S/o: The shrinking middle class at top schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is exactly what I have been saying.

Hard working tax paying middle class should be rewarded not punished for the society and country to be healthy.

Implying that low-income families aren’t hardworking or taxpaying.

I didn't say that, but middle class is surely getting punished.

Real middle class are getting financial aid. You mean wealthy DCUM middle class who live in million dollar homes and choose not to save and yet demand their kids go to the most expensive schools. The rest of us, who are real middle class live within our means, or under our means to save for state school.

I think my family is real middle class. 4 kids, $110k combined income. DD got $0 in financial aid.

We have $300K combined income. 3 kids. two of them are twins.
We got substantial discount for having multiple kids in colleges at the same time.
(doesn't need to be the same college)
I think it's called sibling discount. Public schools don't offer this.
See if you can take advantage of this.

FAFSA was 'reformed' to remove that discount

That's why I said ' Public schools don't offer', however most private schools with CSS still do.
So my kids were able to say no thank you to UVA VT and go to OOS Privates.
One kid probably needs to full pay for the last year though.

So if you're a family that can afford in state, but can't afford private school tuition, the solution is worthless. If you can stretch enough, then the solution is to send kid 1 to public school as a freshman, have kid 1 transfer to private and tell kid 2 to apply only to private, and then make kid 2 transfer 2 public after kid 1 graduates?

If you have two kids back to back, another solution would be have the fist kid take a gap year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is exactly what I have been saying.

Hard working tax paying middle class should be rewarded not punished for the society and country to be healthy.

Implying that low-income families aren’t hardworking or taxpaying.

I didn't say that, but middle class is surely getting punished.

Real middle class are getting financial aid. You mean wealthy DCUM middle class who live in million dollar homes and choose not to save and yet demand their kids go to the most expensive schools. The rest of us, who are real middle class live within our means, or under our means to save for state school.

I think my family is real middle class. 4 kids, $110k combined income. DD got $0 in financial aid.

We have $300K combined income. 3 kids. two of them are twins.
We got substantial discount for having multiple kids in colleges at the same time.
(doesn't need to be the same college)
I think it's called sibling discount. Public schools don't offer this.
See if you can take advantage of this.

FAFSA was 'reformed' to remove that discount

That's why I said ' Public schools don't offer', however most private schools with CSS still do.
So my kids were able to say no thank you to UVA VT and go to OOS Privates.
One kid probably needs to full pay for the last year though.

So if you're a family that can afford in state, but can't afford private school tuition, the solution is worthless. If you can stretch enough, then the solution is to send kid 1 to public school as a freshman, have kid 1 transfer to private and tell kid 2 to apply only to private, and then make kid 2 transfer 2 public after kid 1 graduates?

If you have two kids back to back, another solution would be have the fist kid take a gap year.

Avoid gap years if you want to save money. Tuition goes up 4% each year and that will be a year of missed earnings. Unless your kid plans to proceed to graduate in 3 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is exactly what I have been saying.

Hard working tax paying middle class should be rewarded not punished for the society and country to be healthy.

Implying that low-income families aren’t hardworking or taxpaying.

Or that admission to elite colleges is a reward for same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is exactly what I have been saying.

Hard working tax paying middle class should be rewarded not punished for the society and country to be healthy.

Implying that low-income families aren’t hardworking or taxpaying.

I didn't say that, but middle class is surely getting punished.

Real middle class are getting financial aid. You mean wealthy DCUM middle class who live in million dollar homes and choose not to save and yet demand their kids go to the most expensive schools. The rest of us, who are real middle class live within our means, or under our means to save for state school.

I think my family is real middle class. 4 kids, $110k combined income. DD got $0 in financial aid.

That is middle class but having 4 kids is a choice. Most of us stop at 2 so we can afford our kids needs.

I bet you're fun at a party.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is exactly what I have been saying.

Hard working tax paying middle class should be rewarded not punished for the society and country to be healthy.

Implying that low-income families aren’t hardworking or taxpaying.

I didn't say that, but middle class is surely getting punished.

Real middle class are getting financial aid. You mean wealthy DCUM middle class who live in million dollar homes and choose not to save and yet demand their kids go to the most expensive schools. The rest of us, who are real middle class live within our means, or under our means to save for state school.

I think my family is real middle class. 4 kids, $110k combined income. DD got $0 in financial aid.

At a need blind college? What school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is exactly what I have been saying.

Hard working tax paying middle class should be rewarded not punished for the society and country to be healthy.

Implying that low-income families aren’t hardworking or taxpaying.

I didn't say that, but middle class is surely getting punished.

