Can someone give me the skinny on prep financial aid? All the schools talk that it's driven off income. There has to be other factors. Seeing so much discrepancy between families we know. Blue collar guy on our team makes 100 and gets 15,000 toward total. Executive guy on team makes 250 and get 45 toward total. What are all the factors?

They will take as much as they can from each family. Especially after past two years.

Negotiations. And how much they want your kid. That’s what determines final price.

I have been through 3 separate negotiations. There are a lot of factors. I have also had some pretty frank discussions with other coaches where we knew it was not going to work, after we found a place that it would.

Smaller schools with less money: The coach will have only so many spots he can offer where the athele will be accepted and receive what they consider to be their best aid package. These would be for "can't miss" guys from trusted programs or sources or from how much scouting they have done themselves (rare). After that it is finding guys with more to offer than just hockey or maybe where they are from etc to fit with what the school sees as important (grades) and working/negotiating to get them in for as little aid as they can need to part with until they are out.

Larger Schools - Will still most likely have the option to offer more aid, regardless of financial situation but if they are not chasing you, that is not going to happen. They will give you a solid amount based on your financial profile but most likley will not meet your need 100%, assuming you made things look worse than they are. In most cases its as much about getting you through admissions which can be tough. The coach may like your kid but if they cant make it work, they just move on to the next or look through their full pay kids to fill out thier roster.

Bigger schools have large rosters, many full pay kids sitting on the bench watching the games with parents justifying it because they get to practice with Varsity. Coaches are not honest with you, they can not be. They have to operate within a system where, if they were honest and told someone dont waste your time, they could be diciplined or fired.

Aid is often an ego thing and many are dishonest, like they are with other things in their life. They think somehow saying their kid gets more aid means they are an amazing hockey player. Funny thing is I see teams where the full pay guys run the show regardless of their kids ability. Coaches try to surround them with talent to make them appear better than they are. Great aid kids and ok full pay kids play. The rest fill in the gaps and give them rest.

Hard truth of it all is that your kid has to be amazing, regardless of aid. My son got tons of aid to go to a school where the coach didnt want him and gets the same amount, if not a little bit more where he plays. He played enough but not as much as the full pay guys and thier senior studs but a good amount. He may play more or less next season it really depends on who is coming in. Prep is exactly like every other hockey oportunity, you have to be better than the politics, meaning you have to be able to influence the game with the connected guys on the ice as they are happy to lose.

Hope this helps its hopefully enough about the aid. I still pay 20 k a year but my son is getting a way better education and loving his overall experience. Lots of time in the offseason and on campus to keep training and trying.

Definitely don’t settle for the first offer. I didn’t apply for fin aid but I know people that didn’t accept the first offer and got much more just for asking. It is supposed to be income based but other factors are number of kids, house price, other expenses medical etc.

I'm on the upper end of your example. I also have 2 kids in college and loads of bills. We had offers of zero and offers of 80% covered tuition. It's not like the FASFA for college. You get to show where all your money goes. If your kid is a really good player I wouldn't be afraid to drive a hard bargain. Some kids really are difference makers for a team and the schools know it.

If they want your kid they will pay, bottom line

Schools in the ISL are supposed to be all based on need. That's the league rule.

As others have said, there is certainly room for negotiation, but that obviously depends on how much the school wants your kid. Boarding schools have seen applications skyrocket the last couple of years, so some schools have people lined up to take spots that someone might not want.

Prep schools have become pay to play. If you have the money your kid will play prep. Simple as that. Multiple cases this year of boys and girls who are really talented players but didn't get the aid they needed and have to look at other routes. You going to give a kid 40 k a year on a 70k tuition when you have a bunch of rich kids or parents who are willing to borrow and go in debt and pay full price. I think not. These schools arent stupid. Money, money, money.

spot on.

