My son was accepted at a highly desirable, exclusive private middle school. It’s a great fit for him, a place where we think he will thrive. We have the money – but barely. To pay the tuition, we will have to dip into an inheritance (from my father, who intended it to be for our children’s education) and cut back on vacations, home renovations, and other big-ticket items that enrich our lives.
Would it be ethical to apply to the school for financial aid without disclosing the inheritance — which has to last another 40 or so years and help pay for college and our own retirement? Anything the school could give us would help us breathe a little bit easier.
— Strapped
