5 Kids in Private School - Page 2

Pete0six · 11-22-2007, 10:24 AM

Thanks for the replies. We know we are very fortunate to have the option of private schools. We just wanted to find out if we should even put this down as an expense when applying or if they would laugh in our face. Good luck to all!

cptofthehouse · 11-23-2007, 04:37 PM

It depends on the college, Pete. As the others have said, FAFSA does not take it into consideration so you will not get more in government aid for this. But there are private schools who do take it into consideration. I know that many Catholic colleges will take it into consideration if sibling are in Catholic schools. It really is an individual consideration that varies from school to school, and whether all or part of the amount expended is considered. I remember one school that did take into consideration the money expended for music lessons and activities for siblings. I thought that was reasonable as the child applying was going as a performance major. But this is not across the board for all colleges. If there is no place to put the expense, do write it in as something additional to be considered.

swimcatsmom · 11-23-2007, 05:13 PM

Quote:

As the others have said, FAFSA does not take it into consideration so you will not get more in government aid for this.

they could. Elementary school tuition is specifically mentioned as one of the reasons a special circumstances adjustment can be made to FAFSA by a financial aid officer.

Quote:

The Higher Education Act identifies eight specific examples of special circumstances. These examples are intended to illustrate the types of circumstances that merit professional judgment adjustments and were added during the 1998 reauthorization of the act. Financial aid administrators are not limited to these circumstances, nor are they required to use professional judgment in these circumstances, and should review each family's situation on a case by case basis.

The specific examples listed in the Higher Education Act include:

tuition expenses at an elementary or secondary school
medical or dental expenses not covered by insurance
unusually high child care costs
recent unemployment of a family member
the number of parents enrolled at least half-time in a degree, certificate, or other program leading to a recognized educational credential at a Title IV institution of higher education
proceeds of a sale of farm or business assets if the sale resulted from a voluntary or involuntary foreclosure, forfeiture, or bankruptcy or an involuntary liquidation
additional costs incurred as a result of a student?s disability.
or other changes in a family?s income, a family?s assets, or a student?s status

cptofthehouse · 11-23-2007, 10:17 PM

That's interesting, Swimcatsmom. I had heard that colleges can change FAFSA numbers, thereby changing the EFC, but I did not know that they could do it for private school tuition. Does it change the EFC for the student just for the college that makes the change, or for all of the schools on the student's list?

I would send a letter to the financial aid office of each college under consideration bringing up any of those factors listed above that pertain, so that the FAFSA EFC will be lowered and eligibility for more loans results. Also, some schools have SEOUGH (?) funds that they can dispense at their discretion. Though they are supposed to go to those who are the neediest, there is a lot of discretion used in dispensing this money.

It all comes down to how much a school wants the student. Financial aid officers have a great deal of leeway in awarding aid packages. THe better the student looks to a college, the sweeter the deal, is the way it usually works. In our situation, we are not applying to reach schools because we want merit money, and our son is far more likely to get something if he is in the upper echelons of the school in terms of test scores and any other achievement. This works through preferential packing for financial aid. You want the need met with grants as much as possible, rather than loans or job.