Go or No? DOTL

MidClassMomOf4
Tue, 05 Apr 2011 09:05:19 +0000

We’re in the same situation as hockeydad. Our S was accepted as an Echols Scholars, which is such an honor and we would love to send him to UVA. UVA is his first choice. UVA met our “demonstrated need” with a combination of grant, work-study, and loans, but FAFSA does not take into account hs tuition (understandably, since public school is an option). S is the oldest of 4, with S2 attending the same Catholic HS that trained S1 so well – with tuition to pay. S3 will start HS in 2012. We’re already borrowing from our home to help with HS tuition. UVA clearly says on its fin aid FAQ that HS tuition is not a valid reason for appealing fin aid, yet we are looking down the road, and seeing that for 2 of the 4 college years, we will be paying two HS tuitions, and for the other 2 years, one HS tuition. Most (but not all) colleges don’t take into account HS tuition. From a pure financial survival standpoint, unless something changes (and he has applied for several outside scholarships), he’s going to have to decline UVA and Echols, but it’s breaking my heart. Fortunately, he has a full tuition scholarship to a terrific, nationally-recognized school, which we’re 95% sure is where he’ll attend. But it’s difficult to say no to Echols. We’re scheduled to visit on Saturday, but I wonder if it will just rub salt into his wounds.