Although I like Snively's posts, I have an idea. Send an email to the other bloggers offering ice cream if they post, and I'm sure we will get plenty of posts !

By the way, how long does it take to complete a FinAid packet? Because my IDOC was sent out to you guys today.

Usually it takes about a week from the time the College Board receives the IDOC packet for us to be informed that it has been received.

It'll never last. I'm going to stay on the homepage and wait for Snively's post. Maybe I'll get a "first!".

Oh. He's still on the homepage. At least you knocked him off of the sidebar that's on this page. It's the best you're going to get.

lol I have another idea ! Let prefrosh guestblog and I am sure you will get plenty of posts and push Snively off the page. Then again, Snively might do the exact same thing and come back...

Hello! I have a quick question. If MIT recently received the 2007 IDOC documents, but did give me a letter based on 2006 documents, do I get another "confirmed" letter based on 2007 information, or should I just assume that the original letter I got based on 2006's info was final?

We will send you a letter either confirming your award or changing it based on the 2007 information. Typing this from the car...

From the car ? You mean on your cellphone ?

Snively - Daniel is making you look bad! Lol...you two should have a competition in how frequent you post. That'd make things get interesting.

I have some questions about the financial aid appointments during CPW (which are a GREAT idea, by the way!):

1. Are they only for parents, or could I tag along with my mom for one of the twenty-minute sessions?
2. Is there a limit on how many we can sign up for?
3. Do we sign up during CPW or is it a pre-registered sort of thing?

Thanks :)

Yup, on the cell. Gotta love technology.

My financial letter said that the expected student contribution = 0. Does that mean I won't be expected to work? I didn't report any outside scholarships when filling out aid forms

Wow, in the car, impressive! Though I'm not sure how that works, haha. Thanks for answering my question.

It's never gonna work, but you can just keep on going for it! Bwahahahahahaha!

(sometimes I wonder if I abuse my blogging position. . . . nah!)

Here internet is so slow you wouldn't dream of blogging in your car ! So that means you are a fast typer I guess.

Oh, and Daniel, come on, consistent formatting in titles of consecutive posts, sheesh! Is there a space or isn't there? It's a matter of life and death!

1. We hope you come to the appointment since it is your education. That said, we have appointments where it is only parents, it is only students, and it is both.
2. Only one appointment so that we are able to provide the opportunity for everyone. Remember not everyone HAS to have an appointment. I will be dping a speech on Friday afternoon dealing with basic issues so that if you only have general questions they should be answered there. Also we will have staff at the registration area (sometimes me included) who will be able to do some "on-the-spot" counseling to eliminate the need for an appointment.
3. We will take appointment requests on a first-come first-serve basis at the check-in area for CPW. There will be a table there for financial aid appoitments. See you then!!!

lol Go DANIEL ! For once, Snively, might someone else win ? (why do I have a feeling that a post from Snively is coming up...)

If you have a O student contribution it is for one of the following reasons:
1. You are an international student or living in a foreign country. If you live abroad we do not ask for a student contribution but we do not include your travel in your budget. Fair trade.
2. You have some kind of external award which more than covers your self-help and your student contribution. Remember we count Pell as an external award and with our self-help break for lower-income families, if you will receive maximum Pell, you will have no SC. Good on ya.
3. We made a mistake. Hey we're human, but I doubt that we made a mistake. If we did, we'll eventually catch it, so let us know and we'll fix the award.

Can the missing materials be sent by fax or e-mail?

Looks like you managed to push Snively off the "Five Most Recent Blog Entries" listing to the left...

The trick is to get every other blogger to start posting as regularly as Snively. I'd be interested to see a breakdown of how often Snively posts compared to everybody else. I think, lately, the only person keeping up is Daniel.

Daniel: So after you get done with all the freshman apps do you get a breather before you have to move on to transfer students? Or does it go: Freshmen->Returning Students->Transfers? It sounds like you guys deserve a day or two off in between.

FINALLY my prayers have been heard. For a long time, the MiTAdmission page has been like Pittsburg, secure and all nice. Since the WAR between Paul and his followers and Snively, who won after a crucial set of posts in December. We all remember that one.

But this time, I'm voting for DANIEL! Let's work together and bring it on! BLOG WAR EVERYONE!

Daniel,
I re-post my question here and hope I will have an answer.
My case is a bit special: EFC is calculated based on family income and asset, but a large part of my family asset actually comes from my mother's compensation in a court settlement for her car accident injury. So I feel that there is a discrepency between what I've been awarded by MIT and what we've calculated. I don't feel that my dream of attending MIT should be built upon my parent's misfortune, and that money is really for any potential future medical problems associated with the accident. So I was wondering, if I were able to provide proof of this settlement, would my financial aid be reviewed and reassessed?

Oh, man. Who do I root for? Daniel is reviewing the financial aid applications, and probably doesn't have as much time to blog as Snively apparently does. On the other hand, is it really smart to root against moneyman? It doesn't sound financially intelligent. Go moneyman!

My parents are planning on coming to CPW and contesting our award package, but I'm wondering if it would be more productive for my mom just to write you a letter detailing everything that she's planning on discussing at the meeting. Basically, it comes down to the fact that this year we've incurred significant medical expenses that aren't reflected on our 2007 tax returns or any of the other documents that were submitted, because they happened afterwards. Would it expediate things to have her e-mail you and then, if necessary, we can bring documentation etc. to our CPW meeting? Thanks in advance!

