<p>A couple of schools have contacted me and asked me to send forms directly to them, because the can't see my info on SSS.</p>
<p>When I contacted SSS they told me they were going to "flag" our file and try to get info in.</p>
<p>I know they got my stuff because I some stuff is visible, but I sent it all in one mailing.</p>
<p>When I asked should I resend everything...the person i was speaking to could not recommend that but told me " i can't stop you", I am sending it again in the morning overnite mail with receipt of recieving.</p>
<p>Go figure---lol</p>
<p>Should I assume that the schools that I haven't heard from have put us in the decline-pile already?</p>
<p>I received an email from our school telling us that SSS has a record number of apps this year and is very backlogged. SSS told me it would take at least 9 days after receipt of my items for them to show up as received on their website. The school will not count any of these apps as late.</p>
<p>My guess is that most schools should’ve made most of the preliminary admission decisions by now, and is “refining” to reach the final decisions taking FA need and budget into consideration. If you are getting calls asking for financial documents, then it’s a good sign. For those that are not getting calls, may be better - it could mean your docs are complete! So either, try to relax. March 10 is right at the corner!</p>
<p>I’m on hold with them right now! They have half our documents listed as received and the other half not. Of course, the half not listed seems to be the important ones (1040 and w-2). They have a “misc tax form” and “misc document.” These would have received these over two weeks ago.
I have never been impressed with SSS. Two years ago they sent our EFC to another family - complete with Social security numbers listed. Since then they made it first optional, then not now not a needed at all - to enter SS#'s.</p>
<p>ok, I was just told that it would be the middle of the first week in March before they would be available. Not sure how that plays with the schools, I’m contacting them now.</p>
<p>For those of you who are waiting, has the sss given you an EFC yet? I am still trying to understand how schools use the EFC. Do they try to follow it closely, or is it a loose guideline with lots of wiggle room.</p>
<p>My experience has been that the schools use it as the EFC as a guideline. They confirm the numbers with the tax returns and then schools take different things into consideration and make “adjustments” - some put a heavier consideration on home equity for example than others.</p>
<p>I have had so many problems with SSS and it is frustrating. I send the cover sheet each time and mark what is in the packet. But for some reason, some documents show up and some don’t. Also, they have a form that is for one school (supplemental aid form) accessable to all the schools when it shouldn’t be. Every time I call they “escalate” my call and still nothing gets done correctly. I think everything is now listed as received and I’m hoping all the schools can access everything. I sent an email to each school letting them know of my problems and for them to let me know if they can’t access anything.</p>
<p>My understanding of the EFC is similar to Linda S. The schools use it as a guideline and not a hard and fast number. For example, some schools will allow higher expenses for activities/lessons while some think all “extra” money should go to tuition. I know some of the schools in my area apply the “Bay Area modifier” to take into consideration the higher cost of living here so they allow higher expenses than normal which would actually decrease the EFC that SSS comes up with.</p>
<p>I think SSS bit off more than it could chew with this sending the tax forms to them. One school told me it was going to be easier for them to have all the forms scanned in for their committee, but not if they don’t get the information!</p>
<p>One of our schools had 2008 info sent to SSS, but 2008 and 2009 info sent to them directly as well.
The other schools - including my son’s and daughter’s current schools - wanted info only sent to SSS.
Like I said, since 2 years ago when they sent our financial info and SS# (obviously highly confidential) to another family, my confidence in them is fairly low.</p>
<p>I know for a fact that at least some schools are STILL reading apps. Don’t know if this is normal or just a reflection of the increase in apps this year.</p>
<p>Since we’re actually now done with this process (yippee!), let me share our experience, and keep in mind that we applied to day schools and boarding schools as a day student.</p>
<p>All these schools made admissions decisions by 2/2 and required a response by 3/1. Although they all follow the NAIS “Principles of Good Practice”* (i.e., admissions and FA decisions are made separately), and all are in the same athletic league (ergo they’re roughly comparable in size and mission), we got FA responses that ranged from $0 to full unmet need. </p>
<p>One school was so late in their final decision (a full three weeks beyond what they originally told us), that they extended our time to make a decision by one week. Very nice of them, but to be honest, we ended up deciding on another school during that long, agonizing wait.</p>
<p>I think this present snafu with SSS really threw this particular school (which required a lot more documentation to begin with) a curve. I think, for whatever reason, some schools were just better equipped to deal with the chaos, which was created by a “perfect storm” of an increase in requests for FA across the board and SSS clearly biting off more than they can chew. </p>
<p>I would love to be a fly on the wall at the next big gathering of admissions/FA officers and NAIS/SSS honchos!</p>