<p>I have been looking on acceptance rates, yields and have been wondering how it correlates with award letters. Lets say college X in the second tier of LAC and has acceptance of 72%. College is need blind, known to provide great packaging merit/need, and meets fully 95% of sudents demonstrated need, of which 75% are grants/ scholarships and 25% loans.
Yet of 1,352 of admitted students only 356 enroll. Does that mean that college leverages their offers to such degree that only certain few will get those great packaging? Or almost all of of 1, 352 admitted students will get decent packaging? Does receiving merit aid $$ with acceptance letter means that college will look at that student more favorably when making an offer?
Financial aid will be one of most decisive factors for my D next spring. As of now out of 10 colleges she applied 4 are her first choice, 4 are the second choice and 2 are the third choice. She has been admitted to 3 of her first choice colleges and feels pretty elated.
I am sure there were wonderful treads in the past about how did students make their final decisions, which offers they took and how whole process is developing. Maybe somebody can share their experience or direct me to previous posts.</p>
<p>I don't think it is much an issue of packaging as much at is an issue of students applying and being accepted at multiple insititions. Thereare so many variables in why a student picks or doesnot pick a school. Some students pick the "best school" they were admitted, others pick the school with the best package, others are admitted to their first choice and end up attemding.</p>
<p>Most schools that end up meeting 100% demonstrated need usually do not negotiate with merit schools because if it were a case of merit, each student probably has the grades/scores to be admitted.</p>
<p>While money is a big factor in the admissions process (and unless you have really deep pockets, some families cannot ignore) I think that you have to look at the whole package and create a balance of giving you what you want and what you need. </p>
<p>You said that your daughter has 4 first choices. If she were only accepted to one (because you can only pick one) which school would it be? What is it about her first choice school that makes it her first choice? Is it a unique program, is it the environment, can she attend this school and not look back on a bunch of what ifs.</p>
<p>If you read my posting in response to "experienced parents negotiating aid" I think you have to really break down the packages as if you were footing the bill. </p>
<p>Look at loans as money coming out of pocket (as it is out of pocket, it is just not coming out of pocket at this moment).</p>
<p>Look at the student contribution (which can also be considered out of pocket because if the student does not eaarn the money, the college does not make up the short fall. There will be a gap that you as parent will have to make up by writing a bigger check or taking out another loan)</p>
<p>IF the schools are in different states, look at the cost of coming home. Is it plan, train or automobile? because it is going to cost something.</p>
<p>IF you read the link I attached you will see that D was admitted to all 7 schools which she applied to. All were need blind, all met 100% of demonstrated need but there was a spread of about 12,000 in the packages.</p>
<p>I hope that this helps. </p>
<p>Look at the parent contribution (which is what you as parents are responsible for writing the check)</p>