Dirty Little Secret-Financial Aid

[Anonymous]

Did you know that once previously attending children/parents become divorced and the HHI drops significantly, and maybe one spouse loses their job, they apply for financial aid get it and eat up the budget? I think this is abhorrent. Unless your public school is dangerous, get off your high horse and leave. Divorce is your problem, not everyone elses.

[Anonymous]

I personally am not divorced, and hope to never be, but this counts as perhaps the ugliest post I've ever seen on DCUM (and that's a pretty high - or rather low - bar).

[Anonymous]

What is up with all these anti financial aid maniacs on DCUM? Personally I'm glad schools have FA and that there is economic diversity. No one seems concerned about college FA. I'm glad that after someone gets divorced there kids can get FA. Sounds like the OP has a personal vendetta. OP- MYOB

[Anonymous]

It's not nasty. Its the truth and people deserve to know. They also always apply for FAFSA and get it. Divorce is a social problem. Maybe I do have a chip on my shoulder but so what?? You can't get along with your husband and it becomes everyone else's problem? Give the money to a deserving minority, not someone who's parents used to have a $300K+ HHI. I'm not giving to the financial aid fund anymore.

[Anonymous]

PP/OP here. Isn't this board supposed to be informative and anonymous so that the truth can be expressed? I am not naming names...just FYI.

[Anonymous]

Really? This qualifies as a "dirty little secret"? It makes complete sense to me that a student with a change in family status could qualify for financial aid. I've got no problems with it. Thanks for the non-scandalous 411.

[Anonymous]

No problem with divorce parents applying for aid. They are just like anyone else applying for aid. If you take a family's income and now divide it in 1/2 (rough equivalent of supporting 2 families) they may qualify for aid. Who deserves aid? A single 22 year old mom with a 5 yr old? A 30 something single mom with a 5 yr old? A 40 something single mom with a 10 year old? A two family household with a stay at home spouse. A two family household with both parents working. A divorced family? You can have them all making 40k, 60k, 80k? By the calculation they all probably would get it. I get more upset with the families making 200k, living in a 600k+ home and driving around in luxury SUVs.

[Anonymous]

How about not taking out your intolerant, holier-than-thou, judgement on a child who is already going through emotional upheaval during the divorce? I hope you're not passing these traits on to your children.

If the school can offer a way for a child to have some sort of normalcy in their life during this tough time, that's what's important. School's are there for the children and the whole family.

Plus, financial aid is an annual request so maybe 2 years from now this family will be back on its feet.

[Anonymous]

Wow OP, I hope for your kids sake your spouse never figures out how nasty you are and divorces you

[Anonymous]

I am teaching my children to live up to their mistakes, be self-supportive, etc.. etc...

[Anonymous]

It's about the student stupid not the spouse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No problem with divorce parents applying for aid. They are just like anyone else applying for aid. If you take a family's income and now divide it in 1/2 (rough equivalent of supporting 2 families) they may qualify for aid. Who deserves aid? A single 22 year old mom with a 5 yr old? A 30 something single mom with a 5 yr old? A 40 something single mom with a 10 year old? A two family household with a stay at home spouse. A two family household with both parents working. A divorced family? You can have them all making 40k, 60k, 80k? By the calculation they all probably would get it. I get more upset with the families making 200k, living in a 600k+ home and driving around in luxury SUVs.

You said it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am teaching my children to live up to their mistakes, be self-supportive, etc.. etc...

Whaaa? So you and your spouse decide to divorce, your family is in major upheaval, your children are traumatized, and then you yank them from their school and friends to prove how self-sufficient you are? Makes no sense. Most privates are much more than schools, they are communities, and most are willing to step in and help families who are going through a rough patch. These are your CHILDREN, and personally I would do whatever it took to maintain some normalcy and stability in their lives, even if it meant asking for FA.

What an ugly post OP.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Well I guess I'm wrong. I was just completely scandalized by this revelation. I mean, someone has an affair then goes and asks for FA? I thought my money was going to needy, disadvantaged children. Whatever. I just wanted DCUM opinions but mine is that these parents are selfish and didn't factor in the ramifications of their actions on the children in the first place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No problem with divorce parents applying for aid. They are just like anyone else applying for aid. If you take a family's income and now divide it in 1/2 (rough equivalent of supporting 2 families) they may qualify for aid. Who deserves aid? A single 22 year old mom with a 5 yr old? A 30 something single mom with a 5 yr old? A 40 something single mom with a 10 year old? A two family household with a stay at home spouse. A two family household with both parents working. A divorced family? You can have them all making 40k, 60k, 80k? By the calculation they all probably would get it. I get more upset with the families making 200k, living in a 600k+ home and driving around in luxury SUVs.

This is why I hate the anti FA rants. No one has all the information about another persons finances or life. The schools pore over families tax returns, w-2 and other documents. Let's let the schools determine who qualifies because they have the info and can be more objective. They don't let hang-ups about divorce, age of parents, whatever, influence their decisions.