At Far Brook, we strive to enroll students who will contribute to and benefit from the Far Brook School community. We are committed to having a student body that includes a range of economic backgrounds and each year designate a portion of the operating budget, as well as income from endowed funds, to help eligible families defray some of the cost of an independent school education. In the 2010-2011 school year, approximately $600,000 was awarded to 12.6% of our students. Awards were granted in every grade level and ranged from a small percentage of tuition to nearly full tuition.

Eligibility for admission is determined without regard to financial need. Once a student has been admitted by the Admissions Committee, the family’s tuition assistance application is reviewed and the amount of the award, if any, is determined. Because financial situations may change from year to year, everyone who receives tuition assistance is required to re-apply annually.

As we evaluate individual eligibility, we maintain the general philosophy that families should prioritize education over other discretionary expenses. Given our limited resources and our objective to make Far Brook available to students who would not otherwise be able to attend, we are unable to subsidize lifestyle choices such as second homes, extensive charitable contributions to other organizations, under-employment, or expensive vacations. As such, we ask families to look to their own resources first and to request only the amount they are unable to cover after reasonable sacrifices have been made. It is our desire to be as fair and generous as is possible.

Far Brook uses the School and Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS), an affiliate of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) to analyze financial disclosures and evaluate each family’s specific need. SSS is used widely by independent schools to provide an objective assessment of a family’s ability to pay tuition. Their analysis considers total income, assets, number of dependents, other tuition expenses, extraordinary expenses, and retirement needs and provides Far Brook with the amount a family can contribute to tuition after allowing for a "modest standard of living." Far Brook is not bound by the contribution level suggested, but uses SSS results to ensure consistency in allocating funds.

To be considered for tuition assistance, the following steps must be completed by the deadlines indicated in the Financial Aid Calendar, below.

Financial Aid Calendar
For the 2011-2012 School Year

Indicate your interest in applying for financial aid by checking the box provided on the application for admission.

December 2010
Begin working on your Personal Financial Statement (PFS). This can be completed online at  www.nais.org.  Do not wait for official tax documents. If you prefer to complete a hardcopy PFS and mail it to the processing center in Randolph, Massachusetts, please mail it as soon as possible, to allow for additional processing time.

By February 1, 2011
Complete the PFS form online or mail the PFS to School and Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS) in Princeton, New Jersey. If you choose to mail the form to SSS, also mail a copy of the PFS directly to Far Brook School.

By February 11, 2011
Mail copies of 2010 W-2’s, 1099’s, and completed, signed 2009 tax forms directly to Far Brook School.

On or about March 10, 2011
Far Brook School will mail enrollment contracts and financial aid grant letters to applicants who have completed the instructions above.

By April 10, 2011
Mail a copy of your completed, signed 2010 tax forms, including schedules, directly to Far Brook School. Failure to do so may result in loss of your financial aid award.

Spring 2011
Far Brook School will notify families on the financial aid waiting list if any additional aid becomes available.

We understand that this information is of a most personal nature and assure you that all income disclosure documents are kept strictly confidential.

If you are interested in applying to Far Brook, but unsure about either your ability to pay or your eligibility for financial aid, we encourage you to contact us.

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