What do I put for special circumstances if my children attend a private school?

Paying for College
1

I am a low income family, but I cant seem to figure out what to put in the text box on that screen, if I check the “siblings attend a private school box”. All I can think of putting is that the school is expensive for my low income family.

Also, does adding that my children attend a private school affect the aid I will recieve? I thought that colleges will view it as a luxury, and question why I wouldn’t take my children to a public school. Should I just put that they attend a public school instead?

I also don’t remember how much the full tuition is for attending the school; all I know is how much I pay for my children for the year. Is it okay to leave the box that asks for the full, regular tuition of attending blank?

2

Are you really asking if you should lie on a financial aid form?

3

Your financial aid award is based on the income coming into your household, not the spending going out. So the fact that you send siblings to private school will not factor in. If they are asking for the full tuition number and you can’t remember, call the school and ask. Don’t leave it blank.

4

“Should I just put that they attend a public school instead?”

To apply to a university you have to send in your high school transcript. If your children attended a private high school, then the universities that you apply to will know this fact. If you lie on your financial aid form, then you should assume that someone will notice.

A lie that you are sure that they will catch is a very bad idea.

5

@DadTwoGirls, @khalidh223 - Even a lie that you’re pretty sure they’d miss is also a bad idea.

Plenty of private schools offer FA, so indicating that your kid and/or siblings attend a private school will have no bearing on whether or not you get aid (for some schools, it might help on the CSS profile). What determines whether or not your kid gets aid are your income, assets, and liabilities.

You can put the amount you pay if that’s what they are asking. If the form asks for full tuition, surely that info is available online or you can call the FA office of your kids’ private school(s)

6

@khalidh223

Why is attending private school a special circumstance? Really…it’s a choice you have made. Most colleges won’t really care that you have decided to spend money on private schools…unless there is some compelling reason like a kiddo has a disability that requires this.

The school will be computing your aid based on your income and assets…and your consumer spending…including private school tuition…will not be considered in the formula unless there is a very good reason why the kids are attending private school.

It is your choice to spend the money on private school.

7

I am pretty your sure the private school has a web presence with the tuition on one of the pages.

8

@thumper1 Oh, I thought if my children attended a private school, then I would HAVE to check that box on the special circumstances screen. Didn’t think we had an option not to…

So would I just check the “None” box on that screen?

9

You check the box that says your kids go to private school…absolutely.

But don’t expect that this will have an impact on the amount of need based aid you receive.

10

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I also don't remember how much the full tuition is for attending the school; all I know is how much I pay for my children for the year. Is>>>

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Well, how much do you pay for your children for the year?

Are you self-employed or own a business?