Real middle class are getting financial aid. You mean wealthy DCUM middle class who live in million dollar homes and choose not to save and yet demand their kids go to the most expensive schools. The rest of us, who are real middle class live within our means, or under our means to save for state school.

I think my family is real middle class. 4 kids, $110k combined income. DD got $0 in financial aid.

We have $300K combined income. 3 kids. two of them are twins.
We got substantial discount for having multiple kids in colleges at the same time.
(doesn't need to be the same college)
I think it's called sibling discount. Public schools don't offer this.
See if you can take advantage of this.

FAFSA was 'reformed' to remove that discount

I am not sure this is correct. I thought the aid calculator does factor in more than one college tuition paid in the same year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is exactly what I have been saying.

Hard working tax paying middle class should be rewarded not punished for the society and country to be healthy.

Implying that low-income families aren’t hardworking or taxpaying.

I didn't say that, but middle class is surely getting punished.

Real middle class are getting financial aid. You mean wealthy DCUM middle class who live in million dollar homes and choose not to save and yet demand their kids go to the most expensive schools. The rest of us, who are real middle class live within our means, or under our means to save for state school.

I think my family is real middle class. 4 kids, $110k combined income. DD got $0 in financial aid.

We have $300K combined income. 3 kids. two of them are twins.
We got substantial discount for having multiple kids in colleges at the same time.
(doesn't need to be the same college)
I think it's called sibling discount. Public schools don't offer this.
See if you can take advantage of this.

FAFSA was 'reformed' to remove that discount

I am not sure this is correct. I thought the aid calculator does factor in more than one college tuition paid in the same year.

"Starting with the 2024–2025 academic year, the discount currently available under the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to families with multiple enrolled children disappears, a byproduct of new legislation that seeks to simplify the form that determines financial aid eligibility.

Per the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, parents and students will use the new FAFSA form beginning in October 2023. The simplified FAFSA was originally scheduled to roll out beginning with the 2024–2025 academic year, but was delayed one year by the Department of Education."
https://blog.massmutual.com/post/college-fafsa-changes-siblings

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is exactly what I have been saying.

Hard working tax paying middle class should be rewarded not punished for the society and country to be healthy.

Implying that low-income families aren’t hardworking or taxpaying.

I didn't say that, but middle class is surely getting punished.

Real middle class are getting financial aid. You mean wealthy DCUM middle class who live in million dollar homes and choose not to save and yet demand their kids go to the most expensive schools. The rest of us, who are real middle class live within our means, or under our means to save for state school.

I think my family is real middle class. 4 kids, $110k combined income. DD got $0 in financial aid.

We have $300K combined income. 3 kids. two of them are twins.
We got substantial discount for having multiple kids in colleges at the same time.
(doesn't need to be the same college)
I think it's called sibling discount. Public schools don't offer this.
See if you can take advantage of this.

FAFSA was 'reformed' to remove that discount

I am not sure this is correct. I thought the aid calculator does factor in more than one college tuition paid in the same year.

"Starting with the 2024–2025 academic year, the discount currently available under the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to families with multiple enrolled children disappears, a byproduct of new legislation that seeks to simplify the form that determines financial aid eligibility.

Per the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, parents and students will use the new FAFSA form beginning in October 2023. The simplified FAFSA was originally scheduled to roll out beginning with the 2024–2025 academic year, but was delayed one year by the Department of Education."
https://blog.massmutual.com/post/college-fafsa-changes-siblings

Thank former Senator Lamar Alexander, Republican of Tennessee. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/29/your-money/fafsa-changes-college-aid.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is exactly what I have been saying.

Hard working tax paying middle class should be rewarded not punished for the society and country to be healthy.

Implying that low-income families aren’t hardworking or taxpaying.

I didn't say that, but middle class is surely getting punished.

Real middle class are getting financial aid. You mean wealthy DCUM middle class who live in million dollar homes and choose not to save and yet demand their kids go to the most expensive schools. The rest of us, who are real middle class live within our means, or under our means to save for state school.

I think my family is real middle class. 4 kids, $110k combined income. DD got $0 in financial aid.

We have $300K combined income. 3 kids. two of them are twins.
We got substantial discount for having multiple kids in colleges at the same time.
(doesn't need to be the same college)
I think it's called sibling discount. Public schools don't offer this.
See if you can take advantage of this.

FAFSA was 'reformed' to remove that discount

I am not sure this is correct. I thought the aid calculator does factor in more than one college tuition paid in the same year.

"Starting with the 2024–2025 academic year, the discount currently available under the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to families with multiple enrolled children disappears, a byproduct of new legislation that seeks to simplify the form that determines financial aid eligibility.

