accepted by private middle school but no financial aid

[prncess674]

Well, based on your comments I assume you (or your parents ) are paying the full costs out of pocket for your college education.

So how do you feel about your many classmates at college who receive financial aid? Do you feel they should go someplace they can afford to pay for themselves?

No one said they had to go someplace else, but private college is the same as private middle/high school, you either need to pay for it yourself, take out loans or qualify for a merit based scholarhip based on sports or academics.

The OP wants free money for no apparent reason other than she thinks her DD is deserving.

 

[allison443]

No one said they had to go someplace else, but private college is the same as private middle/high school, you either need to pay for it yourself, take out loans or qualify for a merit based scholarhip based on sports or academics.

The OP wants free money for no apparent reason other than she thinks her DD is deserving.

Actually your generalization about private colleges is incorrect. Colleges give out need-based financial aid (some in the form of grants that does not need to be repaid). This is based solely on family income/assets. Many (most) of the top schools give only need based aid. They do not award merit aid (academic scholarships).

 

[prncess674]

Actually your generalization about private colleges is incorrect. Colleges give out need-based financial aid (some in the form of grants that does not need to be repaid). This is based solely on family income/assets. Many (most) of the top schools give only need based aid. They do not award merit aid (academic scholarships).

Sorry, that bolded is a generalization too. Many (not all) top schools award merit based aid.

To bring this back to the OP, the OP has savings and does not work, hence she does not qualify for need based "free" money in the form of scholarship or grants. If the OP wants her DD to attend this school, she is going to have to pony up the money or take out a private loan.

 

[allison443]

No one said they had to go someplace else, but private college is the same as private middle/high school, you either need to pay for it yourself, take out loans or qualify for a merit based scholarhip based on sports or academics.

The OP wants free money for no apparent reason other than she thinks her DD is deserving.

I guess I read the OP's post differently...I thought she meant the school offered need-based financial aid but her dd wasn't awarded any...and she was wondering if she could call and kind of ask for reconsideration based on her unemployment of two years like she said in the OP.
I thought she was saying she thought her dd was "deserving" because of their financial status. I guess I don't see anything wrong with that, if that's what the school offers.

I am not familiar with the kind of high school she is referring to, though, so I don't know if their aid is need based, or if they are allowed to give athletic scholarships (for high school?)

I know the private Catholic high schools in NJ are absolutely not allowed to give athletic scholarships. However, I think OP is talking about private schools that cost a lot more than that.

 

[allison443]

Sorry, that bolded is a generalization too. Many (not all) top schools award merit based aid.

To bring this back to the OP, the OP has savings and does not work, hence she does not qualify for need based "free" money in the form of scholarship or grants. If the OP wants her DD to attend this school, she is going to have to pony up the money or take out a private loan.

Well, it's not a generalization since I included the qualifier "many".

Yes, below the Ivy level many top colleges do give merit aid, but the majority of aid at those schools is need-based. You didn't seem to be acknowledging that when you posted that "private college is the same as private middle/high school, you either need to pay for it yourself, take out loans or qualify for a merit based scholarhip based on sports or academics." I was just adding that financial need is a qualifying basis for receiving aid at private colleges.

Sorry for taking the thread off topic.

 

[prncess674]

Actually your generalization about private colleges is incorrect. Colleges give out need-based financial aid (some in the form of grants that does not need to be repaid). This is based solely on family income/assets. Many (most) of the top schools give only need based aid. They do not award merit aid (academic scholarships).

Well, it's not a generalization since I included the qualifier "many".

Sorry, I think you need to go read your last statement. You only used the qualifier "many" in the second to last sentence in reference to need based aid. There is no mention in the last sentence that the "many" pertains to the last sentence. You clearly state "They do not award merit aid (academic scholarships)."

 

[RitaE]

Well - from the perspective of a parent who pays Private School tuition with no aid.

The way I see it, my tuition and fees bill is however much higher in order to support the Financial Aid for students who otherwise would be unable to attend the school. I have no qualms about that - it promotes diversity and it is charitable. My child benefits by having classmates who aren't all cookie cutter clones of himself.