Nailed it. Its what is wrong with the entire system. Its a broken system. We make 200k and I am supposed to be rich. I fill out the FASFA for my kids college and it shuts off as soon as I enter our income. Zero money from gov. Luckily we have saved in the 529 but I still drop over 50 for the two in college and a special needs child. Mortgage, utilities, cars, medical bills, retirement etc. It doesnt leave much left is my point. According to these prep schools I should dip into my retirement or house equity to pay for their 70k tuition. Not going to happen. The rest of the entire country doesnt do it this way and I am shocked that their arent better alternatives for full time teams. My brothers kid plays AAA in the Midwest and everyone thinks he is crazy for paying 10k plus about 8 k in travel. 18k for a full season from late August through March. 70+ games. 6 of the big showcase tournaments. 2 -80 minute on ice sessions a week, 2- 60 minute off ice sessions a week in the clubs personal weight room which is beautiful with the club trainer, position specific 1 hour practice 1 x a week. Dedicated locker rooms ( make some colleges look shabby) where the kids get to leave their equipment. Skates are cut for free every 2 weeks. Includes equipment package of helmet, gloves, pants shell, 3 pairs of socks, 3 of the high end jerseys, bag, travel suit, shorts, sweats, hoodies, tee shirts etc. He sends his kid to a college prep school that cost 14k. 32K a year all in and his kid is getting a great education and is home sleeping in his own bed every night. You tell me which is a better model?

The prep model with the country club setting has become unsustainable save for the top 5% on up.
I have never seen the income divide get so big and purchasing power erode as quickly as it has.

Meanwhile schools keep raising tuition and everything else not immune to the (government induced) inflation either. Hockey is expensive and getting pricier.

I believe you will see more Austin Prep type models pop up. Playing Prep teams and getting a good education for 26k vs 70k has its advantages. They already have wait list for next year's 9th grade class.

AP - "get a good education"...:joy:

Isn't it weird that the entire rest of the country gets by without Prep school? Really strange that my brothers kids went to Brown and Williams right out of their local public high school. Keep drinking the Kool Aid partner.

This guy is right but hey, do like most of america, be a pretender, Overspend, lease your bnmw, borrow for school and you will get bailed out like my neighbors.

you beat me to it - 100% agree.

If your kid loves hockey thats the way to do it!
Full Season teams are the way to go.
The Academy model will dominate here in the next 2-5 years as it already is in full stride for these reasons.

HS hockey in the Midwest is even cheaper, like dirt cheap, and still a viable path to juniors. Lot of HS kids out of North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan get drafted into Tier 1&2. Just need to supplement the season with before/after teams that play in the showcase events to get your kid looks. The Midwest NAHL teams all sponsor B/A teams. Even then, AAA hockey in the Midwest isn't terrible depending on the program. I know several places where it is $7500 plus billet of $350-$400 per month and the player open enrolls into very solid public schools.

Beginning to think the sport would be much, much better off if everything returned to HS hockey. Minnesota has it right. Play HS hockey and supplement with B/A teams, HS Elite League, High Performance League, etc.

The impending economic collapse facing this country will force this transition.

Some of NEPSAC maybe but not ISL. ISL is 100% need based. A lot of you talk a lot but have ZERO idea. Some of you have deep 6 figure household incomes, well funded retirement accounts, own stocks and inherited property... but you have your hand out for financial aid and complain when you don't get it. FOH

I cant speak for NEPSAC but ISL schools are generous and meet their funding goals with donations from their wealthy alumni, not tuition. My family for example, our household income is 6 figures (albeit barely), I have a mortgage like everyone else, 2 car notes, minimal retirement account, and some savings. We support 2/4 of our kid's grandparents financially so believe you me nothing about our family screams rich or wealthy. But I admit we are still better off than most.

We received a financial aid package where we pay 7K out of pocket. Yes my kid is a solid hockey player, 1st line varsity, but he isn't NTDP good. He isn't USHL Phase I draft pick good. He wont play D1, he'll most likely play juniors T2 or ACHA, so Hockey obviously isn't the motivating factor for said grant. Grades, the arts, and athletics make your kids more desirable for admission, thats a fact... but for ISL schools grant money comes down to financials.


The ISL does right by their families. They are transparent with other ISL schools about their grants. One ISL institution has access to another ISL institution and can see how they calculated their grant offer. They can choose to match if they want to. Everything is above board.

I cannot speak for NEPSAC schools though. It's clear that places like Cushing, Holderness, and the like value athletic ability much more than ISL schools and will offer a size-able grant for a hockey prospect. But there are NEPSAC schools where your kid needs to make an academic case or an artistic case in addition to an athletic case to get into the school. (Deerfield, Choate, etc) much like the ISL.

