<p>Will colleges offer less merit money to a highly qualified applicant if they know it is the applicant's top choice?</p>
<p>I certainly don’t know for certain, but I wouldn’t think so. Just because a kid says it’s his/her top choice in September doesn’t mean he’ll feel that way in the fall. These schools also know that money can make a difference at decision time even if the kid has a favorite. I think letting a college know it’s your first choice is generally a very good idea in terms of admission. I assume you are talking EA or RD. I do worry that ED might affect that, which is one reason I don’t want my son applying ED to his top choice, but even then, I don’t know.</p>
<p>Look at your college of choice’s website. For example, for TCNJ:</p>
<p>*Students accepted through the Early Decision programs MUST attend The College of New Jersey. Early Decision students will be given the same consideration for scholarships and need-based financial aid as those applying General Admission.</p>
<p>By applying Early Decision, you are saying that this college is your top choice. If colleges didn’t give merit consideration to ED applicants, less would apply ED.</p>
<p>Colleges do often leverage merit aid, so making a point about a college being a “top choice” could result in a lower award. Google “enrollment management” for more info.</p>
<p>If your student is confident of being admitted, but wants to hold out for the best merit award possible – why telegraph that the school is the “top” choice? At the same time, you don’t want to get passed over because the school thinks it is being treated as a safety – so do demonstrate interest. Let the school know that it is a “strong possibility” and that the student is particularly interested in X. program or Y. activity – ideally targeting the type of programs that are priorities for the school. Do some Googling and find the “strategic plan” for the college to get a sense of what those priorities might be. </p>
<p>(Note: faking it won’t work-- don’t claim to be interested in pursuing something that the student has no background in - but it doesn’t hurt to identify and focus on the qualities of the student that the college is likely to appreciate the most).</p>
<p>Thank for the responses. My daughter had a phone interview with the school today. She did tell the interviewer how much she loved the campus, community, and course offerings, and why she thought the school would be a perfect fit for her, but she didn’t say it was her top choice. We know the school could think my daughter was applying as a safety, and she wanted them to know she is seriously considering attending. We are pretty sure that’s where she’ll be next fall.</p>
<p>That was a great interview strategy, AEAmom! Never completely show your hand!</p>
<p>"Will colleges offer less merit money to a highly qualified applicant if they know it is the applicant’s top choice? "
-It probably depends on specific school. D. actually recevied a slightly better Merit award AFTER she indicated her intend to attend. We were confused a bit, but who would say no. I may as well be that they got some additional funds. All of her Merit awards (about 10) were from privately donated funds and covered her tuition cost.</p>
<p>It will be interesting to see if the net price calculator for the school, which included possible merit amounts bases on the student’s stats, will match up with the actual offer. She fits the demographic they are looking for: out of state female with strong GPA and high SAT scores. </p>