How does School Year Abroad determine financial need?
Financial need is the difference between the cost to attend School Year Abroad and the amount a family is able to pay. Like over 2,000 other U.S. schools, SYA uses the guidelines established by the School and Students Service for Financial Aid (
sss.nais.org) to help assess a family's ability to pay for independent education.
The SSS methodology considers the income, assets and expenses of both the student and the parents, and the education costs for all children attending tuition-charging schools. The goal of the Financial Aid Office at SYA is to ensure that each family's financial contribution towards tuition is feasible.
Will applying for financial aid affect my chance of being accepted?
No. SYA accepts students based on academic excellence and personal qualities, not on their ability to pay. We review applications for financial aid after students are accepted. Financial aid is limited however, so we cannot guarantee that all students who qualify will receive grants.
I am receiving financial assistance from my child's school now, would I qualify for an award from SYA?
Families receiving need-based aid from their home schools normally do qualify for aid from SYA. However, we cannot answer this question definitively without seeing your financial aid application.
Do you have to have my most current tax return? I usually file close to the deadline.
Yes. We understand that your 2012 Income Tax Return may not be prepared by our application deadline. Therefore, we ask you to estimate your tax information on the Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) and submit the most recent tax return available. We must have a copy of your most recent Income Tax Return with schedules before we can confirm your financial aid scholarship award.
What other financing options are available?
There are a number of other options available which may meet your needs. National Association of lndependent Schools offers a list of vendors on their website,
www.nais.org. You can also
view the NAIS Family Guide to Financial Aid here.
If you have any other questions, please contact the Financial Aid office at 978-725-6828.