<p>Here's my story in a nutshell:
I got into Brown ED for the next class (2012), and I was ecstatic until I opened the financial aid letter (my excitement level was reduced to merely excited, now), when I found out I wasn't going to get a single penny from Brown.</p>
<p>My family's the average middle-class family, and I know that's counting for less and less these days, but we absolutely cannot pay for all of the tuition. I feel kind of dumb whoring my circumstances, 'cause a lot of people probably have it worse off than I do, but I really need some advice on how to write this baby.</p>
<p>Here're my financial woes:
- We're still in a craphole from paying my sister's tuition bills from Wellesley. She graduates this year, right as I'm about to start my undergrad, and we have NO time to pay off the loans.
- My parents are supporting my grandmother, who requires a full-time caretaker, because she is partially paralyzed.
- My parents have only a couple more years until they retire (my mother gives me the over-estimate of 6 years).
- My parents have committed to only paying the UC tuition amount, and I will have to pay the rest. This, without financial assistance, would leave me with a 100-grand-plus bill at the end of my undergrad at Brown. And if my parents retire, there is a high possibility that I might have to take on the remainder of the loans they can't pay off.</p>
<p>Suggestions, please? What's the tone I want to strike here? Thanks, in advance. (:</p>
<p>Did they give you loans and work study?</p>
<p>My impression of your "financial woes":</p>
<p>The grandmother situation, if it isn't obvious from what you've already submitted, is compelling - include documentation of the amount of support...does this mean one of your parents cannot work full time?</p>
<p>Parents years till retirement - how old are they? Is it a choice? The award does take their age into consideration.</p>
<p>sister's tuition: shouldn't sis be paying those loans?</p>
<p>Parents only paying UC tuition - Brown probably won't care. The award is based on what Brown has decided your parents can afford to pay.</p>
<p>I would say very politely and succinctly: you were really excited to get into Brown, unfortunately the award was disappointing; you want to make sure that they are aware of grandmother situation (describe in detail and include documentation). You can include the other reasons, but highlight grandma; it is sort of an unusual circumstance.</p>
<p>I'm sorry you got into Brown and think you can't go!</p>
<p>Muffy333, thanks!</p>
<p>I don't think I explained clearly enough in the previous post, but yeah. I can see your points; I'll be sure to document my grandmother's situation, when possible, and go more in-depth. Thanks for the perspective and advice, it really helped. (:</p>
<p>I'm also not quite sure that the CSS Profile we had to submit really gave a lot of space for explaining these circumstances. I filled it out with my mother, and for example, my sister's undergrad being stacked right before mine... My sister can and does pay for the majority of her tuition, but that's a 40,000+ tuition bill, nevertheless. And the money has to come from somewhere, haha.</p>
<p>Also, the work-study issue is kind of shifty with Brown. I tried to do some research on this, and the FA website was not at all clear about it. If it's an option, I'd definitely take it.</p>
<p>I'm just kind of afraid of how I should phrase stuff, since I'm technically bound by ED, and I'm paranoid that they'll retract it (hopefully, unlikely) or release me (which is possible--we called the FA office).</p>
<p>Our situation is quite different from yours, as we do have financial aid, so I don't know if this will answer your question about work-study. My D got a separate grant for work study for this, her first year, and will be expected to get a job next year, her second. Brown does not expect students on fin aid to work. However, it is different for you, as you have said you are not getting any FA. You can get a job on or off campus, though. You don't have to be on FA to get a job through school. There are MANY places very close to school where you can get a job. Maybe you could try to think about not working during the first semester, if possible. Give yourself a bit of time to make the transition to college life and work before you get all stressed about earning money right away. The first semester can be daunting, and the end of it will be difficult, with exams and papers. Try to wait that out so you will know what to expect and not be too overwhelmed. I hope that will work.</p>
<p>Also, I would agree with above posters that the office needs to be informed of your situation. They obviously want you to come, and I would guess they will try to make it work for you. Good luck! Let us know what happens.</p>
<p>I don't know if your parents took out a PLUS loan or not, but I have heard of situations where the payments on the PLUS loan were also included in the information presented to the financial aid office. If your grandmother lives with you, or your parents are providing more than 1/2 of your support, this should also be noted...and why. </p>
<p>Brown will try to work with you, I hope. But do understand that you also submitted a CSS Profile (right?) that they used to calculate their awarding of institutional need based aid to you. You will have to show them that the information on that form either doesn't show the extenuating circumstances or is inaccurate. </p>
<p>Things that shouldn't matter (because LOTS of people are in your shoes)...your sister's college bills (especially since Wellesley, I believe, awards full need, so if your family had financial need while your sister was in school, this would have been covered), your sister's college debt in her name (because it is in HER name, not you family's). And as noted above, years until retirement...are these a choice (are your parents almosts 65?) or are they retiring early. Lots of college students have parents in their 50's....lots. And this IS considered by most schools. Another thing you don't mention is family assets, yours and your parents. If you have home equity, or savings or other assets, colleges do expect them to be used. Many students also have sibling who have finished college before they start, or who will start college after they finish. Finaid calculations do not consider this either...only consideration is if more than one student is in college at the same time.</p>
<p>So...present your information to Brown and see if they will reconsider your financial aid award. IF they view your issues as extenuating or special circumstances, they will likely at least take the time to review the situation.</p>
<p>I will be really interested in knowing how they do handle this, but I think they have to let you out for a UC. </p>
<p>On the one hand it'ss hard for you to say you didn't understand FA when you have a sister that went through college. Did you not have a clar idea of what you qualified for?</p>
<p>On the other hand if you say finances have changed and you must go to a UC, Brown has lots of people happy to take your place!</p>
<p>I knew what I was getting into, applying to Brown and obserrrrving my sister's college process stuff. But it's a bigger fix to actually sit down and crunch the numbers with the worst-case scenario in mind. (I hope I don't come across as a brat who's just whining about money, haha. :X)</p>
<p>So, I sent in an appeal letter, which got me a canned response saying that I still wasn't qualified. I know that response won't satisfy my parents completely, since they're rather worried about teh moneysss, but I thinkkk. I'll just make do with what I gotttt, and we'll get by. Hell, I'm just happy I even got in. XD</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice, urrr'body. (:</p>