How much do you make and how much FA do you receive?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have attempted to receive FA on numerous occasions and have been unsuccessful.

Does anyone have any tips or advice as to how to get even a little bit of aid??

Are you applying to schools with deep pockets? Are you applying to schools who have a comittment to offering FA? Many schools don't have the funds, and then there are some who truly don't believe in giving out FA. Also, what are debts? Are they mostly personal living style debts and not unusual circumstances? You won't get FA for high debt related to lifestyle choices but you may get FA for debt related to high medical bills, owed taxes, etc. Did you provide a supplemental statement explaining your financial circumstances? Like anything else, applying for FA isn't just a black and white numbers game. There is an art to it.

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Folks, it's not nearly as hard as you think it is to get FA.

Get up off the couch and apply.

It is hard if you need too much.

Only those with a net worth of upwards of 10 - 15 million pay full tuition.

Is this for real?! We make 6 figures, 2 kids in private and scrimp to be able to make it all work. WTH?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Folks, it's not nearly as hard as you think it is to get FA.

Get up off the couch and apply.

It is hard if you need too much.

Only those with a net worth of upwards of 10 - 15 million pay full tuition.

Is this for real?! We make 6 figures, 2 kids in private and scrimp to be able to make it all work. WTH?!

Focus is on household income. If annual HHI exceeds @$325K, you generally won't be eligible for need-based aid. Merit-based aid though may still be available.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^people are embarrassed? Really?

I would not have thought to apply simply because I thought FA was intended to help families who don't make a lot of money. (Not DCUM version of low HHI).

What exactly is your definition of "not a lot of money?" Perhaps your belief that you make a lot of money is a tad over inflated.

No. I honestly (and naively it seems) thought it was for families who qualify for free lunch or other assistance to live. This thread is helpful as I assumed private schools were out of our reach, it sounds like that might not be the case. I appreciate the examples posters are providing, it is very helpful!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^people are embarrassed? Really?

I would not have thought to apply simply because I thought FA was intended to help families who don't make a lot of money. (Not DCUM version of low HHI).

What exactly is your definition of "not a lot of money?" Perhaps your belief that you make a lot of money is a tad over inflated.

No. I honestly (and naively it seems) thought it was for families who qualify for free lunch or other assistance to live. This thread is helpful as I assumed private schools were out of our reach, it sounds like that might not be the case. I appreciate the examples posters are providing, it is very helpful!!

I am a step above those families you describe and I got nada. I needed appr. 75% FA and I guess the schools just didn't have it to give me for 13 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^people are embarrassed? Really?

I would not have thought to apply simply because I thought FA was intended to help families who don't make a lot of money. (Not DCUM version of low HHI).

What exactly is your definition of "not a lot of money?" Perhaps your belief that you make a lot of money is a tad over inflated.

No. I honestly (and naively it seems) thought it was for families who qualify for free lunch or other assistance to live. This thread is helpful as I assumed private schools were out of our reach, it sounds like that might not be the case. I appreciate the examples posters are providing, it is very helpful!!

I am a step above those families you describe and I got nada. I needed appr. 75% FA and I guess the schools just didn't have it to give me for 13 years.

Was the school known for having FA? I am surprised you did not receive anything, especially with other commenting they are receiving aid making over $250k. Ugh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^people are embarrassed? Really?

I would not have thought to apply simply because I thought FA was intended to help families who don't make a lot of money. (Not DCUM version of low HHI).

What exactly is your definition of "not a lot of money?" Perhaps your belief that you make a lot of money is a tad over inflated.

No. I honestly (and naively it seems) thought it was for families who qualify for free lunch or other assistance to live. This thread is helpful as I assumed private schools were out of our reach, it sounds like that might not be the case. I appreciate the examples posters are providing, it is very helpful!!

I am a step above those families you describe and I got nada. I needed appr. 75% FA and I guess the schools just didn't have it to give me for 13 years.

I heard our school never gave any kids more than half tuition. Typically smaller amount.

[Anonymous]

More hard numbers people. No rumors. I need facts from the black box of the FA office.

[Anonymous]

Well, this helps me feel better about not donating to my big 3 (graduated mid 90s). Funding families who make more than I do? No thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^people are embarrassed? Really?

I would not have thought to apply simply because I thought FA was intended to help families who don't make a lot of money. (Not DCUM version of low HHI).

What exactly is your definition of "not a lot of money?" Perhaps your belief that you make a lot of money is a tad over inflated.

No. I honestly (and naively it seems) thought it was for families who qualify for free lunch or other assistance to live. This thread is helpful as I assumed private schools were out of our reach, it sounds like that might not be the case. I appreciate the examples posters are providing, it is very helpful!!

I am a step above those families you describe and I got nada. I needed appr. 75% FA and I guess the schools just didn't have it to give me for 13 years.

Was the school known for having FA? I am surprised you did not receive anything, especially with other commenting they are receiving aid making over $250k. Ugh.

This school had the largest endowment of any private school where we live. I can sort of understand where they are coming from. A 4 year old is an unknown. 13 years of 75% tuition is a lot. That is why we have applied again for MS. At least she has a good track record behind her now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, this helps me feel better about not donating to my big 3 (graduated mid 90s). Funding families who make more than I do? No thanks!

Do you plan to send your kids there? Grandkids? If not, then you are just fine.

[Anonymous]

So if we make a total hhi of $130. What can we expect (for lower elementary)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^people are embarrassed? Really?

I would not have thought to apply simply because I thought FA was intended to help families who don't make a lot of money. (Not DCUM version of low HHI).

What exactly is your definition of "not a lot of money?" Perhaps your belief that you make a lot of money is a tad over inflated.

No. I honestly (and naively it seems) thought it was for families who qualify for free lunch or other assistance to live. This thread is helpful as I assumed private schools were out of our reach, it sounds like that might not be the case. I appreciate the examples posters are providing, it is very helpful!!

Oh. I thought you were being sarcastic. Hard to tell on these boards. Yes, there a lot of people with the moral convictions of scraping buy to pay full freight when they may not have to. FA for private schools is very different than say FA for college. I would imagine the number of people who qualify for free lunch or other assistance don't make up a large pool of the private school applications. I could be wrong, but for my observation from touring schools and attending open houses I didn't see too many people who fit into that category (of course judging someone's finances by their clothes, shoes, expensive bags, jewelry, etc. may not be an accurate way to do it.) However, when I attended a financial aid seminar at Sidwell I would say a majority of the people in the room asking questions and getting information where professionals including a college professor (I only knew his professor because I overheard someone say "Hi Professor" to him).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^people are embarrassed? Really?

I would not have thought to apply simply because I thought FA was intended to help families who don't make a lot of money. (Not DCUM version of low HHI).

What exactly is your definition of "not a lot of money?" Perhaps your belief that you make a lot of money is a tad over inflated.

No. I honestly (and naively it seems) thought it was for families who qualify for free lunch or other assistance to live. This thread is helpful as I assumed private schools were out of our reach, it sounds like that might not be the case. I appreciate the examples posters are providing, it is very helpful!!

I am a step above those families you describe and I got nada. I needed appr. 75% FA and I guess the schools just didn't have it to give me for 13 years.

Yeah I would be surprised if you are taking about one of the Big 3 or big endowment schools.

Was the school known for having FA? I am surprised you did not receive anything, especially with other commenting they are receiving aid making over $250k. Ugh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:More hard numbers people. No rumors. I need facts from the black box of the FA office.

Who won't get hard numbers. They only release percentages and ranges.