Comparing aid offers

<p>Helpful insight from Muhlenberg FA panel at their admitted students event on Saturday-- though it is a bit of DUH point that I should have gotten sooner. I have older child in school, so some pretty good need based aid for S based on # of siblings in college next year. Obviously (to me, now), the need based for S will go down when sister graduates so important to divide offers out by need and merit. He got more $ from another school making its current cost of attendance a bit better, but more of the UC money is merit so over four years UC likely less cost to attend.</p>

<p>The money that isn’t merit money from Ursinus probably would go down just as the Muhlenberg grant aid would go down once your daughter graduates. I asked the same question there when I went to visit after my acceptance, and I was told that it would be likely to change when the number of people in college changed. </p>

<p>The two are very nice choices. I applied and was accepted to both, with a VERY generous merit scholarship at Ursinus and nothing at Muhlenberg. After financial aid was taken into account, however, Muhlenberg was still more affordable for me.</p>

<p>Is there a significant difference between the two packages?</p>

<p>If not, it should really be a matter of which place you/your son feel is the best fit.</p>

<p>Hey, KCW, looks like we have been moving in the same circles! S has decided on Ursinus after visit at Gettysburg yesterday. Gettysburg is the loveliest school I have seen, though that could also be a function of the beauty of that spring day – but was just not a good fit for S. UC will be great for him.</p>

<p>His twin sister will be the happy student at Muhlenberg next year. Nice for me, though not at all relevant to their choice, that they will be so close together.</p>