financial aid question

[Anonymous]

Has your experience been that you are offered the same amount as what was suggested by the SSS. If it's different, where you offered less or more aid?

[Anonymous]

The least amount was what SSS calculated, however a few schools granted more than than SSS.

[Anonymous]

I was offered none at all at the 2 schools where I applied even though SSS said I was eligible for about 75% of the tuition. So, public school, here he comes.

[Anonymous]

DC was offered a bit less than SSS said we were eligible for.

[Anonymous]

That's awful! I'm curious. If SSS said you were eligible for 75% of tuition, did you ever follow up with the schools to find out why they denied your financial aid application? Could it be that they gave all of the FA away to existing families due to the economy?

Anonymous wrote:I was offered none at all at the 2 schools where I applied even though SSS said I was eligible for about 75% of the tuition. So, public school, here he comes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The least amount was what SSS calculated, however a few schools granted more than than SSS.

Do you think the schools took into consideration something about your financial profile that SSS did not (something subtle or obvious)? Or do you think they wanted to be competitve because they were very interested in your DC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's awful! I'm curious. If SSS said you were eligible for 75% of tuition, did you ever follow up with the schools to find out why they denied your financial aid application? Could it be that they gave all of the FA away to existing families due to the economy?

Anonymous wrote:I was offered none at all at the 2 schools where I applied even though SSS said I was eligible for about 75% of the tuition. So, public school, here he comes.

Yes, they both told me that b/c of the economy, many more of their current families qualified and received the FA so there was none at all left for new families. They said it happened this year and last. They said they even had a FA waiting list for current families!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The least amount was what SSS calculated, however a few schools granted more than than SSS.

Do you think the schools took into consideration something about your financial profile that SSS did not (something subtle or obvious)? Or do you think they wanted to be competitve because they were very interested in your DC?

Of course I would love to say it is because my DC is amazing, but I really don't know why. DC is bright and engaging, but whose child isn't? We are just very grateful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The least amount was what SSS calculated, however a few schools granted more than than SSS.

Do you think the schools took into consideration something about your financial profile that SSS did not (something subtle or obvious)? Or do you think they wanted to be competitve because they were very interested in your DC?

Of course I would love to say it is because my DC is amazing, but I really don't know why. DC is bright and engaging, but whose child isn't? We are just very grateful.

Well, if you don't believe there was something about your financial situation that the schools considered that you know SSS didn't I would venture to guess they loved your DC.

Too bad you can't ask....wouldn't want to look a gift horse in the mouth (is that the right expression?).

[Anonymous]

new poster but part of the calculation is that the DC area is more expensive (cost of living) and so area schools often do provide more than the SSS calculated parental contribution. Our school comes right out and says that it is because it is more expensive to live here. Plus there is a real cost of school (ie books, extra curriculars etc) that may not be fully calculated and the school's FA proces tries to take that into consideration too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:new poster but part of the calculation is that the DC area is more expensive (cost of living) and so area schools often do provide more than the SSS calculated parental contribution. Our school comes right out and says that it is because it is more expensive to live here. Plus there is a real cost of school (ie books, extra curriculars etc) that may not be fully calculated and the school's FA proces tries to take that into consideration too.

Interesting.....

I assumed SSS would take the demographics into consideration with their calculation. It would seem that their results would be pretty unreliable given the huge cost of living differences in various parts of the country if they didn't.