<p>Never thought I could have three kids in university at the same time - as the first two are three years apart and then four years later, third child came along. Thought the first one would be done by the time the third was finishing high school. </p>
<p>However, D#1 who graduated last year with B.Env.D. now is writing the LSAT and applying to law school. D#2 is in 2nd year of university studies. S#3 is finishing 11th grade and will be starting college applications next year.</p>
<p>Do universities/colleges look at the number of children in a family attending post-secondary studies when making financial/scholarship offers?</p>
<p>When your DS starts his college freshman year, and D2 is in her college senior year, colleges will consider the fact that two kids are in college. FAFSA will split your EFC 50/50. Schools that use the Profile will typically take 60% of the original EFC, though it’ll vary for each school. (Of course, it won’t necessarily help if the schools do not meet full need).</p>
<p>D1, who is in law school, is considered an independent student now, and won’t affect aid calculations.</p>
<p>Thanks for the input. Does that mean that D1, if accepted into law school, does not qualify for any financial assistance?</p>
<p>Not likely. Just huge loans. Professional schools and grad schools usually do not provide need-based aid. There are loans for that. PhD programs will often provide merit-based aid. </p>
<p>However, law school and med school students usually pay for their education thru big loans. I think part of the thought process is that those students are future big earners, therefore they should fund that part of their education themselves.</p>
<p>As for your younger two students: Much will depend on which schools they attend. If those schools don’t meet need, then a “split EFC” may mean ltttle or nothing.</p>
<p>Run some schools net price calculators for your kids with 2 in school and with ONE in school (for the younger one) to get an idea. Since #3 will be an undergrad by himself for a couple of years, you’ll want to know what to expect during that time as well.</p>
<p>The top law schools HYS do not offer merit money only need based financial aid. Your income and asset will still be used to determine how much if any need based aid she receives. Others that do offer merit only offer it to students at the top of the pool. Minimally you will have to pay for room board living expenses. While the rest of the T-14 may have some merit money (Darrow at Mich, Hamilton at Columbia), merit is still few and far between and your income and assets along with your D’s income and assets (and her spouse’s if she is married will factor in). However keep in ind funding for law school is not the same as funding for undergrad. Even at Harvard, you will max out on loans first before you receive any need based aid. If you do a search on the law school forum, there are a number of threads regarding funding law school</p>
<p>Regarding merit money, you have to read the fine print because very few merit option come with no strings. While you may think maintaining a 3.2 will be a piece of cake, if the school curves at a 3.0, you can (and many will) lose your scholarship in a system where one exam determines your grade. Another thing that happens at a lot of schools that give merit is that most of the merit scholarship students will be placed the same sections where students may have to battle it out to keep their scholarship.</p>
<p>Bob is right in the fact that there is a glut of attorneys and graduating at a T-14 school does not guarantee employment upon graduation.</p>
<p>If the Independent student is taking $50,000 of loans to pay for college in HER name for law school (and that is at least what it will cost) , she will likely NOT be counted by the undergrad schools in the count.</p>
<p>Even if the parents can declare her on their taxes, the colleges might not count her…you have to ask at each school.</p>
<p>Were you planning to pay for law school? If not…really YOU will only have two in college for payment purposes!</p>