Per the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, parents and students will use the new FAFSA form beginning in October 2023. The simplified FAFSA was originally scheduled to roll out beginning with the 2024–2025 academic year, but was delayed one year by the Department of Education."
https://blog.massmutual.com/post/college-fafsa-changes-siblings

Ok. Starts in October 2023.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is exactly what I have been saying.

Hard working tax paying middle class should be rewarded not punished for the society and country to be healthy.

Implying that low-income families aren’t hardworking or taxpaying.

I didn't say that, but middle class is surely getting punished.

Real middle class are getting financial aid. You mean wealthy DCUM middle class who live in million dollar homes and choose not to save and yet demand their kids go to the most expensive schools. The rest of us, who are real middle class live within our means, or under our means to save for state school.

I think my family is real middle class. 4 kids, $110k combined income. DD got $0 in financial aid.

We have $300K combined income. 3 kids. two of them are twins.
We got substantial discount for having multiple kids in colleges at the same time.
(doesn't need to be the same college)
I think it's called sibling discount. Public schools don't offer this.
See if you can take advantage of this.

FAFSA was 'reformed' to remove that discount

I am not sure this is correct. I thought the aid calculator does factor in more than one college tuition paid in the same year.

"Starting with the 2024–2025 academic year, the discount currently available under the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to families with multiple enrolled children disappears, a byproduct of new legislation that seeks to simplify the form that determines financial aid eligibility.

Per the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, parents and students will use the new FAFSA form beginning in October 2023. The simplified FAFSA was originally scheduled to roll out beginning with the 2024–2025 academic year, but was delayed one year by the Department of Education."
https://blog.massmutual.com/post/college-fafsa-changes-siblings

Ok. Starts in October 2023.

Last year and the year before we got zero discount from the publics - UVA, VT, UF
Got discounts from privates comparable to UVA instate tuition - Notre Dame, USC, Northeastern

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is exactly what I have been saying.

Hard working tax paying middle class should be rewarded not punished for the society and country to be healthy.

Implying that low-income families aren’t hardworking or taxpaying.

I didn't say that, but middle class is surely getting punished.

Real middle class are getting financial aid. You mean wealthy DCUM middle class who live in million dollar homes and choose not to save and yet demand their kids go to the most expensive schools. The rest of us, who are real middle class live within our means, or under our means to save for state school.

I think my family is real middle class. 4 kids, $110k combined income. DD got $0 in financial aid.

We have $300K combined income. 3 kids. two of them are twins.
We got substantial discount for having multiple kids in colleges at the same time.
(doesn't need to be the same college)
I think it's called sibling discount. Public schools don't offer this.
See if you can take advantage of this.

FAFSA was 'reformed' to remove that discount

I am not sure this is correct. I thought the aid calculator does factor in more than one college tuition paid in the same year.

"Starting with the 2024–2025 academic year, the discount currently available under the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to families with multiple enrolled children disappears, a byproduct of new legislation that seeks to simplify the form that determines financial aid eligibility.

Per the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, parents and students will use the new FAFSA form beginning in October 2023. The simplified FAFSA was originally scheduled to roll out beginning with the 2024–2025 academic year, but was delayed one year by the Department of Education."
https://blog.massmutual.com/post/college-fafsa-changes-siblings

Ok. Starts in October 2023.

Last year and the year before we got zero discount from the publics - UVA, VT, UF
Got discounts from privates comparable to UVA instate tuition - Notre Dame, USC, Northeastern

At what income level? What is your expected contribution for each student?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is exactly what I have been saying.

Hard working tax paying middle class should be rewarded not punished for the society and country to be healthy.

Implying that low-income families aren’t hardworking or taxpaying.

I didn't say that, but middle class is surely getting punished.

Real middle class are getting financial aid. You mean wealthy DCUM middle class who live in million dollar homes and choose not to save and yet demand their kids go to the most expensive schools. The rest of us, who are real middle class live within our means, or under our means to save for state school.

I think my family is real middle class. 4 kids, $110k combined income. DD got $0 in financial aid.

We have $300K combined income. 3 kids. two of them are twins.
We got substantial discount for having multiple kids in colleges at the same time.
(doesn't need to be the same college)
I think it's called sibling discount. Public schools don't offer this.
See if you can take advantage of this.

FAFSA was 'reformed' to remove that discount

I am not sure this is correct. I thought the aid calculator does factor in more than one college tuition paid in the same year.

"Starting with the 2024–2025 academic year, the discount currently available under the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to families with multiple enrolled children disappears, a byproduct of new legislation that seeks to simplify the form that determines financial aid eligibility.

