While all schools are required to allow Professional Judgment, they won’t all decide that the request results in additional aid. Because additional children in school is not actually subject to PJ, schools aren’t required to review it, although they are encouraged to do so. If they do, there are guidelines to follow and documentation to collect. In this case, the school knows that there are multiple children in school because the student completed the Profile. I think that the student needs to reach out to the W&M financial aid office to talk about the situation. Please don’t hesitate to do this. I am sure that this is making you sick inside. You will feel much, much better if you just call and talk to an aid officer. They already know your parents’ financials. You should just call!
Exactly. Your financials are already in the hands of the financial aid office at WM. Please call yourself and speak to an aid officer. You can ask:
- Do you consider my three siblings who are also enrolling in college when I do?
- Is there a chance my need based aid will substantially change when the FAFSA is finally processed?
- How close to the final award is the estimated one I received with my ED acceptance?
I have three other siblings entering college next year.
I’m fairly certain my dad would pay the amount, and if not in convinced my grandparents would not let any of us be strangled financially. That being said, I’m not expecting anything from them so I just want to make sure my bases are covered
Seriously, please call them. Their job is to help you. Even if the answer is no, you’ll be better off for having talked with someone in financial aid.
Of course. I get it, it would be highly ideal to not have to go that route, but b/c you committed ED you will likely be ok attending. Definitely follow the advice and call the financial aid office. They are human beings and will understand. You committed ED and would like to keep that commitment so no reason they won’t at least try to help you if it is possible.
Thank you everyone! I feel I have a bit more clarity in my next steps in this process, so tomorrow or Friday I will be calling William and Mary’s by financial office and I will be speaking with them about my offer, even if my dad is not wanting to join the call.
Hopefully they can do something with my offer, but if not it is not worth it to strangle my parents or myself financially, so I will dissolve my early decision agreement on the basis of finances, and we’ll go with a more reasonable offer.
Just make sure b4 you do that dad weighs in.
In the end, parents know the finances. They’re not always willing to share them with the kids!!!
I’m glad you have other options you will be happy with!
This! Your dad may very well be willing and able to pay for WM. Please don’t withdraw without a very serious discussion with your parents.
The fact that you are a quadruplet should be reported in the special circumstances section of the CSS.
Talking to the financial aid office today or tomorrow at W & M is the right way to go. The FAFSA is delayed this year until March, unfortunately. You need a more definite answer from W & M on aid, and a more definite answer from parents on ability to pay.
With the ED situation, it seems the sooner the better since if you are committed, it would be good to withdraw from other school applications. If W & M is not affordable, you can talk to them about getting out of the commitment and focus on other schools.
You have a good attitude which will make this work out one way or the other.
So…did you call WM??
I don’t know the answer…but does the Profile ask for number of kids in college?
I don’t know the answer…but does the Profile ask for the number of siblings in college?
@Mwfan1921 do you know?
I believe most CSS schools still ask that question.
FAFSA still asks that question too…#10, here: https://studentaid.gov/sites/default/files/2024-25-fafsa.pdf The difference for FAFSA this year is that the SAI formula doesn’t take the answer to that question into account.
Yes…but the schools still have that information…and if they are offering only institutional aid, they can consider it, I believe. @kelsmom
They can all consider it. If federal aid is involved, there are certain adjustments that can be made within federal guidelines. As far as awarding institutional aid, schools already differ from the federal formula when they use CSS to award aid. So they do have leeway if they choose to do so for institutional aid.
I called in Friday, but didn’t realize the FA office was on their lunch break 
I emailed later that afternoon though and said up a phone conference for tomorrow morning, so I should have an update by noon tomorrow