Deferring attendance and FA?

PghMomof2
Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:11:20 +0000

Over this past year, DS both applied to colleges and gap year programs, not knowing exactly which way things would turn out or how he’d see his future at this point. He was accepted at a number of great schools, including his #1 and #2 choices. He was also accepted for a great gap year program overseas.

At #1 (University of Rochester), he got a good-sized merit award, a good-sized need-based grant, and the Stafford loan offer. The “gap” is less than our EFC so we’re thrilled. They have agreed to hold the merit award for a year, and we’ll re-file the FAFSA next year for the need-based part.

At #2 (U Oklahoma), b/c he’s an NMSF he would receive a very large merit package. With the Stafford (which we’d want him to take so that he has some “skin in the game”), we’d pay only a few thousand $. They too will freeze the merit award for a year.

Here’s our dilemma: while he would like to go to #1, we (well, I) are terrified that after we re-file for need-based aid next year, we’ll be offered only loans rather than grants…but at that point we will be stuck, since the NMSF offers will be off the table. If we could be sure Rochesteer won’t give us the ol’ switcheroo, it would be easy. If we could defer at both so we could see what they do, that would be easy too.

Thoughts or wisdom??