In partnering with School and Student Services By NAIS (SSS), we’ve taken the regional cost of living adjustments and data used by SSS to calculate estimated family contributions toward tuition and put them into an easy to understand infographic. We present hypothetical financial situations, and possible tuition contribution, of families in Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, and the National Standard.

The infographic is part of our new free e-book, “Understanding Private School Financial Aid: What it is and How to Apply.”

If you’re contemplating, entering, or already deep into the private school financial aid process, “Understanding Private School Financial Aid: What it is and How to Apply” can help you navigate the waters.

We can give you general picture, but, in the end, every financial aid decision is made individually by each school.

Here’s the important disclaimer:

Keep in mind that all financial numbers we present are only estimates. Every family’s financial situation is unique as is each school’s financial aid program. Each school administers and determines its own financial aid process and awards. Schools do not necessarily use, or apply, metropolitan area Cost of Living Adjustments. Application of any Cost of Living Adjustment comes at the discretion of each school. Your family’s financial aid eligibility could be different at each school to which you apply.

Visualized by AdmissionsQuest, a site for families researching boarding schools. Financial aid data provided by School & Student Services By NAIS (SSS).

Some of the background – we’ve partnered on this project with School & Student Services By NAIS with two goals in mind:

1. to help families understand the financial aid process
2. to give admission officers another way to educate families and make the application process smoother

E-Book Badges!

If you work at a school and would like to share the e-book with your families, we prepared a set of badges that you can embed on your website. They link families directly to the e-book page on our site.

It’s an easy, quick way for families to get their free copy – imagine how much easier the process would be if families already understood the big picture before you started talking to them about it!

Finally, I want to thank SSS By NAIS for all of their support & guidance as we worked through the book & our recent infographic. They’ve been a terrific partner.

As always, let us know if you have any questions or comments (you can leave one below). We’re excited to hear your feedback!

The quick interview draws on Chapman’s experience as new parent facing the cost of saving large sums in her family’s effort to plan for two future collegians.

The projected tuition bill for young parents is enormous and there’s no better time to start planning than today.

His question made us think and a few families and students may benefit from our reply.

The young man’s question (paraphrased as it’s a full paragraph):

I come from a low income family. My parents want what’s best for me and are trying to make sure I get the best education possible. I’m a B+, 10th grader. I, and my parents, are interested in boarding school for me. My current school is in a poor environment. Are there schools with scholarships for kids like me?

I won’t waste the opportunity. Thank you.

Our Answer:

Yes. There are some great boarding schools dedicated to providing opportunities to families and students with limited resources. Here are four boarding schools to consider.

These schools practice an overt commitment to providing boarding school opportunities to students who have limited resources; they share the common commitment of making a boarding school education possible.

Each each has unique admission criteria and they vary in competitiveness. Each evaluates students differently and you’ll need to do your research to see which might be the best fit.

In no particular order:

Girard College

Milton Hershey School

Church Farm School

From Boston.com: “Phillips Exeter to Offer Free Tuition to Some Students: Lower-income pupils targeted“

This quick list is by no means inclusive; it’s truly off the top of our heads and I’m sure we may have missed a school(s).

If you know of boarding school committed to opportunity and affordability by all means leave a comment and/or send us a note.

The conversation closed with a discussion about the benefits of boarding schools and why school fit is so important.

You can listen to their conversation by clicking the graphic below (it will open a new window).

prepGATE, like many other lenders, had exited the boarding and private school loan business during the economic downturn.

Prior to their withdrawal, prepGATE had been a mainstay of the K-12 education financing world with a long history of helping families finance their private education choices.

prepGATE’s return is nothing but good news to families and schools. It means more options and opportunities for everyone.

Welcome back, prepGATE.

“’For the amount of money we spend, the return we get is unbelievable…We change lives,’” foundation founder Russell Wight Jr.

Wight believes that now is time to grow; he’s starting to look for other benefactors who can support The Wight Foundation model in other cities.(NS-L)

The foundation has been quietly supporting and making a boarding school education possible for Newark area students for 25 years with an amazing track record of both support and success.

Newark Star-Ledger writer Eunice Lee takes the foundation’s success and story public in her article, “Foundation That Sends Newark-area Students to Top Schools Looks to Expand to Other Cities.”

From its 1986 beginning, with five students placed in boarding schools, the foundation now places, and supports, “about 25 students every year.” (NS-L)

Wight’s track record is enviable, with few students leaving the program and the bulk going on to four year colleges having earned scholarship monies.

