cptofthehouse

Sometimes the mom stays at home because the other parent's job is such that a full time anchor is needed. Or the mom is unpaid help in a family business. In some cases, such as around here, even without young kids, a mom not available and with high paying jobs not so easy to find, it can cost mre to work than not. When I was a working mom, I netted very little after paying for child care, transportation, wardrobe and short cuts that having to work cost us. One reason why I quit. The numbers made it so it made no sense. Also, perhaps mom can't find a job. There are families where neither parent works, you know, for a number of reasons. Are they, then entitled to financial aid?

The private catholic schools in our area have no such provision, though their financial aid is not generous in the least; nor does the independent school that I am familiar with. I know some kids who have but one parent and s/he does not work for a number of reasons, and they get need based aid, and are actually sought after in a variety of programs that seek out such kids.

A lot of the volunteer work and fund raising at these schools are done by unemployed parents, and I know some have kids on financial aid. I find it interesting that these are Catholic schools with those provisions.

mom2collegekids

Also, perhaps mom can't find a job. There are families where neither parent works, you know, for a number of reasons. Are they, then entitled to financial aid?


As I said, I was on the school board so I was very familiar with the process. Obviously, if both parents are unemployed and actively looking for work, then they would have qualified.

Same with an unemployed mom. It's not hard to tell the difference between a mom who isn't' able to find a job and one who really hasn't been looking for one. The schools themselves often hired moms who needed extra money to pay for tuition...lunch room, sub teachers, office help, etc.

As a mom who spent a gazillion hours volunteering at my kids' Catholic schools, I'm well-aware that many moms help keep the school going by doing so. However, we didn't view that as the same as having a job. I can't equate moms meeting to arrange the Annual Gala followed by lunch at the local Mexican restaurant as the same as moms who are working all day at a job. the former group doesn't qualify for aid in my mind, nor did it qualify for aid in the minds of the rest of the board.

You've described a child-care issue and cost. If that means for young kids who need care from 7am - 6pm, then that's a YOUNG child. That's a different situation. There was no expectation that little kids be put into full time day care. However, when all the kids are in school from 8-3, then it's not outrageous to think that the mom can work part-time at the mall or wherever and bring in $10k or so per year.

Pea

How much of a boost early decision gives you in admissions depends on the school, I don't know how much of a difference it makes at UPenn. You should be able to figure it out from the publicly available statistics on their website or through another college admissions website. I don't think you are correct that people in the early decision applicant pool are more qualified that those in the regular applicant pool.

You will receive no need-based financial aid from UPenn or any other school. You just won't. You can phrase the question any way you want but with your dad's income you aren't getting any.

You will be eligible for merit aid. If you have the stats to get accepted to UPenn you might be able to get merit aid from one of the many fine schools that offers it.

marymac

Kiplingers has a link of top 50 colleges, universities, public and private.
This link also has a column for merit aid.

If you can't afford 55,000+ / annum, you need to apply instate or apply to schools where you have a good shot a merit aid.

ED is a bad choice for financial or merit aid. It is much better to be able to decide based on a choice of colleges and prices.

ED statistics are skewed, because recruited athletes apply ED to the Ivies.

Some of the schools which are known for merit aid are:
CWRU (which also has undergraduate business)
U. Rochester
Northeastern

There are a slew of other schools. I'm only familiar with a subset of colleges.

MaryOC

Single income family of 6 here...with 2 in private college next year. I am home with two MS aged sibs, and our family income is in the 28% tax bracket.

One school meets demonstrated need and gave kiddo #1 need-based institutional grants that amount to just shy of 25% of COA. We're still paying a boatload of tuition... but families in the $250K and up income range can qualify for *some* need-based aid if their family size & personal circumstances fit the bill for the right aid policy.