ISL schools are transparent. They aren't cut throat nor chase tuition money like some of you try to make it seem. NEPSAC however....maybe someone else can chime in about them.

I wish I could agree with you but our experience was much different. Applied to 3 ISL schools. Excellent hockey player mostly A student with a few Bs. Involved in multiple outside clubs and plays a couple other sports though not anywhere near his hockey level. 1 school wait listed. 1 school admitted with an offer of 10 grand in aid. 3rd school admitted with an offer of 40 in aid. Obviously not remotely the same offers.

Bottom line...if the school likes your kid (and his game), you'll get an offer. However not all prep schools coaches have the last say, some of them are told not to not even approach admissions for a kid they want, some say: "you can have have 1 kid" who is borderline academically - depends on the school. My son is an average hockey player but a great student in terms of academics and extracurriculars (90% being sports). Of the schools he applied to it was a mixed bag of: Denial (1); Waitlist; In with zero aid and In with 60-70% aid.
The fact is...there is no formula to crack from what I've seen with my kids. If they like your kid, they'll find the money but will NEVER call it a sports scholarship.
Good luck in your quest.

.





If you decided that, because of how special your child is, you would not send your bender to any prep school who did not give a full, 100% paid, scholarship/aid package, despite your substantial wealth, you child's chances of going to Prep school would be substantially diminished.

In contrast, if you applied as a full pay applicant, your talented einstein/crosby bender would have a much higher likelihood of attending a Prep school.

Despite the obvious preference that everyone has to pay less, rather than more, many, many parents are willing to pay full freight to provide an enhanced experience for their child. This is evidenced by the college admissions scandal where parents paid up to $500K to bribe their kids into the college of their choice.

Talented kids are not in short supply, and neither are families who have resources they are willing to expend.

Good luck!









.

We found offers all over the place from different schools. My wife and I make good money (240). We have 2 in college and plenty of bills. Retirement is well funded. We received offers from zero to 40. We took a 35 offer to day school at an ISL school close to our house. We pay 23

ISL schools having access to other ISL school grant info doesn't seem right but I literally know nothing.

That's a fact. ISL Financial Aid departments share financials about prospective students.

5 Person Household
$200K Combined
1 Mortgage
2 Cars
Normal Bills
Minimal Retirement Fund
No Stocks/No Bonds
No other real estate holdings
Support 1 Grandparent

4.0 (GPA Good School District)
Varsity Hockey- 1st Line MIAA D2 as a freshman
JV Soccer
Freshman Lacrosse

Our kid applied to 4 ISLs.
1 Waitlisted and eventually didn't get in.
1 25K. Told this school about other 2 offers, they investigated and couldn't (or wouldn't) match
1 30K. Told this school about better offer, they investigated and upped grant to 50K
1 50K. Told this school about match and said they couldn't grant more. Our kid chose this school in part because the coach and admissions department made him feel wanted. (4K out of pocket)

We were open with the schools, and the schools were open with us. A lot of back and forth and cooperation by everyone. Found a great landing spot, and my kid is happy with his decision.

He/ She is an insider. That is all you need to know.

^ What? An insider at 4 different schools?

You need only do your research and ask questions about the process, like how they arrived at their grant number. Too many families take what is offered and do not ask for consideration. It might be a costly health condition, parental support, spousal support, a layoff, etc. You can even include the yearly amount your family spends on youth sports for all your kids. Everything is taken into consideration. You just have to be a willing parti****nt in the process. You know what else goes a long way? Making sure your kid reciprocates the school's interest with visits, zooms, and face to face dates with teachers, department heads, coaches, students and Alumni. If they can gauge that the family has a vested interest in the kids education and will be a willing parti****nt in the kid's years at the school then they will be more willing to accept the kid into the school and offer a decent grant.

Those Parents who want to simply sign a tuition check and drop the kid off in August, then are AWOL until May are not the kind of families they are looking to admit.

Some of you will burn countless hours online looking for "proof" to justify your flat earth beliefs but can't be bothered to research how to help your kid apply to Prep schools. Then you wonder why your kid gets waitlisted or your grant letter sucks.

But cool story bro, I'm an "insider".

