Financial Aid Frequently Asked Questions

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Q. Who may apply for financial aid?
A. Anyone is welcome to apply for aid, boarding and day candidates alike. Families interested in applying for financial aid should check the appropriate section on the basic application form. The Admission Office will then forward the appropriate financial aid application forms.

Q. What is Blair’s tuition?
A. For the 2010-11 academic year, day student tuition is $32,500 and boarding student tuition is $45,700 (this includes room and board).

Q. Where do I begin the process of applying for financial aid?
A. Families should go the School and Student Service for Financial Aid website (SSS) at sss.nais.org to begin the process. Families should complete the PFS online and send copies of all supporting documents to SSS in Randolph, MA – including copies of the 2009 and 2010 tax returns along with all proofs of income. We encourage families to order a copy of the report for themselves. We request that a photocopy of the completed PFS be sent directly to Blair.

Q. When is the financial aid application due?
A. February 1, 2011. PFS forms should be completed by January 15th to allow adequate time for processing. We do not reserve funds beyond the initial round of awards for late applicants or for those whose Parents’ Financial Statement or tax forms are received after stated deadlines.

Q. Does Blair have any athletic, art or academic scholarships?
A. No. All financial aid is distributed on the basis of financial need.

Q. How is need assessed?
A. The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) has established guidelines to help schools manage their financial aid programs in a manner that will be generally consistent from one school to the next. The information you provide will be used by the School and Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS) to calculate an estimate of how much you can afford to contribute to your child’s education. The Blair Academy Financial Aid Committee then uses this estimate, along with the other information you provide, to determine a recommended family contribution and subsequent financial aid award.

Q. What is the Blair school code, to be used on the PFS, line 7a?
A. 1720

Q. If parents are divorced or separated, who fills out the financial aid application?
A. Each parent, regardless of custodial arrangements, must fill out a complete financial aid application.

Q. What if I have more than one child in school?
A. Tuition expenses for all children in tuition charging schools (excluding graduate school) will be taken into consideration. Blair requires that families apply for aid at each of the institutions their children attend. Blair cannot subsidize tuition for other tuition-charging schools.

Q. If we have more than one child applying for financial assistance, do we have to complete more than one financial assistance application?
A. No. Please note that the Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) now allows you to apply once for all children.

Q. What if we own our own business or farm?
A. If you own a business or a farm, you must download the business/farm statement from the NAIS website (www.nais.org) and submit it directly to Blair.

Q. What if our tax information isn’t available at the time of the application?
A. We understand that your 2010 Federal Tax Form 1040 may not be completed prior to February 1, 2011. However, all financial aid awards are tentative until receipt of those returns and the verification of supplied income, asset, and tax estimates. It is imperative that these forms be forwarded to the Director of Financial Aid as soon as possible after they become available.

Q. If we receive financial aid in our child’s first year, will we receive the same award in subsequent years?
A. You must reapply every year for financial aid. Your award will be adjusted based on changes in your family’s financial situation.

Q. Do I really need to explain all circled item numbers on the PFS?
A. Yes!

Q. Is the financial aid application confidential?
A. All information contained in the application materials is strictly confidential – it is used solely for the determination of demonstrated need by the Director of Financial Aid and the Financial Aid Committee.

Q. What if our financial situation is complicated or is changing significantly right now?
A. Send a detailed letter if there are circumstances that Blair should consider when determining your financial need. Be as specific as possible with dates and figures. Parents who return to school or change jobs as a personal choice must realize that a resulting decrease in their family income cannot be underwritten by financial aid from Blair.

Q. Are there any loan programs available?
A. While Blair may offer a financial aid package that includes a grant and a fixed-rate low interest loan, there are also low-rate educational loan options from Your Tuition Solution. Additional information on financing resources can be found at the National Association of Independent Schools.

Q. What if I have more questions about Financial Aid?
A. Contact:
    Heather Eckert
    Associate Director of Admission
    Director of Financial Aid
    Blair Academy
    Phone: (908)362-2024
    Fax: (908)362-7975
    eckerh@blair.edu

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