high school girl doesn't get to be valedictorian

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by epchick

On some of the financial aid paperwork I received I was asked to list every person that my parents support financially. Well at the time that I was a senior in HS, my parents were supporting my brother (who was significantly older than me). He hadn't finished college, and so after a while in the "job force" he decided to go back and get his nursing degree. Well, my parents were paying for his schooling, and he was living at home. I called up Pepperdine to see if it was ok to list him, and the lady said that was fine, that as long as my parents supported 1/2 of his financial obligations that he could be listed.

So i put him on the list. About 3 weeks later, all my "scholarships" that I had received (that was going to cover more than 1/2 of my freshman year's tuition) were taken away. According to whoever was in charge, there was no feasible way that a early 30-year old man could be supported by his family. They told us point-blank that I lied so that I could get some financial aid money because they've never heard of people going back to college to get a Bachelors.

I'm sorry that doesn't happen in Malibu, but a mostly poor, largely Hispanic community (with many first generation US families), it happens.

My mom talked to the Dean of Seaver College, and he wrote her a note pretty much saying how we were SOL and for me to try again next year.

Wow, I'm surprised to hear you were treated that way, and have to believe there was some sort of misunderstanding. How long ago was this? My family has always been very impressed with the way the school conducts itself (financial aid office in particular) - it's a kind, classy place. The school was always very upfront with me and everyone else I knew about the financial aid process and they definitely understood the MANY types of families that apply to the school. BTW, only a few of the students are from Malibu, so that's a bit of a cheap shot you took; half aren't even from the state of California (students come from all states and more than 60 countries), and 9% are hispanic (36% of students are minorities). And about 75% of the students receive financial aid. Pepp was very generous to all of my friends there, and none of us were poor or extremely wealthy. I knew very few people there that did not receive some type of grant or scholarship. That school is really expensive, and they know it; therefore they try hard to make the school "doable" for the students they admit.

But getting back on topic, scholarships are different than grants. Scholarships usually are awarded based on merit or other qualifications; grants can be offered for any reason, but they're usually need-based. Parents need to realize this difference; some parents freak out when Pepperdine tells them that only a small portion of the students get merit scholarships. If they listened, they'd hear that the majority of students get grants, which are basically the same thing when all is said and done. It's money you don't have to pay back!

[AGDee]

Granted, this was a long time ago, but a friend of mine in OT school was 30 and divorced, which was much less common back in the mid-80's. Non-traditional students were a relatively new phenomenon. When she filed for financial aid they wanted her parents financial information. She was outraged. She'd been on her own since she was 20 but they wanted to base her financial aid on her parents' income? Nuts.

When I was talking to a co-worker about financial aid issues, since my daughter has Ivy League aspirations, she said it this way "FAFSA says you can contribute a certain amount no matter what the cost of the school is" and I realized she was right. Of course, my daughter could end up with tons of debt in student loans, but if she becomes the next JK Rowling (as she hopes to), that shouldn't be a problem.. lol.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by AGDee

When I was talking to a co-worker about financial aid issues, since my daughter has Ivy League aspirations, she said it this way "FAFSA says you can contribute a certain amount no matter what the cost of the school is" and I realized she was right. Of course, my daughter could end up with tons of debt in student loans, but if she becomes the next JK Rowling (as she hopes to), that shouldn't be a problem.. lol.

If your daughter is serious about going to an Ivy, most of them have changed their financial aid policies where students from families making below a certain amount (forget what it is offhand, but it's a pretty average middle to upper-middle class 2-family income) don't have loans as part of their aid packages. She's still a few years off from college, so more of their peer institutions will probably step up to the plate by then.

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

If your daughter is serious about going to an Ivy, most of them have changed their financial aid policies where students from families making below a certain amount (forget what it is offhand, but it's a pretty average middle to upper-middle class 2-family income) don't have loans as part of their aid packages. She's still a few years off from college, so more of their peer institutions will probably step up to the plate by then.

I've been following that trend carefully. I think it will also make it that much harder to get into an Ivy because of those policies because more people will realize that an Ivy is financially available, so I'm trying to prepare her and convince her that University of Michigan is NOT below her and is still a highly respected institution that would prepare her for a career in writing/journalism... LOL. I only know of one kid ever from our school district who has been admitted to an Ivy and, while I don't want to dash her dreams, I don't want her being grossly disappointed if she has to "settle" for Michigan (besides, there are no Alpha Gam chapters at any of the Ivy's currently and we do have a chapter with a big beautiful house at Michigan!) Seriously, she did become enamored with Ann Arbor when we went there for a book signing, so she'll probably be fine with going to Michigan if she doesn't make it into an Ivy. She was fascinated with the coffee shops filled with students reading and doing their homework. She was completely thrilled when she saw bulletin boards filled with fliers for poetry reading sessions, etc. A literary geek, that's what she is.

She played (band) at the high school graduation last night and said that all 3 valedictorians gave speeches. (getting back on topic) I don't see why any district would feel they had to have only one valedictorian in this day and age.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by AGDee

I've been following that trend carefully. I think it will also make it that much harder to get into an Ivy because of those policies because more people will realize that an Ivy is financially available, so I'm trying to prepare her and convince her that University of Michigan is NOT below her and is still a highly respected institution that would prepare her for a career in writing/journalism... LOL. I only know of one kid ever from our school district who has been admitted to an Ivy and, while I don't want to dash her dreams, I don't want her being grossly disappointed if she has to "settle" for Michigan Seriously, she did become enamored with Ann Arbor when we went there for a book signing, so she'll probably be fine with going to Michigan if she doesn't make it into an Ivy.

Michigan is a great school, and it would set her up for a great career, or admission to a fantastic grad school if that's her plan. BUT...as far as most Ivies go, she's at a distinct advantage in that she's from the middle of the country, and not from the Northeast Megapolis or Coastal California. I interview kids for my undergrad, and it's really tough...if you're from NYC and half the kids in your graduating class are applying to your dream school.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

Wow, I'm surprised to hear you were treated that way, and have to believe there was some sort of misunderstanding. How long ago was this?

It was back in 2003.