Per the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, parents and students will use the new FAFSA form beginning in October 2023. The simplified FAFSA was originally scheduled to roll out beginning with the 2024–2025 academic year, but was delayed one year by the Department of Education."
https://blog.massmutual.com/post/college-fafsa-changes-siblings

Ok. Starts in October 2023.

Last year and the year before we got zero discount from the publics - UVA, VT, UF
Got discounts from privates comparable to UVA instate tuition - Notre Dame, USC, Northeastern

At what income level? What is your expected contribution for each student?

$300K combined.
We obviously got multi-kid discounts from the privaites, but nothing form the publics for the past two years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is exactly what I have been saying.

Hard working tax paying middle class should be rewarded not punished for the society and country to be healthy.

Implying that low-income families aren’t hardworking or taxpaying.

I didn't say that, but middle class is surely getting punished.

Real middle class are getting financial aid. You mean wealthy DCUM middle class who live in million dollar homes and choose not to save and yet demand their kids go to the most expensive schools. The rest of us, who are real middle class live within our means, or under our means to save for state school.

I think my family is real middle class. 4 kids, $110k combined income. DD got $0 in financial aid.

Here is what I don't get about all these threads (assume it is the same OP posting the same thread, now in a 3rd way).

The thread is always about the top schools only, so I gather that is the Top 15 schools? Go to any one of the random schools expected cost calculators and plug in $110k income and it will say you are getting a free ride. Go to any one of these schools and plug in $300k and it will say you are getting anywhere from $15k - $30k in annual aid (even with $100k in savings and $100k in 529 and house equity).

Are the expected cost calculators lying? I mean what gives...what is the gripe really about?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is exactly what I have been saying.

Hard working tax paying middle class should be rewarded not punished for the society and country to be healthy.

Implying that low-income families aren’t hardworking or taxpaying.

I didn't say that, but middle class is surely getting punished.

Real middle class are getting financial aid. You mean wealthy DCUM middle class who live in million dollar homes and choose not to save and yet demand their kids go to the most expensive schools. The rest of us, who are real middle class live within our means, or under our means to save for state school.

I think my family is real middle class. 4 kids, $110k combined income. DD got $0 in financial aid.

We have $300K combined income. 3 kids. two of them are twins.
We got substantial discount for having multiple kids in colleges at the same time.
(doesn't need to be the same college)
I think it's called sibling discount. Public schools don't offer this.
See if you can take advantage of this.

FAFSA was 'reformed' to remove that discount

I am not sure this is correct. I thought the aid calculator does factor in more than one college tuition paid in the same year.

"Starting with the 2024–2025 academic year, the discount currently available under the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to families with multiple enrolled children disappears, a byproduct of new legislation that seeks to simplify the form that determines financial aid eligibility.

Per the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, parents and students will use the new FAFSA form beginning in October 2023. The simplified FAFSA was originally scheduled to roll out beginning with the 2024–2025 academic year, but was delayed one year by the Department of Education."
https://blog.massmutual.com/post/college-fafsa-changes-siblings

Ok. Starts in October 2023.

Last year and the year before we got zero discount from the publics - UVA, VT, UF
Got discounts from privates comparable to UVA instate tuition - Notre Dame, USC, Northeastern

At what income level? What is your expected contribution for each student?

$300K combined.
We obviously got multi-kid discounts from the privaites, but nothing form the publics for the past two years.

What are they expecting you to contribute per student?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is exactly what I have been saying.

Hard working tax paying middle class should be rewarded not punished for the society and country to be healthy.

Implying that low-income families aren’t hardworking or taxpaying.

I didn't say that, but middle class is surely getting punished.

Real middle class are getting financial aid. You mean wealthy DCUM middle class who live in million dollar homes and choose not to save and yet demand their kids go to the most expensive schools. The rest of us, who are real middle class live within our means, or under our means to save for state school.

I think my family is real middle class. 4 kids, $110k combined income. DD got $0 in financial aid.

Here is what I don't get about all these threads (assume it is the same OP posting the same thread, now in a 3rd way).

The thread is always about the top schools only, so I gather that is the Top 15 schools? Go to any one of the random schools expected cost calculators and plug in $110k income and it will say you are getting a free ride. Go to any one of these schools and plug in $300k and it will say you are getting anywhere from $15k - $30k in annual aid (even with $100k in savings and $100k in 529 and house equity).

Are the expected cost calculators lying? I mean what gives...what is the gripe really about?

IMO when the actual aid came in below the cost calculator z we were able to successfully appeal it.