You know, using your cell phone in the car can cause you to get into an accident and die. DON'T DO IT AGH!!1

Rose, sorry. I saw your comment but ran out of time today, you know, trying to outflame Snively and all!

On your case, please write a letter to your financial aid counselor explaining the situation and asking for a reconsideration of your award. I tried to look up Rose on our database to see if I could find your case specifically but no luck, so also if you want, you can email me directly.

Yazan, depends on what we are asking for. Some materials can be faxed or emailed. Best advice, send an email to finaid (at) mit (dot) edu or to me and we can let you know.

Ian, my life is hell (but a good hell) until about October. There is no break for us in the financial aid world... :) But I keep on breathing and repeating "I love my job! I love my job!" (but I seriously do love my job -- I've been doing this work for over 20 years now).

Jesus, thanks for the vote of confidence... Nice to know even divinity is on my side!

Karen, write a letter now! It serves you better (you may be able to get an answer prior to CPW) and means that our time at CPW can be better spent at looking at other issues. If you drop off an appeal at CPW, I can guarantee you won't have an answer during CPW since we will be busy meeting with families all weekend. If your appeal is in hand by April 1, you will have an answer in the next several days after April 1.

Steven, I only type while stopped at red lights! (or when stuck in not moving traffic, which on my commute home happens A LOT).

Snively, no comment.

Daniel,
Thank you very much for you answer. I will explain my situation to you or my finance counselor in a letter later. You won't find me in the database, because that is my nickname (Ha..)

Daniel,

If I have no loans in my self-help, but have a parental contribution that my parents find difficult to pay, can I take a loan to cover that?

A. Nani Mass, you can take out loans if you have no self-help to assist in offsetting your PC. Talk with us at CPW about this option, or contact your financial aid officer now...

@ Jesus - Wait, there's a blog war going on? Why am I always the last to know about these things!?

More seriously...I'm frankly sort of flabbergasted by your comment. Snively and I have known each other for quite a while, and as far as I know we've never been "at war." Besides, it would have been quite difficult for a blog war to happen in December, since Snively didn't officially start blogging until January. (And blog, he has!)

Although I guess it is kind of nice to know that I (apparently) have "followers." ^_^

Daniel,

Thanks a lot for such a prompt response (hope you had reached home by then :). I mean I do have a work-study but no loans, so can I take a loan and thus hike up my self-help, thereby offsetting my PC correspondingly?

hahaha I like the idea of a 'blog war'. BTW, bloggers always have followers (essentially). ;-)

Yup, Nani, you can take a loan even if you have work study so that you can offset your parents contribution. Again, best bet is to confirm with a financial aid officer (hah, I almost typed ociffer... as in "ociffer, I am not as think as you drunk I am") and work out a plan with her/him.

Paul, I am a follower! (fair warning, I am after you next!)... :)

We will be going with my son to the Admitted Students meeting on Friday, March 28, in Princeton, NJ.
I was wondering whom from MIT we will be meeting. Any of the bloggers? Maybe Snively?

Don't think that Snively will be there as I have a sneaking suspicion I know where he will be Friday afternoon...

I don't know Barky, all the negative vibes, I just may ditch you for NJ. How's the weather there MIT mom?

Thanks a lot again, Dan. I will certainly work on this as you suggest.

Looking forward to your next blog, and best wishes for your eye surgery.

@Snively:
NJ is springing all over. Trees are budding, flowers are blooming and it's breezy and sunny.
Seriously though, who will be at the Princeton meeting? Two years ago, when my #1 son went to the meeting, the Chorallaries were there and it was a truly magical evening.

@Daniel:
Where will Snively be on Friday?

I'm not telling (said in a slightly sing-songy voice).

And now it looks like Snively's not speaking to me (also said in a slightly less sing-songy voice).

@Daniel
I will say good night to you and Snively.
You guys are hilarious.
If we won't see you on Friday, maybe we will see you at orientation week, since we probably won't be at CPW.

This is suspicious, Snively not going to be at Meet the bloggers...

War blog it is ! Go Daniel and Paul and (I have the right to dream you know) Ben. (sorry Snively, you had your share of victories, no hard feeling. I may root for you if you post about "your mom" remember you promised that post).

Quick question regarding outside scholarships: many of the scholarship deadlines I'm working with aren't until early May, and I won't find out if I revieve the awards until early June, or later. I assume the best thing to do is to leave that area on the form blank, and update you as I recieve responses? Should I list all the scholarships I'm applying for? I'm afraid that would wind up inaccurtate, as my school tends to hand my applications at the last second.

As you suspected, only list a scholarship if you are sure you are receiving it. You can always send us a revised form later indicating you received an award.

And Isshak, I never said Snively wouldn't be at "Meet the Bloggers", I just intimated he has plans THIS Friday (unless he stands me up).

daniel:

i was wondering, if i increased my earning power this summer, beyond the $1900 or even beyond the $2850, would my financial aid package decrease?
(ie, would mit expect me to pay more for my education)

thanks

Uh, oh, moneyman. Snively's got the number one blog right now. Better make sure he doesn't push you off the front page.

I don't know how long this statement will remain accurate for, but has anyone noticed that Snively has been pushed off the front page?