Maximum HHI for obtaining financial aid?

[Anonymous]

This is a hard. A child who is a talented athlete comes a dime a dozen in DC. You need to have a D1 athlete that’s ranked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, can you clarify? Are you asking what the maximum HHI is to qualify for need based aid at a metro DC private school? If so, the answer is “it depends.” This topic is raised periodically on DCUM and people will start saying they are receiving or not receiving aid at varying levels. Yes, the modelers do have algorithms that they provide to the schools with the application, but in the end folks with the same HHI are offered aid at varying levels or at all from school to school.

This topic has not been raised for some time so you may spark some internet, which is always entertaining. However, if you are unsure whether yoir family will qualify, the only real way to know is to apply - and should you be offered admissions but low or no aid, be sure to talk to the FA manager (sometimes the finance manager), let them know you can only accept with aid and see how that effects the outcome. Anecdotal evidence seems to indicate the initial award is only a starting point, open for discussion.

One final point - if you are looking at the more competitive schools, you think you may be borderline eligible, and your child is a borderline candidate with strong interest, DO NOT apply for aid - in that situation applying guarantees you a waitlisting...

Good luck!

Not completely true. Everyone I know who goes to Big 5 are on substantial FA. Depending on circumstances it doesn’t sway admissions. [/quote

] Then everyone you know exists in a very limited part of the spectrum of wealth and assets. The majority of attendees at the top schools do not receive FA. Yes, many do, but certainly not as ,any as you imply. Just hang out at carpool for 10 minutes at any of our elites and you will get a sense of the intense wealth that is concentrated in the elite schools. If OP’s is a family with HHI in low 200’s and their DC is keen on a top school but not exceptional in every way then applying for FA is a sure fire way to decrease chances of admission. Anyone denying this is blind to the reality of private schools...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When we made $80k, we were expected to pay around $9k/yr. When that went up to $140k, we were expected to pay around $20k/yr.

We were and are deeply grateful, and hope that someday not too far off we’ll be able to pay the whole tab.

In state tuition?! At a private at 160K HHI we were expected to pay 65K per year or roughly 90% of tuition plus room and board

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When we made $80k, we were expected to pay around $9k/yr. When that went up to $140k, we were expected to pay around $20k/yr.

We were and are deeply grateful, and hope that someday not too far off we’ll be able to pay the whole tab.

In state tuition?! At a private at 160K HHI we were expected to pay 65K per year or roughly 90% of tuition plus room and board

OP, all you can do is apply and see. If you dot get the FA you need appeal th decision.

[Anonymous]

I think is asking about private secondary school, not university.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a hard. A child who is a talented athlete comes a dime a dozen in DC. You need to have a D1 athlete that’s ranked.

This. I have a kid with all A's who could be termed an "exceptional" athlete who didn't get into their top DC school, let alone get aid. Child is now at another top school here and every other kid there is an exceptional athlete.
Lots and lots of kids at the highest level travel team for whatever their chosen sport is. It's the rule, not the exception.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When we made $80k, we were expected to pay around $9k/yr. When that went up to $140k, we were expected to pay around $20k/yr.

We were and are deeply grateful, and hope that someday not too far off we’ll be able to pay the whole tab.

In state tuition?! At a private at 160K HHI we were expected to pay 65K per year or roughly 90% of tuition plus room and board

Independent secondary school. It’s a school with a very strong endowment, so that definitely factors in.

For what it’s worth, though, the net price calculators on most colleges site seem to come up with roughly equivalent numbers for me… I’m surprise that you were expected to pay that much. But at least it’s only for four years!

[Anonymous]

“Not completely true. Everyone I know who goes to Big 5 are on substantial FA. Depending on circumstances it doesn’t sway admissions.”

At the top DC schools, most families are not on ANY financial aid, let alone “substantial.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“Not completely true. Everyone I know who goes to Big 5 are on substantial FA. Depending on circumstances it doesn’t sway admissions.”

At the top DC schools, most families are not on ANY financial aid, let alone “substantial.”

This is really puzzling to me too. My kid joined a Big3 from a public school and we're full pay as are the rest of the friends we know who sent kids from our public to any area private.

We're all federal employee families and similar so none of us are rolling in extra cash.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“Not completely true. Everyone I know who goes to Big 5 are on substantial FA. Depending on circumstances it doesn’t sway admissions.”

At the top DC schools, most families are not on ANY financial aid, let alone “substantial.”

The kids are recruited athletes. You wouldn’t know because if you aren’t the selected ones they don’t put this information out to be known.

[Anonymous]

As an example from SSSAS (this is public info on their website):

The average family income for a family receiving assistance is $165,000. The average financial assistance grant is $21,500. Tuition is between 34-41K depending on grade.

So I think you can make solidly more than 165K and still get aid (albeit not as much as 21K!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Not completely true. Everyone I know who goes to Big 5 are on substantial FA. Depending on circumstances it doesn’t sway admissions.”

At the top DC schools, most families are not on ANY financial aid, let alone “substantial.”

This is really puzzling to me too. My kid joined a Big3 from a public school and we're full pay as are the rest of the friends we know who sent kids from our public to any area private.

We're all federal employee families and similar so none of us are rolling in extra cash.

I think that if you have an extra 40k a year lying around you are rolling in extra cash

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, can you clarify? Are you asking what the maximum HHI is to qualify for need based aid at a metro DC private school? If so, the answer is “it depends.” This topic is raised periodically on DCUM and people will start saying they are receiving or not receiving aid at varying levels. Yes, the modelers do have algorithms that they provide to the schools with the application, but in the end folks with the same HHI are offered aid at varying levels or at all from school to school.

This topic has not been raised for some time so you may spark some internet, which is always entertaining. However, if you are unsure whether yoir family will qualify, the only real way to know is to apply - and should you be offered admissions but low or no aid, be sure to talk to the FA manager (sometimes the finance manager), let them know you can only accept with aid and see how that effects the outcome. Anecdotal evidence seems to indicate the initial award is only a starting point, open for discussion.

One final point - if you are looking at the more competitive schools, you think you may be borderline eligible, and your child is a borderline candidate with strong interest, DO NOT apply for aid - in that situation applying guarantees you a waitlisting...

Good luck!

Not completely true. Everyone I know who goes to Big 5 are on substantial FA. Depending on circumstances it doesn’t sway admissions. [/quote

] Then everyone you know exists in a very limited part of the spectrum of wealth and assets. The majority of attendees at the top schools do not receive FA. Yes, many do, but certainly not as ,any as you imply. Just hang out at carpool for 10 minutes at any of our elites and you will get a sense of the intense wealth that is concentrated in the elite schools. If OP’s is a family with HHI in low 200’s and their DC is keen on a top school but not exceptional in every way then applying for FA is a sure fire way to decrease chances of admission. Anyone denying this is blind to the reality of private schools...

This was our experience. DC with strong, balanced academic/activity/athletic profile applying to HS. Applied to the 5 top schools and one next tier. One offer of admissions with no FA from top schools. WL at rest of to- schools yet offered admissions and 50% FA at next tier. This when lesser profiled, full paid applicants we know well we’re all offered to[ school admissions. Ours is a two working parent family with HHI $260K. On that income in DC we are unable to turn down close to $100K in aid. Needless to say, DC initially disappointed but now motivated, top of the class, and happy at the next tier school - no regrets...but we learned the reality of elite schools the hard way...

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you all for your answers. We will just try and see.

[Anonymous]

I heard $250K is max for many schools.