General Education

3 Things NOT to Say To Your Financial Aid Officer

3 Things NOT to Say To Your Financial Aid Officer
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Jodi Okun April 13, 2012

The financial aid officer is there to help you. Use these tips to have an honest and thoughtful conversation.

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Meeting with a financial aid officer about paying for your child's education can be nerve-wracking but Noodle Expert Jodi Okun takes you through the three things you'll want to avoid in the Financial Aid Office.

If you're a parent helping your teenager prepare for college, you may suddenly be wondering how you're going to pay for this monumental investment. You're not alone.

If you're planning to pay for your child's college education, meeting with financial aid officers can be a stressful exercise, but a necessary one. But there are 3 things you should never tell them during the interview. Read on to find out what those 3 things are.

1. Never tell them that you don't know how much money you need. Telling the officer this can reveal a lack of commitment on your part. A simple calculation of how much you can afford minus what college will cost will provide a ballpark of the amount of money needed. A lack of research can be misconstrued as a lack of concern.

2. Never claim that another school offered you more financial aid. Whether it's true or not, playing this card rarely ends well. The financial aid officer on the other side of the table is there to help you. By appearing like you really don't need their help, you probably won't get it. They will probably - and rightfully - move on to a family who is more worthy of their time and effort.

3. Never compare the amount of money they've given to someone else to what they're offering you. Your financial aid officer is not there to conduct and auction on your behalf. They're there because they assume you really need the help. Every family's circumstances and needs are different and should be handled as such. Trying to barter by comparing the amount of money granted to someone else indicates a lack of trust in the financial advisor you've asked to help you.

The bottom line is that your financial aid officer is there to help you, and that can only be accomplished if both parties are honest and respectful.

This article was originally published on March 27th on College Financial Aid Advisors

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