Can Anyone Describe Their Financial Aid Process?

Erin_s_Mom
Wed, 06 Jun 2007 20:37:35 +0000

My D is an entering Freshman at BMC, and I’m glad to share our experience:

First off, we’re at a disadvantage going into the whole college thing since I’m divorced from my D’s “natural” father, and both of us are remarried. Unfortunately, they take both family profiles into consideration when they give out finaid money.

Originally, D was offered a financial aid package that just wasn’t doable without a lot of parental loans, which I refuse to take. My ex’s wife renegotiated her aid package (which I’m grateful for) since she herself is in grad school and, since ex+wife have their own EFC which they have to meet, BMC was able to up D’s finaid by enough so that it became doable for us w/o loans and perhaps with the only loose end being a non-Stafford/Perkins loan in D’s name, guaranteed by her biological father, that he can throw money at when it’s available.

Basically, my experience, as a parent, with BMC’s financial aid was positive, but only when a request review was filed. I’m sure in this day and age there are many “doubled” families and it is a slippery slope at best. But from where I sit, I’d much rather pay the balance of tuition out of my current earnings than tap into asset/equity stuff which just doesn’t work for our family.

Although I don’t take the credit for making it happen, I’m pleased as Punch that things turned out the way they did, because if there’s only one thing my Ex and I agree on, it’s that Bryn Mawr is a wonderful opportunity that should not be missed. And even if half the people in my grocery store can’t pronounce the name on my sweatshirt correctly, at least I know my beloved kiddo is going to be at a top rate school that fits her perfectly. As the stupid commercials would say…Priceless.