I can't say I'd be all that psyched to be paying more so that other parents can hold onto their own savings account rather than spend it. I'm sure the OP doesn't see it this way but it is a little like saying "I want the education but really don't want to spend MY money on it. You pay for me."

I have important things to do with my money too. We all do.

 

[allison443]

Sorry, I think you need to go read your last statement. You only used the qualifier "many" in the second to last sentence in reference to need based aid. There is no mention in the last sentence that the "many" pertains to the last sentence. You clearly state "They do not award merit aid (academic scholarships)."

Sorry you didn't understand it, but who/what did you think the pronoun "they" in the last sentence referred to? It refers to the subject of the previous sentence ("many" of the top schools)


I will change the period to a semi-colon, so it's all one sentence.

Many (most) of the top schools give only need based aid; they do not award merit aid (academic scholarships).

Clear now?

 

[Dsny4fun]

If you are talking property tax, only a portion goes to the school system.

No one deserves a scholarship. And most schools don't give them just because someone wants one, in my experience.

There isn't any reason to get so angry over the opinion of a stranger. i wouldn't ever assume that someone was going to gift my child an education, but that is just me.

Yes..I'm talking about property tax....and over $6000 IS the school portion.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

When interviewing potential law clerks and other employees, panelists have reviewed each resume for precisely that; school, GPA, relative organizations. We know before the applicant sits down with us where he or she attended and what relative experience he or she brings. So while we never ask where an applicant went to school, we always discuss his or her classes there.

I agree with Plaid Princess, I've yet to hear of anyone at my company that was asked during the interview where they went to school.

 

[Kathi OD]

Alright, this is just admitted curiosity. Why did he continue the interview process if he knew he wasn't qualified? I hate interviewing!!!! On both sides of the table.

He was unemployed at the time and had 2 thoughts. First, that you can never get too much interviewing experience, especially when you really haven't had to interview in 20 years. Second, he had the basic skills necessary for the position (but not in the direct field this company did business). He figured there must be some reason they kept calling him back. When you're unemployed in a period of high unemployment, you'll take a 1% chance over no chance.

 

[luvthemouse71]

Okay so no one at Walmart has a college degree?? Funny how there are people working fast food that have college degrees from some of the best universities but could not find work in their field.

All I can say is, rude much??

But, honestly, would you want that for your child? If you have to work at Walmart to pay bills, nothing wrong with that. But any decent parent is going to want more for their kid than that.

Defensive, much?

 

[Granfan]

We sent ours to private school which kept us from saving for college. We made just enough to keep us from qualifying for aid in both cases. Now our kids are still struggling to pay off large college debt years after graduation. If your public school is decent at all, save your money for college IMO. Good luck whatever you decide.

 

[hipchickie]

Am I missing something?
The OP has all of 2 small posts, but has been accused of a lot of very uncomplimentary things....is this a second account and everyone knows who it really is? Otherwise, I really don't get the harsh treatment

 

[mafibisha]

We sent ours to private school which kept us from saving for college. We made just enough to keep us from qualifying for aid in both cases. Now our kids are still struggling to pay off large college debt years after graduation. If your public school is decent at all, save your money for college IMO. Good luck whatever you decide.

Wow, the bolded part could have been written by my brother 's wife! And they almost sent their kids to private schools but now they are so relieved they did not.
For years they've said the kids grow way faster than you'd ever expect and suddently, college is just around the corner...
And suddenly I can totally agree with because my babies are getting so old way too quickly!!

 

[luvthemouse71]

Am I missing something?
The OP has all of 2 small posts, but has been accused of a lot of very uncomplimentary things....is this a second account and everyone knows who it really is? Otherwise, I really don't get the harsh treatment

No, this is the DIS..certain types will rip your face off with very little provocation. FWIW, i just read the OPs first post on this thread and she was not "indignant" like someone accused her of- just goes to show that reading comprehension often takes a back seat to peoples personal beefs and agendas.

 

[collegejunkie]

No one said they had to go someplace else, but private college is the same as private middle/high school, you either need to pay for it yourself, take out loans or qualify for a merit based scholarhip based on sports or academics.

100% agree.

