<p>I recently sent a message to the web master of the Y site because there was a mistake in their wording about standardized testing. I got a nice email back from an admissions staffer and in my reply I mentioned being here on CC. They asked if I had any input about how to make their website more helpful since they’re aware that that’s where most students and families get their information.</p>
<p>I told them that it would really be helpful to have the FA calculator back up and running and that any information on Y FA policies and calculations (eg. what are considered typical assets?) would be very welcome.</p>
<p>Any other ideas? I’m not sure how far this will go, but I must say that I continue to be impressed by all of the Y staff that I have dealt with, so I take them at their word that they’re interested in what admissions savvy consumers have to say.</p>
<p>We have been pretty impressed with the Y website–and agree that the FinAid is lacking…
The information on P’s is much better for example–with the calculator and such.
I think that Y has changed so many policies last fall and only a little of that was made public in December… and its far less transparent than it’s peers.
I once spoke to someone quoting from a Y publication I was holding in my hand–with charts from finaid-- reading about the 10% etc and the finaid person was not only not familiar with the literature–the literature implied certain things that are not factual.</p>
<p>I think that for the freshman coming in–there should be the floorplans of the dorms available…I had to sleuth that out from a class of 2013 page on FB for example…</p>
<p>I don’t know if floor plans should be limited to admitted students or just applied ones that have an ID already (Northwestern University has a separate web site with a Freshman Housing Guide where you can compare the sizes of each halls dorms) but what about having photo’s of the dorms in the various colleges? Even the admitted students struggled to find pics of their colleges this year. There also doesn’t seem to be a lot of info regarding the dorms or amenities (i.e. wireless, air conditioning, etc) anywhere. Overall though, it is a very informative site.</p>
<p>I agree with fogfog. It would be helpful if Yale had a FA calculator, such as Princeton’s, or at least spell out their “new” policy with a bit more transparency. The current language of Yale’s FA page ([Yale</a> University Financial Aid > Our Philosophy and Policies](<a href=“Welcome | Student Financial and Administrative Services”>Welcome | Student Financial and Administrative Services)) is about Philosophy and Policies and lacks concrete examples. BTW: Yale’s financial aid policy has been clearer in the past. For an archived example from 2008, see: [Yale</a> Cuts Costs for Families and Students](<a href=“http://opac.yale.edu/news/article.aspx?id=2320]Yale”>http://opac.yale.edu/news/article.aspx?id=2320). As Yale’s FA policy recently changed, maybe the administration is a bit gun-shy about putting it out there.</p>
<p>entomom, What was the mistake in the woring of standardized testing? Has it been corrected?</p>
<p>Floor plan? My rising senior D and I are a bit mystified by the preoccupation of living arragements and the quality of cafeteria food. They could survive inconvenience and not so great food? For a few years my D went away to a summer program known for unedible food. They were also housed at shabby huts. With best memories. They bonded complaining about food and realized they could live with minimal comfort.</p>
Your D will realize next year the feeling. The kids are excited about a new chapter in their life and are curious as to where they are spending the next four years. It also helps to decide what, if any, furniture needs to be purchased or brought as well as what room there may or may not be in the dorm for their stuff. Check back next year and see if you are not looking for the same information.;)</p>
<p>It is highly possible my D will change this time next year. During college visits, she paid absolutely no attention to dorms. She is away at the moment on a university campus staying in a dorm. I haven’t heard anything about living conditions.</p>
<p>I think it’s the girls who have the intense interest in amenities. Most boys could care less. Their mothers, on the other hand, may care deeply. I sure didn’t. If they want to live in squalor, it’s fine with me as long as no one gets sick!</p>
<p>Right–I think the kids who are committed to attend–when the July housing assignments arrive–that the floorplans be included besides the rm # and roommates names…makes planning a bit easier–especially for those flying in…</p>
<p>It could even be in the website that the kids with NetIds access…</p>
<p>I think the idea that floorplans, building photos, etc., should be available is an outgrowth of the recent idea that all information of every kind should be immediately available on the Internet. Why, back in my day…seriously, all you really need to know about the floor plan is that there are generally suites, with a common living area and bedrooms.</p>
<p>^ Frankly I doubt that (I believe they said it–and I believe it’s lip service)
—as the web site for FinAid has been “under construction” without a calculator for more than a year. </p>
<p>I think they don’t want to have a calculator …
and Y isn’t nearly as generous as H or P…</p>
<p>For example, I know of two families who gave me first hand accounts of Y vs other schools.
In one case Y asked for double from the family as their portion than P
–student is at P…(the calculations were with the same financial info…)</p>
<p>Other family was offerred far more generous offer from H than Y for their student. (same financials, and two older siblings in college)</p>
<p>I think what has been happening is a pulling back on aid for various reasons…</p>
<p>The wording of the claims that the average family can expect to pay 10% etc if their income is A and assets are B isn’t accurate…</p>
<p>I’m not sure I buy this. If you check out this link Harvard and Yale are almost identical and Princeton is below both schools in net cost based on the various income levels.</p>