Grifter. There's a difference. |
What? I'm the least resentful of all. Yes I am on FA and extremely grateful to those who donate. Heck, even I donate what I can. However, what I will not be is beholden to anyone. If you are donating, it should be because you want to and not out of insincere obligation. Donating should be like tithing -- you should be a cheerful giver. If you aren't cheerful about it, then why bother? Yes, your dollar will spend but at what cost? Having to read or listen to your behind the screen rants? Who has time for that or should even have to endure it? |
A grifter? Really? LOL. Do tell how so. |
This may be a valid point. But I think the same can be true for any family. Financial circumstances change and what was adorable this year might not be affordable next year. We are on FA and if one of us lose our job we would have to consider moving to public or a cheaper private school. But that doesn't mean I'm going to live my life in fear of the unknown either. So yes, we are taking it year by year and are hopeful that it will all work out. I think schools should be a bit more upfront with families they provide substantial aid to. No one really talks to you about all the "other" cost. If you aren't familiar with the private school world that can be a shocker. I knew there would be additional cost and so we saved separately to cover them (camps, enrichments, etc.). However, I'm sure most people don't factor those thing into and a year down the road find they are barely able to tread water and their DC isn't getting the full experience. |
| *Affordable, not adorable. Ha! |
People give for all sorts of reasons, obligation being a huge one. Creating that feeling of obligation is one of the primary roles of a development office, and it often is pretty transparent. |
| At the top schools with the larger FA budgets FA recipients do not normally leave the school for financial reasons in high school. People do leave because they move or for academic reasons, but FA recipients are as stable as anyone else. If a family( FA or full pay) has a severe financial setback that they could not have avoided, the FA office will work with them to try and cover it. Its ridiculous to blame FA for "turnover" at school. I am tired of people blaming poor people for everything. |
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Curious about your comment on enrichment. Do FA recipients get covered for things like service trips, educational trips, sports fees, lunches, etc? I know my DC (an athlete) can easily spend $200/mo in the cafeteria, and that's probably a low estimate. Add in a $4K Europe trip and a $1K service trip - it's probably an extra $5 - $6K you can spend at the school to get everything you might want out of it. |
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| COLDEST* not closest. |
Depends on the school from what I understand. My DC's school does provide a discount for the extras to families receiving FA. However, even with the discount some on FA are still priced out. I can think of one specific example where this has occurred -- after school enrichments. If the enrichment class is $2200 for the year and you get a 50% discount, $1100 that was not factored into the overall budget may still be cost prohibitive for some. I think when schools list their tuition and fees on their website, it would also be helpful to everyone (even full pay) if they also listed an estimate for extracurricular costs. I think this allows everyone to make a true informed decision. |
+1. Sent our DC on a service trip, solicitation for funds for such trips arrived 30 days later. Straight line. |
My children on FA don't participate in enrichment classes. It is too expensive and our school does not give a discount. |
| Everyone knows who the FA families are so just own it |