<p>Hornet, that was terrific advice. Thank you!</p>
<p>Hornet…that is great advice. And, so many people don’t realize that schools use the stats/grid to determine aid. People think aid is like charity, if you need it, you get it. But, colleges aren’t charities…they give the best aid to those who make them look good.</p>
<p>Hornet, your post is TERRIFIC and should be posted as a “words of advice” thread on the financial aid forum.</p>
<p>Thanks for the warm fuzzies folks 
The bottom line is our kids can and will get a good education. Our country is fortunate to have many options.</p>
<p>Mom2-the grid was something I was completely unaware of until my second child (the average applicant). We did pick schools where he was in the middle for every thing but being in the top 25% seems to be the charm. Because his older, high achieving sibling had need met with no gapping, I assumed he would. I wish I had known more of this and hope the info can help others make good choices.</p>
<p>I am going to CHEER as my son was accepted last night to Wheaton with a nice merit scholarship. Knowing that we weren’t going to qual for need-based aid, we’d given very little thought to the merit end. After all, I’ve had a son at a school that doesn’t give athletic or merit scholarships for the past four years … </p>
<p>Wheaton isn’t his first choice … but we don’t know what all his other choices will be yet … and it’s really nice to be wanted and have it laid right out just how much they want you!</p>
<p>So BIG CHEERS from our corner.</p>
<p>To clarify:</p>
<p>HUGE congrats to R6L and everyone else who received a good or even do-able FA package at the school of their choice.</p>
<p>My comment about not congratulating people about need-based aid stems from the fact that I think it is unfair to people who don;t get sufficient need-based aid due to very real situation that isn’t represented in the EFC (medical bills, etc).</p>
<p>But, if you/your kid got a financial aid package (need or merit) that works at a school they’d be happy to attend, THAT is worth congratulating someone for, a million times over.</p>
<p>cnp55, Wheaton in IL? A good friend went there and loved her experience.</p>
<p>I am so lucky. Being poor and smart has worked out for me. Between my merit scholarships from private organizations and my federal and state grant money, I don’t have any gaps nor do I have to take out any loans next year! :)</p>
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<p>While not reflected on the FAFSA…significant medical bills, etc…might be considered as a special circumstance by the college. It’s done on a case by case situation and is at the discretion of the schools. Document everything and write a letter to finaid at your school(s). Your situation MIGHT result in a special circumstances adjustment to your EFC based on the extenuating circumstance.</p>
<p>^thumper is right. Most schools have been very receptive to adjusting aid because of my dad’s illness</p>
<p>psych_, I suspect cnp55 might be talking about Wheaton in MA, since they just announced their decisions online last night.</p>
<p>Agree with the above-- schools are typically open to discussing individual /special circumstances, even when a person’s income is high. This might be the case for posters like dadII who have high incomes (in the $120K-ish range) but who may possibly have family circumstances that affect their expenses.</p>
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<p>While this may be true in some cases, I can think of cases where no exception was made. Overall, I think EFC is a good thing, but some people DO get the short, short end of the stick. I’ve known people personally (no, not me–I actually think my EFC, while tough, was pretty fair) who were up-ended by having a financial/personal history that wasn’t fairly represented in the calculations. Thus, my strong reaction to not congratulating people for receiving good need-based aid packages–congrats that they’ve been admitted to and can attend school–yes. Congrats for merit ad–yes. Congrats for overcoming any associated barriers–yes, definitely. But not just for the aid itself.</p>
<p>JMHO.</p>
<p>Hornet, sounds like we have the same kids! #2 actually has a very high ACT, but is weak in EC’s & above-average-but-not-stellar-gradewise. #1 is at a private & gets amazing aid … #2 will cost us more at a mid-size not-the-flagship state college next year. The good thing in my opinion is that #2 has the potential to be at the top of the class at this school. Given the chosen program of studies, this will most likely yield some great opportunities that would not be probably not be available for this particular child at a more elite school. Life seems to have a way of working itself out.</p>
<p>Wheaton in Norton MA. Midway between Boston and Providence. Former women’s college, small town southeastern Mass, little LAC with great academics. Not very well known – but produces a lot of Rhodes and Fulbrights and those other post-bac fellowships.</p>
<p>^ Well known to CCers, congrats!! Did not know the WC history.</p>
<p>R6L – This is a great thread. It’s wonderful to read the appreciative comments from both parents and students.</p>
<p>While I understand the FA situation for families with real hardship…it does get tiresome to read so many complaints by apparently not so needy families who did not get the merit awards they seemed to feel their children had earned.</p>
<p>Bu the way…Congratulations to you on your successes. Based on your thoughtful and mature posts on this site, you appear to be someone who will certainly make a significant contribution to whatever school you attend.</p>
<p>Glad to see this thread has turned around into what I wanted it to be!!!</p>
<p>Me too! Congrats rocket. What really helped me was the PHEAA grant I’m estimated to get.</p>
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<p>What is PHEAA?</p>
<p><em>curious</em></p>
<p>Not to be labor the point, but I’m so tired of my POV by misinterpreted as “churlish” or sour that I have to elaborate…</p>
<p>For example, I’ve known a number of people who had serious pediatric health problems (cancer, cogential issues requiring multiple surgeries and other interventions, etc) that drained their family’s finances for years but were resolved before the kid was in HS. These were NOT represented in their FAFSA because they weren’t in the current year. In some cases, the kid got admitted to a dream school but couldn’t go because of FA.</p>
<p>I was lucky. My (fairly extensive) pediatric health costs were covered fully by insurance, and my family’s situation worked well with the FAFSA. I would have gotten need-based aid while those families wouldn’t. Thus, why I’m so hedgy about “congratulating” for need-based alone. It’s not always matter of virtue when the FAFSA works. Sometimes, it’s just “luck”–of not having health problems, of not having had them in the past, of being unemployed at the “right” time, etc. </p>
<p>If the FAFSA works for you, great–I’m glad for anyone who can get a good FA package. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t mean someone is “rich,” “bratty,” “whiny,” or “entitled.”</p>