My father has told me to not apply for financial aid if it affects my chances of college admission but I just want to apply for it because I don’t want my education to be a burden for him. I’m looking for ways to reduce my tuition fees as much as I can. I’m applying to Northwestern University ED. I’m from India. I feel I should apply for financial aid, maybe something like 30-40%. Northwestern is my dream college but I still want to apply for aid. What should I do? I’m afraid that if I apply without aid and get in, I won’t have much option for saving my dad’s money. Please suggest some things that I could do.
Wait, so you think that when you apply, you specify the % discount you want?
NU offers very little in the way of merit aid. Financial Aid is based solely on need. If your family can pay full freight there then the chances are you will get none. If there is some need they will consider that in admission. Your need based offer will be based on your family’s income, not your desire for a discount.
The purpose of aid is not to allow people to save their money for other things. The purpose of aid is to bridge the gap between what you can afford and what it costs to attend. As determined by the college- they either evaluate your numbers and determine that you need aid, or they calculate your earnings and assets and other elements and determine that you don’t.
OK?
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feel I should apply for financial aid, maybe something like 30-40%.
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It doesn’t work that way. You don’t get to apply for a certain amount or %.
You have to supply ALL of your parents’ income, savings, property, and investment information, and the schools look that info over to determine whether your parents have the money to pay.
Sounds like your parents have the money to pay, so schools will say, “sorry, no aid for you.”
Also…your dad may not want to be supplying all his personal info to all these schools, so he’s decided just to pay.
If you don’t want your dad to spend so much money, then go to a cheaper school or go to a school that will give you merit awards for your stats.
Can your family pay the full cost for you to attend college here?