<p>^^ The other downside is that some colleges don’t have enough jobs for all the students to whom they award work-study. It’s not a guarantee of a job, it’s the possibility of a job. (In my experience, this may be more of a problem at state schools, especially if they’re not located near off-campus jobs.)</p>
<p>Think of work study as a license to hunt. No guarantee that you’ll bag a job, or that the job you bag will be something you want.</p>
<p>My S was very interested in Vandy. He graduated top 1% in his class, very nice scores, tons of leadership, community service, school service, sports and recd a likely letter. We went to Vandy at that point. The admissions counselor that gave the info session, bragged and bragged about how much money they give their students. We left very confident that we would get something. My EFC is high but from what they said and the fact that he recd a likely letter we thought we were good for about 10K - 12K/yr. To play it safe we made an appointment to see a fin aid officer while we were there. Literally 5 seconds after she pulled our file, she looked at me like I had ten heads. She, quite definitively stated we wouldn’t get a penny!!! I was shocked and almost in tears. I reiterated to her what was stated in the info session. I went over my expenses etc etc etc. She was honestly one of the most stoic, defiant people I have ever met. She didn’t have a sympathetic bone in her body!!! We went through a similiar situation with Colgate. I’m beginning to think that they say all this nonsense just to get kids to apply, which will ultimately drive up their selectivity ranking.
(I must admit I didn’t use the college calculator. I didn’t even know it existed but I learned and they are very accurate.)</p>
<p>I wish these schools were a bit more honest with the amount of finaid they give because the kids applying believe everything they hear. My S was so confused. If it wasn’t that he was present to hear this woman say 'NO". I don’t think he would have believed me, given everything that was stated during the info session.</p>
<p>When we went to Colgate, one of the first schools we ever visited, one of the admission officers told my husband and I, to our faces, that they basically can give everyone atleast 10K. Once again, S was awarded one of their most prestigous honors upon acceptance, in addition to an early notification even though he was an RD applicant and received $0.</p>
<p>I am sorry that the admissions officers misled you. However, I can only assume that your income is … while not all that high in your world … very high (and/or you have business write-offs). Our income is high, IMO, and we received excellent aid at Vandy. </p>
<p>If you believe you were misled, you should write an email to the Student Affairs director (the boss of admissions & financial aid). Be specific about what was asked, how it was answered, and how you feel it misled you. I am sure that he/she will want to know this information.</p>
<p>That was a year ago and S is quite settled in his school now. Like I mentioned the misleading part is the presentation during the info session, where they make it sound so affordable. I will never forget my S saying "What do you mean we can’t afford it? They said that they give out lots of FA, and they will meet everyones need, and they work with you?’ To be honest, I should have been smarter by that point too but this was my first and we hadn’t been through this three ring circus before, so I believed them too. Like I said Colgate was even worse. They flat out told us that we could get 10k. At the end of the day they are a bunch of salespeople just trying to sell the school. I get it now but it was a rude awakening.</p>
<p>* We went to Vandy at that point. The admissions counselor that gave the info session, bragged and bragged about how much money they give their students. We left very confident that we would get something.</p>
<p>My EFC is high but from what they said and the fact that he recd a likely letter we thought we were good for about 10K - 12K/yr. To play it safe we made an appointment to see a fin aid officer while we were there. Literally 5 seconds after she pulled our file, she looked at me like I had ten heads. She, quite definitively stated we wouldn’t get a penny!!! I was shocked and almost in tears. I reiterated to her what was stated in the info session. </p>
<p>We went through a similiar situation with Colgate. I’m beginning to think that they say all this nonsense just to get kids to apply, which will ultimately drive up their selectivity ranking.</p>
<p>I wish these schools were a bit more honest with the amount of finaid they give because the kids applying believe everything they hear. My S was so confused. If it wasn’t that he was present to hear this woman say 'NO". I don’t think he would have believed me, given everything that was stated during the info session.*</p>
<p>My nephew goes to Vandy and his brother is at another “meet need” top school. With 2 in school, my sister gets NOTHING. lol Not ONE CENT.<br>
Her H is an eng’g manager and she’s a substitute teacher, but they have been good savers. However, these are not “rich” people.</p>
<p>So, those info sessions do need to be more upfront to those with high incomes. </p>
<p>There was a student who posted last year whose family earned about $200k. They went to the info session at a Calif top school that meets need. The rep bragged about how much the school gives in aid and that nearly everyone gets aid. The “nearly everyone” misled this family because they didn’t think that their income was so unique that they wouldn’t get aid. They naturally thought that those who didn’t meet the “nearly everyone” standard were the millionaires. </p>
<p>People need to put these reps “on the spot” in these session and directly ask, “If a family earns $200k with one child in college, would that child get aid.” In nearly all cases, the answer would be no. Or these schools need to have charts.</p>
<p>And, yes, they do dance around this issue to get more apps. Shame on them.</p>
<p>Thanks Mom2collegekids, thats exactly what I’m saying. Its very misleading. I think a chart would be very helpful. Especially, for first timers. It may seem silly but things really do need to be spelled out.</p>
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<p>Isn’t that what the NPCs are for?</p>
<p>I agree with Annasdad. This seems to be the only industry where the customer doesn’t do any research for a payment of $200K. The info is out there. Why would anyone who makes $200K (in the top 6% of income earners) expect financial aid??</p>
<p>I think partly because some of those fortunate folk don’t consider themselves all that fortunate. It doesn’t feel like you’re in the top 6% when everyone around you is also, when you’re so overextended there’s not much left at the end of the month, etc.</p>
<p>It does take some savvy to translate “admissions speak.” When they say, we are generous, you have to keep listening. Generous to whom, under what circumstances? Read the FA web pages, look at the actual examples. Yup, people put more research into their next car purchase than college. </p>
<p>When parents look at costs and FA, they don’t always recognize the point is “payment potential,” not “income encumbrance.” They see $200k as tight because they’re paying for what that income can affod them- higher mortgage, newer cars, credit card bills, lifestyle. Those are discretionary. Or, when their income is lower, but assets are high, they focus on the lower income number.</p>
<p>I remember the school that sent us FA info and gave an example of a 180k family that got aid. But, the next lines showed they had four in college. And, when you checked that example, the aid was low-ish. Caveat emptor.</p>
<p>Quote:
People need to put these reps “on the spot” in these session and directly ask, “If a family earns $200k with one child in college, would that child get aid.” In nearly all cases, the answer would be no. Or these schools need to have charts.</p>
<hr>
<p>Isn’t that what the NPCs are for?</p>
<p>========</p>
<p>Absolutely…and that’s probably why they’ve become required…too many confused/misled people.</p>
<p>But, NPCs are a new thing, and many first-time college parents don’t even know about them. Furthermore, many don’t even think about using a NPC before doing college visits when compiling a list. It would be helpful if those college mailers that SCREAM, “we give out millions of aid,” also encouraged the recipients to use the NPC on their websites for an estimate of aid. Maybe some schools’ mailers are doing so…</p>
<p>Lastly, even the NPCs aren’t great for those who are self-employed and those who need to provide NCP info.</p>