into the business, wouldn’t matter to most schools. They would consider the $200k as income. I could buy a home and sign some contract that requires me to put 50% of my income back to the mortgage and colleges wouldn’t normally give more aid. </p>

<p>Yes, the school is essentially helping pay for the business by giving you extra aid.</p>

<p>Did all 3 schools offer this extra aid? or just Harvard?</p>

<p>@juillet, well, obviously if the income situation changes I’ll no longer need the FA. In that case, my parents should be able to afford it, maybe with the help of loans. You should probably read the post…</p>

<p>I shouldn’t have posted the conclusion to this thread, as everyone apparently feels the need to attack me. I only posted it in case the advice could be useful to someone else. I’m just going to stop commenting now–</p>

<p>@mom2collegekids, just PM me if you want the answer</p>

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<p>“Income” from self-employment is the net income after paying all business expenses, not the gross income. This is true at any school. Many schools will want to review business records such as P&L statements or will disallow certain deductions from a schedule C – but none are going to use the business gross receipts as a measure of income.</p>

<p>It sounds to me like the OP’s parents simply were confused about the process - or perhaps they had an issue arising in the year they purchased the business that would not occur in future years. </p>

<p>I’m sure that any college would view franchise fees as being a normal cost of doing businesses. If a sole-proprietor owns a business that generates $1 million in annual revenue – but takes home only $50K after paying for inventory, salaries, rent, etc. – the financial aid package will be based on that $50K.</p>

<p>g3 – I think it’s good that you posted your results. The point is that your parents were concerned and were proactive about meeting with financial aid officials. That experience will help others who feel that they are in unusual financial situations.</p>

<p>Your original post said your parents were currently in the process of buying a business. Don’t you see how that reads as though they just recently decided to buy a business? If they did it 4 years ago then it is less likely that they did as a plan to get more FA.</p>

<p>You sure are lucky that the business didn’t go belly up aren’t you? I’m sure you showed the potential long before they made the decision and I would have been scared if my parents made that move 4 years before I was due to start college. Could be a great move, could be a disaster…</p>

<p>I will again agree it was good to point out to people to visit the FA office if there are questions.</p>

<p>alright here is the deal i and going to attend MMI/UTI but problem is my parent pluss loan will not approve because my dad had to file bankruptcy a few years ago called the loan people and they told me that hill not be able to becuase of this how am i soposed to get around this i dont have anyone that can co sign for him and i need more money to pay the school i know they might be able to get more out of my loans at the school but it will not be enough my question how do i get more money to pay for my tuition. please help me out or point in the right direction. thank you all</p>

<p>rabiejr - Please go [url=&lt;a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=7]here[/url”&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=7]here[/url</a>] to start a new thread with your question. Thanks!</p>