<p>Brooklyn et al
I have heard from several people that if your child is doing great (!!!) and you ask for FA (if things have changed or you did not your first year) and apply to other schools (send transcripts), you are more likely to get FA if they want to keep you???</p>
<p>Princess’Dad: interesting…I would be curious to hear from others on that. Our family was fortunate enough to receive generous aid offers, so we are relatively set for the next four years.</p>
<p>I do think BrooklynGuy is right on that. Ours was a very major change- one that most people probably won’t experience. We had asked originally and gotten no aid, but after the change we called the FA office and they were very accommodating. It also may have helped that Exeter’s endowment increased significantly over those few years. </p>
<p>But yeah, it’s certainly not common for FA to change, and I certainly wouldn’t go to boarding school expecting to get aid in future years, but, if there is a drastic change, it can happen.</p>
<p>BrooklynGuy is stating exactly what I was told: “If a student is denied financial aid and still decides to enroll at the school, please understand that this means a **long-term financial commitment **on the family’s part. The family will be expected to pay full tuition, room and board for each year the student attends the school.”</p>
<p>Certainly, if the family’s situation undergoes a drastic change, and, as PrincessDad says, you are a well-liked, contributing member of the student body, the FA committee may make an exception for you. However, typically, with most schools, if you are denied FA the first year, you won’t be able to apply for FA in upcoming years.</p>
<p>So, if I do apply for financial aid and get denied will that hurt my chances of being accepted into the school?</p>
<p>Exeter, on its website, said that they will never turn a student down because they were denied FA.</p>
<p>Oh, and this is a question about the new Exeter FA policy: does the $75,000 and below equals free education at Exeter apply from now on or only the 08-09 years?</p>
<p>I am applying too, and though your extracurriculars are strong, definitely do everything you can on your grades. Also try and volunteer.
Your families income is VERY high. It’s actually 10x high than my mothers. I am hoping for a full scholarship… If I don’t get it I can’t go. Your family, though I do not know this, seems as if it could afford a partial or even total contribution.</p>
<p>EDIT:
icthestarrs: The financial aid initiative is from now on. The amount will also be adjusted for inflation. They are really serious about this offer, and want to make it last for EVERYONE, not just this year or the next.
They have over a $1 billion endowment, they can afford it.</p>
<p>The original poster has a better chance of getting into his desired schools if he can pay full tuition. It is much more difficult to get into a boarding school as a financial aid applicant. My annual income (and FA is based on the AGI on your tax form as well as non taxable income and unearned income AND assets) is about 20K and my child qualified for FA as follows:</p>
<p>tuition room and board – $40000</p>
<p>a loan from the school – $2000</p>
<p>my share – $4800</p>
<p>a need-based grant – $33200</p>
<p>Why are you applying as a junior? That also works against you.</p>
<p>I am also applying to Andover and Exeter, as well as some other schools. I will be applying for my junior year, also, but unlike you, I need f.a. </p>
<p>Do you think that because of my need for F.A. & since I now go to a public school, that it will lower my chances of being accepted into one of my choice schools?</p>
<p>Only a few schools (Andover, Exeter, Groton and SPS – I believe) state that they are need-blind for admissions. At every other school, your need for financial aid will put you into a more competitive group of applicants.</p>
<p>Some schools state that they are need blind for admission – but they don’t award FA to all that need it. For example, my son applied to Proctor last year – he was accepted, but was awarded no FA.</p>
<p>happyday – yes, your need for FA will put you into a more competitive pool of applicants, so you need to have an excellent strategy. Consider applying to approximately 10 schools, including 3 low-reaches and 7 high reaches (I am assuming your local public is your safety school).</p>
<p>The best way to find out your statistical chance of getting in is to call the school and ask the secretary how many applicants for 11th grade they got last year and how many were admitted, but check the websites first for the info. Statistical chances are the only thing you can bank on. If a school has a general acceptance rate of 20%, you have a one in five shot of getting in. You can get a better idea by making the call I suggest. I did it - called and asked how many kids applied for X grade, for Y slots. She was able to give me a ballpark and offered to get back with specific numbers if I wanted. I told her not to go out of her way for me because it wouldn’t change our decision to apply or not. </p>
<p>The best way to get info is to ask for it.</p>
<p>thank you hsmomstef & neatoburrito…your advice is MUCH appreciated :o)</p>
<p>hmm, given your family income I’d say getting financial aid would be difficult. Sorry if I’m cold or anything, but kids with families that don’t even make half that amount that have trouble even getting $20,000.</p>
<p>I have to agree with hotchkiss. Im not an expert at any of this but 400k and needing financial aid sounds pretty crazy. our income is about 120k, we pay for my bro to attend Duke and me and my lil bro to attend private schools. We hav financial aid for some of it but still..Mentioning what you pay for is a big deal in the process I believe. So they know your not just being greedy</p>