By Murray Cohen, Former Head of School (1999 - 2011)
As
a "scholarship boy" for two years at a boarding school outside Baltimore, I
know that I learned more and differently than I would have at the large urban
public school that I had attended. Quite small classes were new to me, boarding was certainly different,
and crusty teachers who taught their subjects well but also coached and lived
with
their families on campus were a revelation, too. This was a world completely different, growing up as I had
in
the strict demographic divisions that gave firm boundaries to
Baltimore’s neighborhoods. Even though the public high school drew
from various neighborhoods, there was such firm tracking that classes were
mostly homogeneous and social interactions were even more conforming.
I learned a great deal from the differences that I experienced for the first
time, but, in the same sense, I taught others through who I was – my very
underrepresented background in terms of class and religion, my experiences and
perspectives. I taught simply by
being me. In two years, I didn’t
make much of a dent in student leadership in a pre K-12 school with many
seniors who had reached “dirty dozen” status, having been there thirteen
years. But I liked to write, was
encouraged to represent my views, and was an editor on the weekly newspaper as
a senior. I used that forum, with
occasional adolescent fervor, to let others know what I saw and what I thought.
At College Prep, my much deeper and longer experience with the effects of
financial aid on school culture and the learning experience confirms that while
students on financial aid benefit greatly so does everyone else. College
Prep would not be either the kind of school it is or as good a school as it is
without its “scholarship students.” In our admissions process, which is needs-blind, the teacher-led
committee identifies the prospective students who are the best match for the
school’s educational values, goals, and expectations, the students teachers
would most like to have in their classes. When
we compare that list of “most-wanted” students with
the separately prepared list of students
qualifying for aid, we discover, every year, that more than a quarter of the
students
most likely to make College Prep a better school need
aid. We do not yet have enough
resources to
meet that level of need, but we do our best, and Prep is better, in every way,
for
our being able to welcome those
students.
Every
time we survey our faculty, we learn that their greatest source of job
satisfaction is the quality of the students. Without aid resources, their classes wouldn’t be as
exciting, intellectually spirited, diverse in experiences, backgrounds, and
points of view as teachers expect them to be. Prep’s
distinctive (though not unique) emphasis on financial aid is essential to our
educational identity and performance. Not all schools have similar aspirations, and some don’t try at all, but
here, an egalitarian and meritocratic ethic has always prevailed. As school founder, Mary Harley Jenks,
wrote in the first accreditation report (in 1964): College Prep seeks students
diverse in every way (except in intellectual ability).
So,
who benefits from financial aid? Students on aid certainly do, but every student does and every teacher
does. We all do.
College Prep is committed to providing access to
qualified
students from all socioeconomic backgrounds.
We keep tuition in the lower to middle range among similar
Bay
Area independent secondary schools ($35,410 for
2013-2014), but even that cost puts a College Prep
education beyond the means of many able and worthy students.
The financial aid program is designed to
bridge the gap between what a family can afford to pay and the full
cost of tuition. This year, more than 23% of College Prep students receive financial aid awards, with an average grant of more than $20,000. Almost $2 million
has been designated for financial aid
in 2012-2013, with grants ranging from $2,000 to $32,450.
Families requesting aid are asked to complete a Parents’ Financial
Statement, which is then submitted to the School and Student Service by NAIS. The amount of the aid awarded is based on guidelines
provided by the School and Student Service, as well as the ability of
the school to meet demonstrated financial need.
Once awarded, financial aid will continue through the senior year, as long as continued need is demonstrated.
Awards are revised annually, however, and the Financial Aid Committee
requires an application and financial statement each year.
Financial aid
information is not shared with the faculty or students.
Selection: The Admission Committee at College Prep is not informed about who has applied for financial aid. A
separate Financial Aid Committee determines each applicant’s award amount based
on a Parents’ Financial Statement along with
tax returns and other supporting documents. The school strives to meet 100% of
each qualified applicant’s demonstrated financial need, subject to the
availability of school funds.
Renewal: Awards are given for one
year and must be renewed annually based on continued financial need (as
demonstrated through a complete and on-time financial aid application).
Typically, a family receiving aid can expect financial assistance through the
senior year, but awards may vary year-to-year based on a family’s changing financial
circumstances. All financial aid awards are contingent upon payment in full of
the prior year’s account.
Priorities: First priority is given to
current College Prep financial aid recipients who re-apply on time and continue to demonstrate financial need. Next, newly accepted applicants
are considered. Finally, currently enrolled students who have never before
applied for aid are considered for funding. Current College Prep families with
a documented change in circumstances are encouraged to apply.
Computation: College Prep uses to
the School and Student Services by NAIS to help determine financial aid awards. The formula considers a family’s income, assets, debts, and more through information
provided on the Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS). Additionally, first-time applicants
must supply two-years worth of federal tax returns, complete a supplemental application form, and provide federal tax form 4506-T.
