<p>Tiredrew --you may be eligible for Merit aid but you have to apply early and specifically ask for the scholarship/merit aid counselor. The regular fin/aid personnel have no clue. We had asked in April of the year MY S attended (2004) and all the money was gone. When it comes to UMASS/Amherst you have to be early and you have to bug them often. Plus if accepted into Commonwealth College then you have to stay in touch with that admin also or you will get lost in the shuffle- Like today I can't get through to the Bursar which I guess in understandable as class starts next monday but I can't get in touch with the University help line also- c'mon the help lines are busy! so because we were late getting info to school (as S was overseas) I have to go to the campus and literally walk in the office to get anything accomplished- Early and often that is the strategy when it comes to UMASS/Amherst!</p>