<p>Hello. I have been accepted to Tulane a few weeks ago. I was happy to be accepted somewhere after a rejection from WashU and a deferral from two other colleges.</p>
<p>However, I only received a 20k/yr merit scholarship. Our family can only afford 10k/yr (before federal loan). Our net price through Tulane's NPC was found to be 36k/yr. I don't remember whether or not Tulane included the merit scholarship in the calculator or not.</p>
<p>Will Tulane combine the need-based aid with the merit-based aid, or is this type of situation dealt case-by-case?</p>
<p>I hope I am accepted somewhere that will be affordable if this does not work out!</p>
<p>I am not sure what you mean, “combine the need-based aid with the merit-based aid”. Tulane will take the FAFSA and CSS forms you and your family submits, determine what they think your family can afford to pay of the $45,000 remaining after your scholarship, and present you with a need-based package based on that number. I think that is the best way to look at it, is that Tulane has given you a $20K/year discount on tuition. If Tulane’s total cost of attendance is $65,000 next year (more or less), then you are staring at a $45,000 price tag and any further aid is based on what you can contribute towards that goal, in their estimation. Only time will tell if they agree with your assessment as to what you can contribute.</p>
<p>You definitely need to have some financially secure schools in your application portfolio. For most students that is their state school, but depending on your stats there might be schools with guaranteed scholarships that fit as well.</p>
<p>Sorry. By what I meant: If I’m not mistaken, some schools will give you need-based aid, but any amount in merit aid you get will REPLACE the need-based aid instead of being additive.</p>
<p>You provided a good explanation though, so I’ll keep that in mind.
I’ve got a safety that we can barely afford, but it’s a safety nonetheless. </p>
<p>OK, that’s good. Just to go ahead and answer what you were asking directly:</p>
<p>Yes, all schools consider merit scholarships as assets, whether they are from the school itself or from an outside organization. So for example, if your EFC before any merit money was $10,000 it would now be $30,000. That would only be for Tulane of course, since that $20,000 is only valid currency at Tulane. If, however, you had received a $20,000 scholarship from a non-university, such as from Microsoft or the Kiwanis, then all schools would add that as an asset to your previously existing assets, especially since it is only supposed to be used for education and not to pay off the house or whatever.</p>
<p>I can’t tell you if Tulane will be affordable for you or not. I can tell you that I never thought we would be able to afford it but Tulane came up with enough after the merit aid that we could. Without going into too much detail, they met 100% of need for D and we had a lot of need. Just try to get the FAFSA and CSS submitted as soon as you can and see what they can do for you.</p>