You should call, speaking to someone in the office, and ask - do I have all my aid - or just merit aid? If I don’t have need aid, when will it come.
That is step one in both cases.
I have set up an appointment for Oberlin on Thursday. I will email Holy cross, with the changes to the email, to set one up.
5 Likes
What will you major in at these schools? Chem?
Generally people answering the phones in the FA office are not in a position to help.
I suggest OP send an email first (tons of FA offices don’t even answer the phone), asking for a meeting with a director of FA and go from there. It’s ok to make a follow-up call, but FA staffs are completely overburdened right now dealing with ISIR and system issues.
OP, Oberlin’s contact info is at the bottom of this page. https://www.oberlin.edu/financial-aid
OP, I know this is frustrating, but it’s an opportunity to work on your patience. The FA will will get resolved, but likely not quickly….readjust your expectations. You have to be persistent in following up. Again, you are doing great.
6 Likes
Chem or physics. I plan to do the 3+2 program and hopefully attend one of the larger institutions. I know that my grandparents would support the +2 portion financially if I were to make it; I have dual grandparents legacy at Columbia, so they would be happy if I could go there.
I disagree - I’ve called many schools and there’s always a “house” officer sitting there to take generic calls that they can transfer you to. While I did not qualify for aid, I had many conversations and only on a couple occasions was my # taken and called back. Typically, there was an available person. Didn’t have to be my person.
If need aid isn’t out yet, then all this is premature - is why I say what I do.
OP doesn’t know the current status - and you need to know that first before making the next step.
But OP can do as desired.
I really think you need to have a full and complete discussion with your grandparents (and parents) - because you started very confidently - and then backed up recently.
It’s easy for people to tell someone - yes, I’ll be there.
But when it comes time to stroke a check 2x a year - and for many many thousands of dollars, maybe they’re not into it.
So I would get specific with them - if Columbia is $100K a year, will you pay?
Or $40K?
Or how much can I realistically count on from you, etc.
Too many kids have informal conversations with relatives - but when the formality hits - the relatives are nowhere to be found.
So I think it’s critical, not just important, that you move your conversations from what you’ve said the past few months - I’m sure my grandparents will pay or they’re alums or they want this or that - to:
Grandma, if I do this, it’s going to cost up to x $$.
Are you committing to covering the entire bill if I need you to?
What you don’t want to do is go down a path that is not sustainable - too many kids get in too deep in year one and then have to leave for lack of affordability.
So I really would suggest you get in deeper, more detailed discussions vs. just - I’m a Columbia alum, of course I’d help you - which really isn’t telling you anything.
Good luck.
Well, the issue is that it doesn’t work like that with them. They don’t like dealing with my questions. They always say that they want to hear things from my parents about things like this, but when my parents have, they are a bit shaky. I know that they take education very seriously, though, and especially excellence. They paid for all my app fees, SAT prep, Summer program, etc. They just want me to excel; I suspect it’s because my mom decided not to attend prestigious U.S. schools and go to Canada instead even though she was extremely gifted. For ex, my grandpa said if I retake the SAT and get a 1500 he’ll give me 500 dollars. There’s always incentives with them lol.
But do ask to speak to a financial aid officer…don’t get your answer from the person answering the phone.
If Holy Cross or Oberlin become affordable, this can be revisited.
This too.
4 Likes
I fully agree. The goal is to get this “fixed” correctly not necessarily quickly.
Given you are not experienced or resourced I would suggest as others have to communicate through email. That way you can research any questions and seek guidance if needed. You don’t want to inadvertently paint yourself into a bad spot on a phone call.
There is an old expression that you can put toothpaste back in the tube. Document everything via email, try and identify one point of contact and research responses prior to hitting send.
4 Likes
Obviously it’s their money and they can handle how they want, but they are not doing you any favors.
You could very well start with an intention and need let’s say $25K and they give you $5K, now what?
That is no way to plan.