Despite the challenging adjustment- going from Newark to traditional boarding school- Wight students are prepared and rise to the challenge.

Writer Lee relays the experiences of Shakirah Miller-Harrington, Kathleen Da Silva, and Thalia Brownridge-Smith:

“Shakirah Miller-Harrington, 38, was raised by a single mom in Newark. She recalls getting an ‘F’ on an essay at boarding school. She rewrote the paper three times — still all ‘F’s. Her fourth try got her a ‘D.’

Da Silva also recalls struggling. She learned to accept critiques — even when they felt brutal. In English, for example, the entire class dissected essays line by line.

‘It’s not to make anybody feel bad, it was so we could learn,’ she said. ‘I realized you need criticism to get better.’

There were other challenges, too.

‘It was like culture shock to the nth degree,’ said Thalia Brownridge-Smith, a Newark native and Peddie 2000 graduate. She applied to 11 colleges and got into every one, then went to the University of Pennsylvania on a full scholarship.

Miller-Harrington cited misconceptions about Newarkers: ‘Questions used to arise — ‘Do you know how to steal a car?’ “(NS-L)

Wight students return to give-back as adults. Brownridge-Smith teaches in Newark at the school where Miller-Harrington is principal.(NS-L)

Perhaps it’s personal connection and guidance that Wright offers in support of it’s students. The foundation helps students and families prepare for boarding school, and college, staying in continual contact- including foundation founder, Russell Wight Jr.

“Each student’s report card comes across his [Wight's] desk. If he sees slipping grades, he writes a letter.”(NS-L)

“’I beam — I get excited…It’s very hard to describe the thrill, the satisfaction you get from this,” Wight explained to Lee.

The fund marks more that the school’s 65th anniversary, it also honors Timothy Phelps- long-time faculty member, brother of president Norman, and son of school founder Norman, Sr.

“(Timothy was) a passionate Civil War historian, world traveler, lover of animals and devoted family member and teacher…This scholarship celebrates Tim’s life by sharing his principles through the nurturing of future young men dedicated to continued excellence across all platform,” Phelps told Daily Local News writer, Sara Mosqueda-Fernandez.(DLN)

Fernandez describes the Phelps Paragon this way:

“The boys considered for this scholarship must exhibit a variety of talents, personal interest, and a strong desire to learn. According to the administration, he must have also demonstrated compassion toward family, community and others. Qualified recipients have endeavored to broaden their cultural awareness and exposure to global issues while pursuing personal and academic enrichment.” (DLN)

On a personal note, I started my career at Phelps when Norm was head and T. Phelps was on the faculty. T. Phelps was one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet- anywhere. He was also one the great people who make boarding schools work- self sacrificing and always willing to take on a job, or challenge, that other faculty didn’t want to touch. I’m saddened to learn of his passing.

Last night, a reader submitted the title question and it makes for a great post this time of year. Here’s our answer:

There’s no guarantee that a private school will have an opening and move to accept you from their waiting list.

The first order of business is not to close the door(s) at any other school or schools to which you’ve been accepted. These schools are ‘in the bag’ and you should make sure you decide which one you’d like to attend.

That said, if you’re committed ot pursuing a waiting list opportunity, we suggest some basic waiting list strategies.

• Follow-up with the school that has wait listed you.
• Let them know that your first choice is to attend their school and that you will commit to them if extended a place for next year.
• Ask where you stand on the waiting list? Near the top or bottom? Are you likely to be offered a spot? If acceptance is unlikely, you’re better off putting your energy toward choosing a school that has offered you admission.
• If financial aid is part of the equation, you need to find out if an aid package will arrive with a possible acceptance. Acceptance with no financial aid can be an admission deal breaker.

Call or send a note to the admission officer working with you and begin a conversation. Stay realistic and understand that a school that has accepted you- outright- possibly with a financial aid package- might be the best school fit for you.

Keep in mind- no matter what decisions the schools make and no matter what decision you make- if you keep the notion of ‘best school fit’ at the fore of your understanding, you will most likely matriculate in the school that is best for you.

That said- again, no matter what the decision- it’s time to plan.

To help with your thinking and planning, we offer these references:

Prep School Admission & Financial Aid Decisions Arrive in the Next Few

The Admission Process: Decision Time!

Perspectives on Private School Rejection

Tips for Students Accepted at a Private School

Waitlisted at a Private School?

Boarding School Waiting List & Financial Aid Questions

Accepted Student Re-Visit Days

Photo credit: mag3737 via Creative Commons