College sticker shock

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I asked in the other thread if applying ED meant you were agreeing to go to that school, if accepted, without aid.

No. If you can't pay, you can't pay. They can not force you to attend and pay full freight.

But whether or not they offer you money is a different conversation.

If you do not apply for FA and apply ED, it is assumed (and reasonably so) that you will go if you are admitted.

OP, did you not look at the costs before your DC submitted the ED application? How strange.

DD will have to withdraw their application and apply somewhere they can afford. The school is not going to take them to court to force them to attend, but they probably aren't going to negotiate either

what's with this place and the strange use of the english language from people who are obviously fairly well educated.

how about DD will have to withdraw HEER application and apply somewhere SHE can afford (or WE since i assume DD is not realy the one paying).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you applied binding early decision, did not seek financial aid, and can't afford it, an acceptance will be binding. In addition, other schools will know that you reneged and will not accept you. If you can't afford to attend without aid, you should not be applying early decision, but should ask to be moved to the regular decision pool.

Is this true? I've heard it, but what do they do, put your name on an email blast?

We heard from college counselor that the schools have access to shared information, at least on Common App. A student who applies ED and seeks financial aid, but doesn't get a package they can afford, is generally allowed to withdraw from the binding ED obligation and reapply. But a student who simply changes their mind, or who expected some merit aid (unreasonably) and didn't get any, should not.

This is true but I'd add in one tweak. If you apply ED and seek financial aid and don't get it you don't get automatically out of the agreement if the NPC on the college's page said that you could expect zero in merit and zero in financial aid. Otherwise, everyone would try to buck the system by applying ED and then, if the student changed his or her mind about the college, say "well the EFC says . . .". The NPC takes into account the FAFSA and CSS results. That's why someone wisely said a few pages back to take a screenshot of the NPC.

For most people in the DMV area, the chances of getting a low percentage of EFC is close to nil (we make too much money or have investments or houses). We got 100% EFC and no merit so were full pay all the way.

Do you really think a college would fight you, block you from other options and risk losing a subsequent lawsuit with massive damages (from blocking other options)? An ED admit isn't worth it to them

You really think there would be "massive damages" lol.

When a business tells of its competitors that it has rights to a customer and everyone in the industry agrees to respect those rights? Yes, that setup can lead to massive damages

I love it when the second year associates start opining.

[Anonymous]

We are not eligible for merit aid or any kind of need based scholarship - solely based on HHI. We can pay the amount but it will undoubtedly will pinch a whole lot.

WTF do you think the rest of us plebeians have been doing for 18 years? Do you think we’ve been compromising on home choices, car choices, travel choices, and entertainment choices because we like feeling, as you say, “pinched”? Or do you think it’s because normal parents aren’t blissfully entitled and don’t expect the FA Fairy Godmother to majickally make up for two decades of selfishness?

Of course, this is no excuse.

Of course, you think it is.

Parents like myself may become disengaged with the financial aid process if we are told "you make too much to qualify".

Sooo… you think that schools should offer FA to rich families in order to… get them to pay attention to the process? Did I get that right?

JFC. Take several seats until you can tell kid that you screwed them over, and that THEY will experience the consequences of YOUR piss-poor choices.

[Anonymous]

If you have a very high stat kid, great ECs, HHI 300K and above, who is not otherwise hooked, then going to the top 10 schools or programs opens doors and opportunities that they ordinarily won't be able to get. College is not the end all and there are many advantages of getting a prestigious job out of school that you can excel in. Your chances improve if you have no hook but can go ED. Huge advantage for full pay students especially in the current admission environment.

[Anonymous]

ED is a hook.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ED is a hook.

...also evens the playing field for the kid who will be denied because of their race regardless of how great a student he/she is.