<p>Or any Ivy for that matter? The financial aid package just barely meets the FAFSA EFC which is way beyond affordable for us. I will call the F.A. office and plead our case and see what happens. But if the Ivies only meet EFC, how do middle class people afford to pay for an Ivy League school? </p>
<p>My S has been awarded merit aid at some highly-regarded non-Ivies - is this where everyone in our position ends up? He is a National Merit Finalist and Scholar, does this have any pull in getting more aid at an Ivy?</p>
<p>I’d like to be able to keep Brown and the other Ivy he was accepted to in play, but it does not look possible. Any suggestions?</p>
<p>You might want to check out the very lengthy thread in the Parents Forum called "Your kid takes the top scholarship instead of the top school. What's next?" for some people's perspective on this question. Many would answer "yes" to the question that families who need merit aid to pay for college do not go to Ivies. National Merit status will not help get more money.</p>
<p>Some Ivies are more generous than others. Brown has a low endowment (relative to the other Ivies), and so it is not as generous with financial aid as Harvard, for example. But if you appeal, and show your financial aid award from another Ivy, Brown will consider matching it.</p>
<p>You might want to pose your question in the Parents Forum and/or the Financial Aid one, because they both get more traffic than in here. </p>
<p>I'm very middle class and attending Brown. The answer is if you can't afford the best schools you take out loans to the best of your ability. Financial aid will only take you as far as EFC, which, in my experience with other people and myself, is just the right amount to wipe out any savings and take up as much money as possible from what you make and still keep you where you are life style wise minus any extras-- forget about affording vacations, a new car, etc etc.</p>
<p>Yes, it's designed to wipe you out because hte idea is if you have it you should use it for college. The only real answer is to start saving when they're young and hope it's enough and/or go to state school or where the scholarship award is.</p>
<p>It depends on the sacrifices both your son and you are willing to make and what advantages, if any, you feel will come from that. Though I received considerable merit money elsewhere, I know that much of who I am becoming as an adult and many of the things I'm learning and being shaped by are a direct result of Brown and that I couldn't be the person I am right now without Brown. That's why I'm there, paying a ton of money, working my best to do what I can to take advantage of college and what it's offering me.</p>
<p>There is no right answer for everyone, only the right answer for your son and your family. Congratulations on your son's wonderful achievement up until this point-- I'm sure his future will be marked with great successes, here or elsewhere. This month is the hardest, then it's just a matter of enjoying and taking it all in for a little while.</p>