We believe that finances should not be a barrier to a Vistamar education. Applying for financial assistance in no way affects a candidate’s chances for admission. The admissions review is carried out by a separate committee, and the financial access committee only reviews those candidates who have already qualified for admission.
Our financial assistance awards are intended to supplement family resources. We do not give any 100% awards; all families are expected to contribute toward their students' tuition at some level. Financial assistance decisions are based on need, but it is not possible to meet all requests for financial assistance. Completed applications are reviewed by the Financial Access Committee, which works diligently to allocate available financial access funds fairly and consistently to meet the needs of the entire Vistamar community.
Vistamar School has a rolling admissions process, and therefore, a rolling financial assistance process. However, due to limited available funds, there is often a waitlist after the first round of awards. Those families truly interested in receiving a financial access award should make every possible effort to meet the February 6 deadline. Funds occasionally become available after the first round of awards have been made. Families in the rolling admissions process are encouraged to complete the financial access application and remain on the waitlist. We continually work to find sources of funding, and often have success in moving students off of the waitlist and into enrollment. While families are encouraged to be realistic, remaining on the waitlist is advisable.
The 2009-2010 financial access applications will be processed by FAST (Financial Aid for Student Tuition), a division of Independent School Management (ISM). Applications will be mailed to returning families and new prospects who have submit inquiries, starting on December 8. Awards are mailed with enrollment contracts in March.
If you are interested in applying for assistance, please call 310-643-7377 to request a financial access application package, or email financialaccess@vistamarschool.org.
For more general information about ISM or FAST, please visit: http://www.isminc.com.
Q.
Why is independent school so expensive?
A.
Vistamar School provides a learning environment that emphasizes small classes, mentoring relationships between students and teachers, and a focus on the growth of the individual student. With average class sizes of 16 students, and with fully staffed resource centers in every academic discipline, Vistamar provides the staff necessary for individualized attention to each student. This philosophy of education comes at a cost. Vistamar, like other independent schools, will spend over two-thirds of every tuition dollar on “people costs”.
Q.
How much financial access funding is available?
A.
Financial access is a key goal of Vistamar School. Our Founding Board of Trustees has set as a guiding principle of the school that at least 12% of the school’s gross tuition revenue be reserved to provide financial assistance to students with demonstrated need. It is our intent that a significant percentage of each class – 18% to 25%-- receive partial financial assistance. Priority is given to returning students who are reapplying for aid.
Q.
Will my child’s chance of admission be hurt if I apply for financial access funds?
A.
No. Admissions decisions are made independently of financial access decisions. The Admissions Committee does not receive the financial access application, and financial need is evaluated separately by the Financial Access Committee.
Q.
If I own a home does that disqualify me from receiving financial access funds?
A.
No. Financial access funds are awarded based on the financial need of the families applying and on the funds available in the school's budget for the next year. We recognize that a family may own their home and still not be in a financial position to allow them to pay a full independent school tuition without significant financial strain. The size of the tuition awarded will reflect our best assessment of the financial need of the family, given the school's available funds.
Q.
Will students be pressured to perform academically in order to retain their financial access award?
A.
Financial access funds are based solely on the financial need of the family and does not depend on the academic performance of the student. Ordinarily, as long as the student remains in good standing and the family financial situation does not change, a similar level of financial access funding can be anticipated from one year to the next.
Q.
This is still a large commitment. Why does this make sense for me?
A.
Independent school is an investment in your student’s future. Students in independent schools receive the individual attention, college guidance, and challenging coursework that prepares them to succeed in their adult lives.
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