How can your child enhance her application to be accepted into a college that is not needs-blind?

Paying for College
1

Elder care expenses and savings lost during four years of unemployment have wiped out our savings, and I was disgusted when two fine colleges that are not needs blind declined my daughter who was Salutatorian, exceptional in many ways, and accepted students whose grades, scores, and ECs were inferior to hers, but whose parents were able to pay full tuition. No big deal. She was given a full scholarship to an excellent small LA college for both merit and need, and we paid $10,000 for her second year. She was also given Federal loans (small and manageable) for both years. Our 2014 income was less than our 2013 income, the Financial Aid Director knows my daughter and me well by now, and I feel confident DD1 will fare well vis a vis financial aid for her Junior year.

Now we face the same dilemma with DD2 (now a Junior) who will surely be Valedictorian and has high PSAT scores. The small LAC schools she is interested in are not needs-blind. She will not be eligible for interviews until this summer and next fall because it seems all or most schools wish students to wait for their interview until their Senior year.

I am wondering, at this juncture, would it be helpful to “preview” my DD2s application with a letter to the Director of Financial Aid at the colleges she interested in explaining our circumstances–income enough to live comfortably on but not go much further and loss of savings–and ask the Director to project how he/she might view my daughter’s application?

This question stems from the fact that I feel I have an intuition that Directors of Financial Aid can make an “Executive Decision” to accept a student with a very attractive application, even though technically her financial aid needs would disqualify her from acceptance. Any feedback appreciated.

2

I guess I don’t understand why people apply to need-aware schools or schools that don’t meet need if they can’t afford 4 years without receiving substantial aid.

What is oldest child’s FAFSA EFC?

How much did you spend in total for elder care costs over the years?

3

Why not look for schools where your D would earn good merit aid? Did your D make NMSF?

4

It is important to remember that need-aware institutions don’t use need to decide whose applications to read. They read the applications, decide who they want, and then decide who to cut based on how much they want that student, and how much aid the student needs. If the committee really wants an applicant, they will find the money. If they don’t particularly care, then the “cheaper” kid gets in and the “expensive” kid doesn’t. In borderline cases, a student’s expressed interest can also come into play.

5

Instead of being disgusted, be prepared and apply to schools that would fulfil your requirements.

6

. . . are not the ones she should be applying to. End of discussion.

The only person you need to explain your finances to is your daughter, not the financial aid directors of schools she hasn’t even applied to yet.

7

Agree with others. I’m not sure what you expect from these colleges. If finances are a significant consideration…she should apply to schools that will be affordable. Use the net proce calculators on the websites.

While it is very nice that you provide eldercare (presumably for aging relatives) the colleges likely won’t care…at all. That was a family choice.

Also, need blind would be an admissions term. Her ability to pay will be considered when her appplication for admission is reviewed. And that is what it is…based on the calculations the school makes using the info you submit to them.

I’m unclear…do you need significant aid? Or are you worried that your need for any aid will affect admissions at these need aware schools?

Regardless, there are likely choices that could offer merit aid to your daughter. You might want to start looking at those options too.

ETA…your DD1 could have been denied admission for any number of reasons…and they might not have all been due to your ability to pay. You don’t know for sure.

8

I think you should look at need-blind schools.

However, if she applies to some need-aware schools, a trick can be to get the app in early. Some need-aware schools really only become need-aware as they fill spots.


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Her second-round scores on the PSAT are Critical Writing 65; Math 65; Writing 78. Total 208/98th percentile. We are in New York State, and I don't think she will quite make NMS.

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AGI must mean Adjusted Gross Income, yes? On our 2014 1040, our Gross Income is $90,000 which represents a $70,000 salary and $20,000 pension (my husband is 63). When DD2 (whom we are talking about) is a Freshman, DD1 will be a Senior in college.
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OK…she won’t be a NMSF, her PSAT is good, but not high enough. When will she be taking the SAT and ACT???

I believe that the $20k pension will be subjected to a different calculation since it’s not income from “work”.

What is your FAFSA EFC for the one child ?? It sounds like there will be one year overlap with 2 in college at the same time…is that true?

IF so, that would be a big concern because any aid given to DD2 will drop a LOT for years 2-4. Are you prepared for that? Once DD1 graduates, your family size will also shrink to 3 people which will also increase your EFC.

I think you’re looking for merit and FA…do you realize that the merit will get applied to “need” first? If you’re thinking that will save you for those later years, it won’t…unless the merit is huge.


