<p>So last year DD was a senior, did the usual reaches, matches, safety, got into three schools picked RPI, where she liked alot for many reasons, (including a good FA package including merit and need based aid) and then went off to a gap year program, which RPI approved (the gap year seems to have added immensely to her maturity, etc - all is well)</p>
<p>They promised the package would stay the same, unless our need changed (our financial sit now is roughly the same)</p>
<p>Last year we only had to do the FAFSA. This year they require the CSS. “Do you need it for a deferred student who already did FAFSA only last year” “Yup, shes a freshmen, all freshmen need to do the CSS”</p>
<p>So we did the CSS, got it in a tad late but they said “just get it in, dont worry”</p>
<p>So we open a big envelope from RPI - congrats, heres your package. The merit piece is there, but NONE of the need based aid.</p>
<p>“ARE YOU SURE YOU SENT THE CSS??” “WHY DIDNT YOU PRINT THE CONFIRMATION NUMBER” “I AM SURE THEY WILL HELP US WORK THIS OUT” “SHE CAN STAY IN ISRAEL AND DO THE ARMY FOR A YEAR” “IS THE ADMISSION HELD FOR ANOTHER YEAR?” “SHE SAID SHE LIKED TECHNION IN HAIFA” “SHES GONNA LEARN ARCHITECTURE IN HEBREW?” </p>
<p>one difficult night.</p>
<p>“Oh yeah, we got your CSS, no problem - We just hadnt finished the process, we routinely send out the merit pieces before we have the rest done”</p>
<p>Sigh. Its okay, I look good with a few more grey hairs.</p>