Well, based on your comments I assume you (or your parents ) are paying the full costs out of pocket for your college education.

So how do you feel about your many classmates at college who receive financial aid? Do you feel they should go someplace they can afford to pay for themselves?

you would be right. we pay for me to go to cornell and my sister to go to yale completely out of pocket. next year, we will also be paying in full for my 2 brothers who will be starting college. oh, and this is my single mother paying for it on her own. yes, i definitely think they should be going somewhere they can actually pay for or if they want to be at a private school, then they should take out loans. college financial aid in the form of grants is ridiculous, but that is a whole other discussion, so if you wish to have it with me, then feel free to send me a PM and we can certainly talk about it (don't want to stray too far off topic).

as for whoever said top schools give merit aid, not the tippy top. ivies do not give merit aid. i believe most of the top 20 does not, however, i have heard of certain cases when they really want people to study in a certain field they will offer some (i'm using my own personal experience. a friend was told he would get a full ride to vanderbilt if he were to lead their hillel group and study something relating to jewish studies). of course, i only really know about the schools i applied to and there are definitely options out there. tulane, for example, gives great merit aid if you apply early enough.

 

[GinnyEmma]

He was unemployed at the time and had 2 thoughts. First, that you can never get too much interviewing experience, especially when you really haven't had to interview in 20 years. Second, he had the basic skills necessary for the position (but not in the direct field this company did business). He figured there must be some reason they kept calling him back. When you're unemployed in a period of high unemployment, you'll take a 1% chance over no chance.

That makes sense. I thought originally that he couldn't do the job. Thanks, btw. It truly was a wondering question. I hope that he found something he is happy with.

 

[Lewisc]

No, this is the DIS..certain types will rip your face off with very little provocation. FWIW, i just read the OPs first post on this thread and she was not "indignant" like someone accused her of- just goes to show that reading comprehension often takes a back seat to peoples personal beefs and agendas.

I didn't post in this thread. I suspect 100% of parents would prefer financial aid over having to spend savings. The school isn't prepared to give free tuition to every parent who asks.

The OP didn't really give any reason why their child should be singled out for extra aid. Some of the posters may not have been very diplomatic but schools may go "overboard" with aid if a student has something special to add--musical talent.

The tone of the OP kind of opened up the kind of replies that are in this thread.

It sounds like the OP doesn't work. A part time job to help pay is one option.

The OP needs to decide how bad the public schools are. Graduating near the top of the public school, with activities, might be better (in the long run) then graduating near the middle of a private school. Particularly if the child doesn't have any time for activities. Now if the public school is read bad my answer would be different.

 

[kt_mom]

I had avoided this thread becasue I thought it might get nasty. But as a parent that pays private school tuition I'd like to throw my 2 cents in.

I'm not sure what kind of cost the OP is looking at, I only know what we pay for DD to go to a private Christian school. I think the school does offer some financial aid to people with lower incomes, but I would say its not much and not often. But I don't really know the specifics. They do offer a discount to families who are tithing members of the church but we go to a different church so we don't qualify for that.

The public schools in our area are pretty good for the most part and if we had to send her there she would be okay. But we CHOOSE to send her to private school and thus we CHOOSE to take on that financial burden. "Burden" isn't really the right word, we are thankful we can do this for her.

Anyway, I am thankful that the school can help some students out financially but at the same time I wouldn't want them to just hand it out to everyone that asks. One of the main reasons I work is so that we can continue to send DD to this school. I would LOVE to be a stay at home mom especially now that we have DS. (I stayed home with DD until she was 3) But sending DD to this school is important to us and so we sacrifice to make that happen and I work.

I mean I guess we could cut out all spending on anything extra (vacations, eating out etc.) but we don't want to do that. We could dip into our savings, but we don't want to do that either. So I work.

OP, I don't mean to sound mean, but it sounds to me like you could make the means to send your child to the private school, but you don't want to. Like I said, I'd love to be a SAHM, but keeping DD in her private school is important to us. I don't think being a SAHM should qualify you for financial aid. Get a job part time or use your savings, but don't put your financial burden on other families who may already be making sacrifices to send their children. there.