Tips for Prospective Students and Families
My name is Gretchen Ryan and I’m an associate director in the Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment.
I frequently meet with parents of prospective students. Most are anxious about financial aid, and I can certainly understand why. Admission to an Ivy League university is highly selective and the financial aid process can seem like a daunting task. Here are a few of the tips that I always share with parents of prospective students.
- Take the financial aid process step by step. It can help to print a checklist for each schools the student is applying to and keep a separate copy of materials that have been submitted to each school. Different schools can and will have different requirements for their aid application processes.
- Use the calculator on the financial aid websites of the schools that the student is applying to, but understand that these tools are not a substitute for an aid award letter, or a guarantee of aid.
- Research aid programs at all schools that your student is applying to for admissions, and ask questions about any details that you don’t understand.
- Notify the aid offices that your student is applying to of any financial special circumstances that you or your family have.
- Lastly, meet all deadlines and be prepared to respond to any questions that aid officers have about your materials.