Typical American. "Minimal Retirement Fund"
You better get your kids a good education because they are going to supporting your dumb ****

Hey donkey.... you ever stop to think that some bloodlines haven't been here since the Mayflower. Perhaps the income they've earned has gone to their own education, house, car, and now their own kid's education? So yeah... minimal retirement fund is more likely to be the norm than not.

Then don't complain when your working at 75 and sucking the teet off the government. Always an excuse. Drive a Civic instead of a BMW and use the difference for your 401 dumb ass. I can send my kid to prep school but I can't fund my retirement. Brilliant!

Teet of govt. That says it all. Thanks for playing Q.

This is the type of donkey who follows anything Tucker spits out then calls others sheep. Lumps Prep school families into two groups, those that can't afford it but still send their kids, and those that are filthy rich and tuition is a drop in the bucket.

Both are either stupid or elitest. Stop me when I'm wrong

Life must be bliss for a simpleton like yourself.

Happy vs Mad, us vs them, Prep vs MIAA, Fox vs CNN, Fed vs E9. Am I right?

So which is it? Will your tax dollars support me? Last I checked I'm the one paying for your mommy and daddy's social security. Or are my kids destined to support me? I'm sure they'll insist on supporting me seeing as their ISL and Ivy league degrees will get them far enough to afford to... if they wanted to. Don't get mad, MIAA hockey rocks, and UMass is a decent school.

Now go eat a foot long hot dog MAGA loser.

actually you sound pretty unstable. not rare in the hockey world I guess.

I wasn't the guy that wrote the message but come on. You talk about making 200k in your example but have nothing in your retirement account and are sending kids to prep school? Absolutely no one to blame but yourself. Terrible money management.

Could this guy be any more of an unstable douche? Nice rant Jack. I have zero money but the world is OK because my kids have an ISL degree. Making fun of a University and kids that go to public school. I hope those prep schools are proud of you. The stereotypical prep parent. Im an ****hole and in debt up to my eyes but my kid goes to prep school. Woo hoo. You might want to visit the lady down the street with the sign hanging out front. Healthy dose if Lithium may be in order.

My kid starting UMASS Amherst next year, navigated a highly rated public HS with top grades and took 7 AP classes. Is self sufficient and we never did any helicopter parenting with private tutors etc. I think they'll be ok and is already talking graduate school/possibly med school. We have plenty of financial assets & travel a lot. We plan on retiring somewhat early. I don't think prep schools mean as much anymore, the world has changed with more opportunities for the highly motivated. Go UMASS! with an extra $200k in the bank.

Guys, its MR. It Must Cost $200K To Attend Prep School! Lets see how that Grad school, Pre Med path is doing after sophomore year at ZOOMASS! Playing hockey or no? Was he "recruited" for the Club team?

‘Talking med school’
I wish that was all that it took to actually matriculate into med school. Enjoy your extra 200k which will be 100k very soon if it’s in the market. Can you get your kid to start talking about how to earn 10% in the market. Might actually be easier than getting into med school and I sure could use it with 3 kids a3ay at prep.

Good to see the broke Kool Aid drinking prep dad is back. Doesn't have a retirement fund but loves paying those prep school bills.
He is one smart guy.

My kid is talking about being a super hero, maybe they will be roommates

More like the norm? Who the hell doesnt save for retirement? Hell I'm 52 and have 2.3 million in my 401k. Try saving some of your money and having your company match it. You must have missed that in your ISL eco class. Historical avg return of the S & P is 10.5%

You have cr*p sh*t in your retirement account but certainly not 2.3 million. You are so full of **** it’s laughable. At least try to make the timeline work to be not so blatantly obvious in the stuff you make up.

Not sure why you are jealous? Timeline? Its called working for 31 years and always contributing to my retirement account. Its simple saving and compound interest. What the flock dont you get about that? When I started my first job I started with 7% taken out matched by 4% by my company. In my 30s I went to 9%. In my 40s I was at 11% and maxing and had to add a Roth. Not sure what you dont get? Its not that hard. Some of us went to school, kept going to school and had real 6 figure jobs. Some of us learned how to save and made sacrifices to fund our 401 and 529s. Others spend on cars, multiple houses or go in debt to put their kid through prep school. I got 10 more to work and my goals are reached. Good luck living with the kids.