<p>Hi all,</p>
<p>So if you follow this forum I’m sure you’ve read my ramblings concerning the FA. Well, we just got our package for the 2010-11 year and it wasn’t pretty. The office determined my EFC to be $5-10k more (I don’t want to give so many details). I’m assuming this is because my older brother is graduating in the coming week and won’t be in college anymore.</p>
<p>I’ve already talked with my parents about this, and at this point it is most likely I’m transferring. We all want me to stay there and just continue my education and get the degree, but the school asking for that much more is just simply impossible.</p>
<p>I post because as a sort of “last hope” I wonder if any of you, parents specifically, have suggestions on if there is really any way to discuss the matter with the FA office. I’m not expecting much, but I’m asking just in case. Even though my brother will be out of school, I really don’t know how to convey to the office that just because he’s out doesn’t mean we have a few extra thousand dollars in our accounts. My parents for the past 2 years since I’ve been in school haven’t actually been paying for most of my brother’s education- he’s had a high ranking position with one of the organizations at his university that pays well enough (he has a salary) for him to be able to pay the majority of his expenses. Something like that is not offered at the 5Cs and seeing as how he goes to a state institution, I still wouldn’t be able to pay the majority of the expenses even with that kind of position. Either way, my parents in the 08-09 year did not pay for any of my brother’s expenses, and only paid a small amount in the 09-10 year.</p>
<p>I’ve talked with my parents about where their salaries go, and again I’m still a bit shocked as to where the higher EFC is coming from. We expected the EFC to rise but not that much. My parents salaries and assets have not changed in the past few years, and if they have they’ve actually become somewhat less. I’ve looked through my dad’s records of expenses of the last four years (thank goodness for organized parents!), and none of it has really gone toward any luxury. Taxes, insurance, bills, groceries, my tuition.</p>
<p>So. Suggestions? If I beg them that I need to stay, they could take out a loan or even sell our house if they wanted to (something I am DEFINITELY not letting them do). But they don’t have any savings left to pay off interest, and I already have a fair amount of debt from loans given to me the past 2 years. Any slip that happens, like a medical accident or a lay-off, and we would be toast. Especially if they were still trying to pay for the Scripps tuition. My parents don’t speak English all too well, and thus don’t enjoy speaking with the office, which is understandable. Every time I’ve talked to them it hasn’t gone well though, so I’m tentative to call them.</p>
<p>I’m not trying to complain here, and I know that there a lot of students out there who have it off worse than me. I live a good life being a middle-class citizen, and I’m grateful for everything I have and for everything my parents have done for me. So I ask for suggestions, because I have greatly appreciated the past 2 years the institution has given me academically and socially. It’s also a little disheartening when you read your FA package and see the shock of the number after 2 years of being involved in the campus and working with admission, talking with and recruiting prospective students, etc. If you sense a hint of bitterness, it’s probably slightly there. :)</p>
<p>Thanks for any feedback, and best wishes to the incoming students!</p>