Would you apply to a school that you know you can't afford?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a high school nearby us that is a GREAT fit for DS and pretty confident that he can get in and will be a strong candidate. But tuition is $57K and we are probably a donut family. $275K in HHI. While we feel we can afford up to $30K for tuition, we really don't think $57K is at all doable for four years of high school. (Not without raiding the college fund or stopping retirement savings both of which seems like a bad direction to move into).

Would it be worth going through the admissions process just to see if we can get financial aid? But what if DS becomes very attached to the school and then we do not get financial aid?

DS is currently in 8th at a K-8 so we are looking at a variety of options.

OP, yes, go for it, but just be aware that if you spend $30k yearly on private instead of saving for college, you will likely have to send kiddo to state school or hunt for merit (or both) because colleges do not factor cost of living into their financial aid formulas. You will not get financial aid (aside from a $5500 student loan or parent plus loans) for college. It was a rude awakening for us, though we do not regret private school for a minute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a high school nearby us that is a GREAT fit for DS and pretty confident that he can get in and will be a strong candidate. But tuition is $57K and we are probably a donut family. $275K in HHI. While we feel we can afford up to $30K for tuition, we really don't think $57K is at all doable for four years of high school. (Not without raiding the college fund or stopping retirement savings both of which seems like a bad direction to move into).

Would it be worth going through the admissions process just to see if we can get financial aid? But what if DS becomes very attached to the school and then we do not get financial aid?

DS is currently in 8th at a K-8 so we are looking at a variety of options.

You can afford it on $275k HHI, you just don't want to rearrange spending to account for $57k a year in tuition. You admit you *can* do it if you slow your retirement savings or raid college savings... neither of which you sound willing to do. Just because you don't want to do those things doesn't mean you should qualify to get money that full-pay families donate for true FA families.

Now, of course you could apply and submit the FA forms but be prepared to be denied aid if you get in. The crossroads being when your DC is upset that they can't go to this great school they worked so hard to get into that you talked up as the perfect fit (tours, shadow days, interviews, essays, placement tests).

OR you make the choice to not save in other areas and fund it.

OR you apply only to privates you can afford.

No one here would qualify for FA with that HHI (not in DC, another large major metro with expensive private schools).

There is a very good chance OP will get decent aid despite you thinking it improper

+1. The PP is just peddling nonsense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a high school nearby us that is a GREAT fit for DS and pretty confident that he can get in and will be a strong candidate. But tuition is $57K and we are probably a donut family. $275K in HHI. While we feel we can afford up to $30K for tuition, we really don't think $57K is at all doable for four years of high school. (Not without raiding the college fund or stopping retirement savings both of which seems like a bad direction to move into).

Would it be worth going through the admissions process just to see if we can get financial aid? But what if DS becomes very attached to the school and then we do not get financial aid?

DS is currently in 8th at a K-8 so we are looking at a variety of options.

You can afford it on $275k HHI, you just don't want to rearrange spending to account for $57k a year in tuition. You admit you *can* do it if you slow your retirement savings or raid college savings... neither of which you sound willing to do. Just because you don't want to do those things doesn't mean you should qualify to get money that full-pay families donate for true FA families.

Now, of course you could apply and submit the FA forms but be prepared to be denied aid if you get in. The crossroads being when your DC is upset that they can't go to this great school they worked so hard to get into that you talked up as the perfect fit (tours, shadow days, interviews, essays, placement tests).

OR you make the choice to not save in other areas and fund it.

OR you apply only to privates you can afford.

No one here would qualify for FA with that HHI (not in DC, another large major metro with expensive private schools).

There is a very good chance OP will get decent aid despite you thinking it improper

+1. The PP is just peddling nonsense.

I would love OP to come back here in March and let us know if
1. their DC got in
2. they were offered aid
3. even if they were, was it enough to make a huge difference in them being able to accept admission (believe they said they could afford a $30k school so they're looking for $20-$30k in FA annually for a $57k a year school).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a high school nearby us that is a GREAT fit for DS and pretty confident that he can get in and will be a strong candidate. But tuition is $57K and we are probably a donut family. $275K in HHI. While we feel we can afford up to $30K for tuition, we really don't think $57K is at all doable for four years of high school. (Not without raiding the college fund or stopping retirement savings both of which seems like a bad direction to move into).

Would it be worth going through the admissions process just to see if we can get financial aid? But what if DS becomes very attached to the school and then we do not get financial aid?

DS is currently in 8th at a K-8 so we are looking at a variety of options.

You can afford it on $275k HHI, you just don't want to rearrange spending to account for $57k a year in tuition. You admit you *can* do it if you slow your retirement savings or raid college savings... neither of which you sound willing to do. Just because you don't want to do those things doesn't mean you should qualify to get money that full-pay families donate for true FA families.

Now, of course you could apply and submit the FA forms but be prepared to be denied aid if you get in. The crossroads being when your DC is upset that they can't go to this great school they worked so hard to get into that you talked up as the perfect fit (tours, shadow days, interviews, essays, placement tests).

OR you make the choice to not save in other areas and fund it.

OR you apply only to privates you can afford.

No one here would qualify for FA with that HHI (not in DC, another large major metro with expensive private schools).

This is false. Others, do your own research and apply

[Anonymous]

Based on your situation OP, I would probably not apply unless I had the kid who would completely understand getting into a school but not being allowed to go. And, the price is going to be higher than the sticker price because unlike public school, there are a lot of extras to consider like buying uniforms.

[Anonymous]

If you can afford the time and effort it takes to do the application process, and your kid understands that you might not be able to afford it even if they love it, then I think you should go for it. You might get lucky with aid.

[Anonymous]

OP - I say go for it as long as you are very clear with your child that it may not work out. I think it is also important to remember (for you and child) that there are great opportunities everywhere and that it's easy to idolize a school from the outside and no school is perfect. These are helpful to remember if it doesn't work out and so your child can focus on the school they will attend.