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DD2 has a very high GPA, something like 104%. She is taking AP Computer Science through Florida Virtual School and has not make a single mistake since her first quiz in September. Her grade is 100%.

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So I ask everyone I run into, “How can you turn French fluency and Computer Science into a career?” Everyone I’ve asked has replied, “You can’t! You can go to France and do computer science!” But DD2 has some interesting ideas herself.


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There’s nothing wrong with being a Comp Sci major and a French major (or minor), but she may find it hard to fit in all the credits needed to graduate unless the school is generous with AP credits and allows them to replace req’ts. IF not, (and many LACs won’t allow that), she may have to minor in French.

9

French/CS is usually a five year program.

10

Happymom1 you are thinking exactly the was I am thinking. Thanks for your remark.

momof2collegekids, as always your remarks are cogent and useful.

We cannot yet use the DRT for the FAFSA. Our 2024-15 ECT and the college’s EFC were useless given our financial losses. I submitted A LOT of supplementary information to DD1s college and the Director of Financial Aid, based on hard data I sent her, which she carefull took a lot of time to go over and speak to me about over the phone,gave DD1 a lot more money that the EFC and FAFSA ECT told us to expect to contribute.

OF COURSE we will apply to colleges with large merit-based aid. Jeez.

Gearmom, I would love to hear you explain how and why French/CS is usually a five-year program. What do you know about it? Do you have any thoughts of how DD2 should pursue/target her CS interest and what kind of career she might find.

Thanks to the three of you who obviously read my opening question carefully.

11

@dutchessparent DS2 is looking at our state school (in 4 years time since he is in 8th grade). URI has an international computer science program like their international engineering program. It is a five year program during which you earn a BA in French and a BS in computer science. Year 4 is spent abroad with one semester in classes and one semester at a paid internship. Students live in special housing and speak French on their floor. They have a separate international chef also. I will message you the French CS company he is targeting.

12

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French/CS is usually a five year program.

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Then that could be a serious FA problem since many schools will not give aid for that 5th year… They expect you to graduate in 4.

13

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Gearmom, I would love to hear you explain how and why French/CS is usually a five-year program.
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I’m not Gearmom, but likely the reason that it’s a 5 year program is that there isn’t any overlap. CS programs are strongly sequenced PARTICULARLY at smaller schools where many classes are offered “fall only” or “spring only”…and MUST be taken in a certain order.

So, the problem would then be fitting in those French requirements (not sure how many total add’l credits …30 more credits? more?)

14

A $90k income in NYS may make paying for college difficult, but it’s not impossible. That income is nearly double the median income of 80% of all NYS counties, so I wouldn’t depend on getting extra aid from colleges. It doesn’t hurt to ask, but make sure you have financial safeties.

If you can pay $10k/year for DD2 like you did for DD1, with the federal student loan and summer work DD2 might be able to swing the honors program at Stony Brook. If you’re in Dutchess county, she might be able to commute to New Paltz with no loans at all. If she wants a small LAC, you may have to cosign loans to make that happen. I wouldn’t because we have some great schools in NYS and they’re very affordable, but people are different. You have to do what works for your family.

15

@dutchessparent - We all read your opening question carefully. You just didn’t like our answers.

16

Why would any financial aid office spend time looking at the potential finances of a student who hasn’t even applied yet?

17

The financial aid director does NOT make admissions decisions…at all. Financial AId computes the student’s financial need. Need aware or need sensitive schools use the ability to pay as PART of the admissions equation at their schools. But it is admissions that makes admissions decisions.

18

Your intuition is not accurate. FA doesnt make these calls, as Thumper said.

19

I agree with the jym626 and thumper1. If anything, it’s admissions telling financial aid they really want a particular student and to do what they need to (within reason) to make it happen. Unfortunately, at private schools that can mean just bringing the $50k/year COA down to the cost of an in state public ($20k/year). That’s a great discount, but it doesn’t mean it will be affordable to the family.

20

[QUOTE=""]
This question stems from the fact that I feel I have an intuition that Directors of Financial Aid can make an “Executive Decision” to accept a student with a very attractive application, even though technically her financial aid needs would disqualify her from acceptance. Any feedback appreciated. <<<

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the Director of FA does not make decisions about who is accepted. That is the Adcom’s job.

The Executive Director of Admissions may be the one who can make an “executive decision”, but not at this point. This person is typically the Enrollment Manager…it’s their priority to make sure that the frosh group is the best it can be…so they have leeway and executive decision rights.

What schools are being considered. Are they the type that a need aware from the get go? Or are they need aware when they’re getting close to filling their acceptance numbers?