Student Venting - Need Some Parent Advice

Parents Forum
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<p>At schools like Harvard, a year will cost $12K for a family with an income of $120K. Cheaper than public universities, but you have to get in.</p>

<p>Houses that are primary residences are not counted at most schools, in the evaluation of assets.</p>

<p>UMass is a great school, and the honors program gets better and better. UMass Lowell too. But even those costs are pretty steep. Will your parents pay for those schools?</p>

<p>As for working hard. Please realize that that effort is not wasted. It may sound strange but the purpose of high school education, and all that hard work, is really not grades or getting into college. The learning and skills you acquired will serve you well no matter where you go to school. Ultimately, your undergrad school won’t really matter that much, honestly.</p>

<p>Choose the best school for yourself that does not leave you with huge loans. Try not to view your college admission as a prize at the end of something. Instead understand that it is the beginning of something. Focus on that.</p>

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<p>*At schools like Harvard, a year will cost $12K for a family with an income of $120K. *</p>

<p>That’s only the situation with his primary custody family. He has a NCP who won’t pay…and may not fill out the NPC info for all we know.</p>

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<p>Another thought…if at all possible, get your mom to go to court to try to get child support. Even if she fails, sometimes evidence that you’ve tried can help persuade a college to adjust.</p>

<p>I have two divorced mom friends whose kids’ aid packages did not include contributions from NCPs even though the colleges normally include them. One exH/father lives abroad. He had assets in a retirement fund here. Mom tried to attach them for unpaid child support but failed–ERISA protected them. Harvard refused to adjust aid. MIT recognized mom had done everything possible and waived NCP form. Bard College waived for my other friend. She sent copy of a court opinion in which the judge ranted and raved about father’s unwillingness to comply with court ordered child support. </p>

<p>DEFINITELY still apply to colleges you can afford without his funds, but don’t give up all the others on your list . However, you can’t just leave dad alone and ask colleges to waive NCP form.</p>

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<p>I thought the total of $120K included the NCP.</p>

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<p>Apply to Princeton. They do not look at NCP if there is a step-father.</p>

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<p>Check out Franklin and Marshall,. It is a very good small LAC in PA that pays full need if you are accepted. My son had stats very similar to your and we live in MA as well. He plans to major in Economics too. Our household income is also 100-120k. F&M gave us a great FA package, we pay 17k, our son ids taking out 5.5k in govt loans, the rest is covered by grants.
There is aid out there for the middle class at the right colleges. Gettysburg was very generous as well.</p>

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<p>Custodial parents (mom and SF) make about $120k together…NCP makes about $80k.</p>

<p>Mom and SF’s EFC is about $35k…and they’ve agreed to pay about 1/3…which is about $12k.</p>

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<p>I will check Franklin and Marshall out!
@mom2collegekids my bama app is in. Im excited about all the possibilities.</p>

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<p>^^^</p>

<p>Good! Let me know if you have any questions! When you get the follow up email, submit the scholarship app.</p>

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<p>Don’t forget University of Pittsburgh (Jan 15th deadline). You might consider Kentucky also for their scholarships.</p>