If I applied ED to CWRU, and put “0” in the CSS Profile for how much I expect my parents to pay for my school expenses, will this negatively impact my admissions chances since CWRU is need-aware? I emailed the financial aid office asking if they could change it to “15,000”, but I am worried the change is not possible since the decisions come out in exactly one week. I am concerned that my admission chances will be lowered simply because of financial need.
Financial Aid is determined by the FA office. They rerun the numbers based on their own metrics. Changing the number your parents expect to pay means nothing.
Please make sure you talk to your family about how much they are willing to take out in loans. Your school counselor will have resources to help you have conversations and to recalibrate plans if needed.
CWRU is need aware. They also determine your demonstrated need based aid with their formula. All colleges do that. If accepted, CWRU will provide a financial aid package of grants, work study, and loans to meet the need. Your estimated family contribution may be in addition to that. They do offer merit and scholarships, but see my note below.
However, I am more concerned that you and your parents may be on different pages. Who completed their info in FAFSA and CSS? Have you and your parents run the net price calculate for all of your schools you are applying to?
Based on language in their guide, I do not think they stack merit on top of need based. They use it to meet demonstrated need. It is worded differently on the NPC page which is interesting.
So, if the EFC or NPC gave you the $15,000 number - your package may include about $60,000 in merit, grants, work study, student summer work, student loans, and parent plus loans. Many families need the loans for the EFC, too.
Do the same work for the other schools you are considering. Those that say they meet 100% of need all have different ways of getting you there.
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