<p>My D is going to the school that gave her the best FA.</p>
<p>I apologize in advance for all of the labeling in the next paragraph. Before this year, I assumed my D would get lots of FA and so would all of her friends, because they are smart kids who took a lot of AP classes, did well, and joined clubs, were in sports, and so on. I could not have been more wrong. Yes, some of D’s friends got scholarships, but they happen to be the minority kids. Good, solid, middle-to-upper middle class kids, not good, solid kids from need-based situations. They were courted and offered tons of FA.</p>
<p>I have to say, most of the kids we know did not get any FA. Their parents made too much $$ for need based aid. The kids we know who got full rides were often minorities (U of Richmond) or a minority in the midwest (St Olaf’s offered D’s friend, who is Asian, a full ride). The only white person, come to think of it, who got a full ride was a boy who is going to the ROTC program at CMU (I think it is CMU, don’t quote me, but a school of that rigor and expense). None of her girl friends received any FA that I know of. </p>
<p>So, I would find an affordable safety and I would beware of all of the schools that enourage you to apply and imply that FA is available. What they mean is, loans are available. Maybe a small tuition award. But the kids who are receiving the 40K scholarships are not usually your basic good student, solid middle class Caucasian kid. </p>
<p>Is this right or fair? I cannot presume to know. All of the kids we know who got FA are solid, good students whom we have known for many years.</p>