Can some people clear up some things about these schools?

College Search & Selection
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<p>Poseidenj, you should become aware of other resources in addition to need-based aid. Be realistic, but also optimistic.</p>

<p>My income, and S2’s college savings, were a bit too high for him to qualify for any (but not so high that cost is not a concern). However, he did get a couple of nice merit award offers. The Ivies and top New England LACs usually do not offer these. Many excellent schools in the midwest and south do (Grinnell, Macalester, Chicago, Tulane for example), and will stack them atop any need-based aid. In addition, my S recently won a significant cash prize in a writing contest (yes I’m bragging, but am also trying to make this real to you. He tried twice, failed the first time, but kept at it). Various competitions (or “outside” scholarships) are out there that offer good rewards and are not 1-in-a-million shots. Many CC kids have strong math skills, which can command high hourly fees to tutor high school students. Finally, perhaps you have enough IB/AP credits to qualify for sophomore standing at some colleges. This may be a last resort as a cost-cutting measure. My own kid does not feel it would shortchange his experience too much if he gets it, because he is eager to move on to professional school after college.</p>

<p>In other words, you don’t have to sit back and gamble that FA alone will bring the costs in line. Keep your antennae up, you can get ideas on this forum or maybe from your school GC. Last but not least, be sure to identify a financial and academic safety you’d be happy to attend.</p>

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<p><< This decidedly middle class, first gen college student laughs in the face of those that says Brown has no financial resources because they stepped it up and really made attending possible. My parents had to make sacrifices to make sure I didn’t have to pay additional stuff, but we all feel it was worth it (vacations were all very inexpensive, little eating out, etc). That’s why 80% of families say “Yes, definitely” and 19% say “Somewhat” when they were asked, “Has your child’s experience at this institution been worth the impact on your families finances?”</p>

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<p>Like other posters have stated, this is entirely untrue. First off, they have excellent scholarships (although they have their own applications and you have to fly in for an interview, but WUSTL puts money toward that for you). They are also a school that meets 100% of calculated need. They are going “no-loan” very soon, too. YES! Unfortunately, they are need-aware. However, I think that the adcoms only know if you are applying for financial aid. I don’t think they know how much financial aid you will need. On top of that, even though they are need-blind, they have more pell grant recipients (low to middle income students) than many of the Ivies (though this info may have been a few years old).</p>

<p>By the way, I know all this because I’m trying to convince myself that I CAN get in there and I CAN graduate with very little debt. WUSTL might be a back up for some, but it’s a dream for me.</p>