Financial Aid

fireflyscout · 05-15-2009, 07:26 AM

Have just received financial aid statement for D's final year at Carleton. All is good. I have been very satisfied with each year's financial aid package - the FA office is very fair.

al59ksa · 05-16-2009, 07:16 AM

Congratulations!

Hindoo · 05-16-2009, 11:29 AM

Our financial aid package was awful! Our EFC had dropped by $10,000 this past year due to loss of assets in the economic downturn, but Carleton's financial aid offer was exactly the same as for 2008-2009. While our other daughter's school, Wooster, increased our aid to reflect the change in our circumstances, not so, Carleton. We're huge Carleton fans, but this really knocked the wind right out of us. Of course, we've appealed--but at this point, if something doesn't change, our daughter may end up having to transfer elsewhere for her junior and senior years. Which will break her heart ... and ours.

Pea · 05-16-2009, 06:46 PM

Hindoo -- I'm really sorry to hear your story. It is still really hard for a middle class family to afford the private schools. For us, our EFC was shockingly huge, and that seems to be the same story for other families that we know.

Hindoo · 05-16-2009, 07:37 PM

Thanks, Pea. Our EFC also seemed shockingly huge to us as well, though it dropped by a full $10,000 for the upcoming school year due to our financial circumstances. It's odd that Carleton didn't seem to consider our changed EFC when putting together our daughter's FA package;either that, or it was simply a mistake on their part. Hopefully the latter.

breakfast · 05-16-2009, 08:17 PM

Oh no, Hindoo! That's horrible.

I appealed and got a few thousand extra earlier this year for special circumstances...they were very helpful. I hope it works for you guys too.

fireflyscout · 05-16-2009, 10:28 PM

Hindoo - I'm so sorry. I hope Carleton will adjust your offer on appeal - I don't understand why they didn't increase your aid.

Hindoo · 05-16-2009, 10:34 PM

Thanks, fireflyscout. I didn't understand, either. Our daughter is an outstanding student and extremely involved in Carleton life in very positive ways, so I can't imagine they would want to nudge her out.

As I said, hopefully it was a mistake ... or an oversight. We'll find out soon enough.

limner · 05-17-2009, 07:25 PM

Hindoo, I'm so sorry! That's awful--and very anxiety-provoking. I'll keep all appendages crossed that it's just an oversight.

Hindoo · 05-17-2009, 07:35 PM

Thanks, limner. This could mean the difference between R. attending Carleton next year ... or the University of KY. Please, God, it doesn't come to that!

involved mom · 05-17-2009, 07:54 PM

Hindoo, so sorry to hear of this - we are hoping that this is just an oversight and that you will be getting better news from Carleton soon.

My view on this - I think Carleton (and all other colleges) should be taking care of existing students BEFORE providing financial aid packages to new students - but I don't think that's part of the existing college business model.

We will be hoping for the best for you!