If they cannot commit to you the amount you need (when that’s known) and it’s substantial, then you should revisit your school choice and potentially go to U of BC - which is a great school by the way.
You have options - even if you don’t like them.
1 Like
@ravk06 - just wanted to say that there are adults finding the FAFSA/financial aid situation stressful and difficult (many of whom are on this site) - so kudos to you for handling this situation yourself.
I do think more $$ is coming, and patience is key as another posted wrote above. But I also agree in asking the question of HC and Oberlin in the meantime.
All my daughters needed merit to attend college so I do understand how hard it is to find an affordable choice.
Wishing you all the best
6 Likes
More wrt the FAFSA situation
2 Likes
A 3+2 program is typically going to be more expensive, as it requires the extra year and if you are going to a second school the FA may not be identical (if some is merit). Can you stick with a 4 year program?
2 Likes
I really want to emphasize this point. While the FAFSA does not add some forms of untaxed income like 401K contributions back into their calculations anymore, as I understand it, many CSS profile schools do look at both taxed and untaxed income and they will add the untaxed income back to your AGI. To get from a yearly income of 150K to an AGI of 26K means that a lot of money has to be going somewhere that perhaps the CSS school thinks could be repurposed for tuition. So it is definitely possible to have a low SAI, a low AGI, and still have CSS profile schools see something in your tax returns and documents that makes them think you can afford more than the usual low income family. But it is unusual unless your income is actually high, and in fact, 150K per year in salary is not low income by any one’s definition at all.
However, the college should be able to explain their calculations to you, particularly if you are getting numbers now that are very different from the NPC estimates (use the NPC not MyIntuition, which I don’t think asks about untaxed income). The only way that you will get clarity is through a focused 1:1 conversation with the financial aid office. I am sorry this has been so challenging, but something is off somewhere.
ETA: But you still should be getting the max pell grant and work-study and it sounds like those things are not reflected in your financial aid awards. At vey least, you should be seeing those forms of aid. The colleges can’t refuse to include them in your package.
3 Likes
I keep reading @MAmomto4 and thinking - what - the family makes $150K?? Can’t be.
Then I went up to the first message after seeing from @MAmomto4 that it was mentioend earlier and it says:
Cost Constraints / Budget
Income ~ 150k
So yeah - if you make $150K, you’re not getting a full ride at these schools - or even close to it.
Maybe it’s $150K Canadian.
But there’s some twist and turns here or some contradictory info that isn’t making much sense…to the $0 SAI .
OP - do you stand by the $150K salary? Is that US or Canadian? Or was it a mis-type?
I think I understand this. They don’t have to pay taxes on this income…so for FAFSA purposes, they are expats with that tax advantage…and that could cause the $0 SAI.
But the Profile sees ALL of your income regardless of where you earn or pay taxes on it.
@MYOS1634 could this be the issue?
1 Like
I’m thinking this is the issue as well that the agi reflects foreign tax credits on the 1040 and the student is qualifying for maximum pell. Holy Cross and Oberlin would use the income listed on the CSS for need based aid.
3 Likes
Actually, Americans abroad need to pay taxes on their income and with 150k salary they’d have taxes. So their original income must be low enough for the government to estimate they can’t afford to pay taxes in Canada AND the US.
@ravk06 : was that “150k” a personal estimation when you said your parents made 150k, or was it what you thought your grandparents make and would draw on to pay for college? Or is that your parents’ 2022 or 2023 income? And is that Canadian or US$?
2 Likes
No tax expert here but it looks like this family pays taxes in Canada where they reside and still has to file a 1040 in the US but are eligible for tax credits in the US so they are not subject to double taxation. This student will still qualify for the Pell Grant even if the income is $150,000 US or Canadian based on the Fafsa. It is an unfortunate situation for the student to be dealing with this on their own. Again none of of us are sure what the student CSS looks like and hopefully the parents can step in and assist him and dealing with the colleges to figure it out.
3 Likes