Family Resources: In the case of divorced or
separated parents,
College Prep will consider
the assets of all parents/guardians before making an award. If the applicant has two households,
each household must submit a complete and separate financial aid
application. If one or both parents have remarried, the school will consider
the finances of any stepparents, keeping in mind their obligation to their own
children.
In the case in which one parent has no contact with
his or her child, the custodial parent should submit third-party verification
(from clergy, school administration, etc.) regarding the other parent’s
absence.
An estimated income may be attributed to a parent
who is not employed (in fairness to families in which all parents work).
Financial support from
grandparents or other relatives should be reported on both the PFS and the supplemental application.
Confidentiality:
The Financial Aid Committee maintains strict confidentiality over all
financial aid information. Faculty and students are not informed about
who receives financial aid.
We hope to make the financial aid application process as transparent and easy as possible. Please note:
- The following instructions are for first-time applicants to College Prep. Families currently receiving financial aid at College Prep should click here for detailed application instructions.
- First-time applicants may also click here for detailed application instructions in PDF.
- No financial aid paperwork should ever be sent to College Prep. Your entire financial aid application should either be completed online or mailed to the School and Student Services by NAIS.
If you need help at any point along the way, please call Jonathan Zucker at (510) 652-4364 x2.
-
Attend a Financial Aid Information Session
College Prep will host a financial aid information night on Tuesday, January 8, 2013, at 7:00 PM.
This optional workshop will be held in
College Prep's Buttner Auditorium. Topics covered will include completing the Parents' Financial
Statement using your prior year tax return as a guide, financial aid
policies and practices, and a question-and-answer session.
-
Complete the Parents' Financial Statement (PFS) Online
You may begin your PFS on November 1, 2012. It is due by
January 17, 2013. Please download and read this workbook prior to
beginning your PFS. Complete your PFS online by clicking the logo below.
The school code for College Prep is 2485.
If you have trouble completing your PFS online, the customer service center for parents may be reached at 800-344-8328 or you may call the College Prep Financial Aid Office at (510) 652-4364 x2.
-
By January 17, 2013:
Complete Required Supplemental Forms
-
Supplemental College Prep Financial Aid Form.
Once completed, this form may be uploaded directly to your online financial aid application (recommended) or mailed to SSS. Detailed instructions are included on the form.
-
Form 4506-T
- Complete lines 1-4
- Print the form
- Sign, but do not date the form
- Either upload the form to your online SSS application or return by mail to SSS.
-
By January 17, 2013: Submit
2011 Tax Form 1040 to School and Student Services by NAIS.
A
signed copy of your 2011 Federal Tax Form
1040, including all schedules, W-2's, 1099's and other supporting
documents.
Please upload your taxes to your online financial aid application by doing the following:
- Log in to PFS Online.
- From your "Dashboard," click on the Academic Year gray button for 2013-14.
- Click on the tab labeled "Manage Documents." NOTE: After you submit and pay for your PFS, it may take up to 24 hours for it to process. Once it has been processed, you will be able to access the Manage Documents page.
- Click the "Browse" button to the right of the document titled "2011 - 1040"
- Locate your document and click on "Upload Documents" to attach your taxes. Once you have uploaded a document, it may not appear immediately in the Received Documents list on the Manage Documents page. It could take up to 24 hours for it to process and appear as "Received."
If you cannot upload your taxes (or you prefer to mail them) please include a Required Documents Cover Sheet when mailing these forms. The address to send your taxes to is:
School and Student Services
PO Box 449
Randolph, MA 02368-0449
- By February 25, 2013: Submit 2012 Tax Form 1040 to School and Student Services
A
signed copy of your 2012 Federal Tax Form
1040, including all schedules, W-2's, 1099's and other supporting
documents.
Please upload your taxes to your online financial aid application by doing the following:
- Log in to PFS Online.
- From your "Dashboard," click on the Academic Year gray button for 2013-14.
- Click on the tab labeled "Manage Documents." NOTE: After you submit and pay for your PFS, it may take up to 24 hours for it to process. Once it has been processed, you will be able to access the Manage Documents page.
- Click the "Browse" button to the right of the document titled "2012 - 1040"
- Locate your document and click on "Upload Documents" to attach your taxes. Once you have uploaded a document, it may not appear immediately in the Received Documents list on the Manage Documents page. It could take up to 24 hours for it to process and appear as "Received."
If you cannot upload your taxes (or you prefer to mail them) please include a Required Documents Cover Sheet when mailing these forms. The address to send your taxes to is:
School and Student Services
PO Box 449
Randolph, MA 02368-0449
- Late February/Early March 2012: Financial Aid Committee Meets
The Financial Aid Committee meets to review applications.
- March 14, 2013: Notification Letters Mailed
Financial aid award letters will be mailed on Thursday, March 14, 2013 along with admission notification letters.
- March 20, 2013: Responses Due From Financial Aid Candidates
Enrollment
contract and non-refundable deposit are due from all students receiving
financial aid awards by noon on Wednesday, March 20,
2013. There are no
exceptions to this due date and
time.