<p>I have 1 graduate,1 incoming freshman, and 1 graduating HS 2013-----This is when the grades really count! Merit based scholarship will be out of the question for overall average students- and unless you are near your state’s poverty income- need based will be out of the question as well. I really love that our Federal Govermnt has projected how much “Family Contribution” based on so few factors should be. Also colleges use this guideline when computing a financial aid pkg. Now if we could only get our kids to see the light!</p>