<p>My son heard rumors that it was particularly hard for FA kids last year but I don’t know if there’s really any truth to it. I mean, what do the kids really know about it? The only thing is that during one of his classes, one of the kids mentioned Exeter being need-blind and the teacher (who reads apps) was very prompt to correct him and say the Exeter is most not need blind.</p>
<p>Regarding applicant numbers: The latest “Fact Book” for 2010-2011 makes a note that the figure 2581 represents completed applications where previously, they had counted final or submitted applications. Some time after revisits last year there was some questioning about what was meant when the director said that they had received over 3000 applications and read 2500 of them. He didn’t clarify that the ones not read were the ones not completed and it made a lot of us wonder what was up.</p>
<p>Classical that’s exactly right. More of the current uppers and seniors are on FA. Once they graduate the overall FA rate could go down therefore free up more FA spots for new students</p>
<p>But assuming that the senior class received about the same level of aid you reported that the junior class received (56%), the 2010 FA level would have been at about 49%, right? Otherwise the overall FA rate would be closer to 42%.</p>
<p>My guess is that the overall budget was maintained at the 2007-2008 levels because of the 2009 cutbacks. The original article said that part of the reason for the sharp reduction in aid was that the graduating class that year had had an unusually high number of FP students. They lost that income, and decided to make up for it with the 2009 applicants. I wonder if it was mostly 10, 11, and 12 grade students who were denied because of FA that year, to even out the amount of aid given to each class. </p>
<p>I suspect that they’re trying to keep FA for each class around that 47% level so that they don’t exceed their budget or end up with another uneven blip year where all the FP students leave. Maybe that’s why Exeter is not needs blind, but still gives aid to more students than most other schools (including Andover)–which once again makes me wonder how Andover manages to be need blind and keep its FA below 50%–why wouldn’t there, at least some years, be more FA than FP students?</p>
<p>At any rate, I agree that it will probably be a good year for FA students–I just think last year was a pretty good year too.</p>
<p>“The Trustees agreed to continue the financial aid budget at substantially the same level for next year” sounds to me like continuing from last year, which was 2009, but you could be right - FA students/families of 2010 were luckier than those of 2009.</p>
<p>As for your question about need-blind, my understanding is that need-blind only defines how financial neeed is not considered when admission decision is made, how many admitted students end up receiving FA actually has more to do with how admission is conducted. If high test scores, good grades from respectable schools and extracurricular activities of high qualities are emphasized, then there is a natural tendency that more wealthier, upper-middle or middle class kids would have a better chance of getting in as they are the ones who have more resources to access those opportunities. Schools like A & E actually have to “purposefully” reach out to kids from different background and stand out in unconventional ways, and that’s why they end up giving out so much FA. Also, think about how they routinely exceed the EFC for families who have financial need. Apparently they are not trying to reduce the percentage of FA students or even the amount of the FA.</p>
<p>But that doesn’t give by grade. The sheet I have says that 604 applied for lower and that 62 enrolled. But that number is “final” apps, not completed apps, so it might be a bit lower. Also, they admit a few more than 62 for yield purposes.</p>
<p>I’m too lazy today to hunt for more detail, but about a quarter of Andover’s students are day students. I don’t know how many are from the town of Andover. The town of Andover is an affluent town. I would guess that day students from Andover (town) would be less likely to qualify for FA, while a day student from Lawrence would be more likely to qualify for FA.</p>
<p>As for Exeter, I have the impression that many schools made efforts to provide FA to families which had not needed it, prior to the crash in 2008. Thus, the original stats published for entering classes might not agree with the current, overall percentages of students receiving FA.</p>