<p>While I am a big fan of Dartmouth, I don't think that these changes are anything revolutionary. I mean, they have been long overdue to make internationals need-blind (not just for them, but all schools). Also, increasing to 75 grand from like 60 grand is not so big. BUT, we should be thankful that it is a step in the right direction, and that this is going to show that smaller endowment schools do not have to try to jump to like 200 grand like yale, but just doing what they can does make a big difference from nothing.</p>
<p>That's awesome!!! Now I can apply ED this fall without worrying too much about not being able to afford it if accepted!</p>
<p>"That's awesome!!! Now I can apply ED this fall without worrying too much about not being able to afford it if accepted"</p>
<p>Confused...Doesnt this still mean that there is no financial packet during ED? OR are am I wrong? During ED the financial packets arent set up or somethig along those lines so ED favors those who dont have tow orry about it...Am I right? and If so doesnt it apply to Dartmouth even though they will pay full...</p>
<p>You have to worry less, knowing that if your family income is under $75,000, you do not pay any tuition (a HUGE portion of the total bill), and to the extent that you may even qualify for assistance with the balance of the bill, that assistance will also be in the form of a free grant. If your family makes more that $75,000, you can still expect some good amount of financial aid, not as much as full tuition of course. This aid will be in the form a a grant (and/or work study), with no loans. While you will NOT know what your financial aid package will be ED, you will know that it is likely to be affordable and will definitely be competitive. Dartmouth will meet 100% of your need as determined by certain calculations which are pretty standard . </p>
<p>So, ED now favors those who can pay full freight far less, if at all. If you look at the following link, you might be surprised at the level of income a family might have and still recieve some aid in the past two years:</p>
<p>For a sense of perspective, note that for the class of 2010, 126 students from families who made $105,000 and above recieved financial aid, and the average package for those families, per year, was $16,690. </p>
<p>Note also that the an award package is calculated upon the total cost of attending for one year. Much of that cost is fixed (tuition, room) but other costs, which are built into the total award calculation, are variable and you can end up paying less than the college projects that you will when calculating your award - ie you can opt for a less expensive meal plan, you can purchase your books used or online and your can manipulate your travel expenses, so that you end up paying signficantly less.</p>
<p>I agree. ED only disadvantages lower-income students when colleges refuse to share concrete information about their financial aid policies. If you are applying to a meets-100%-of-need school, and that school doesn't require loans to be part of the package (Princeton, Amherst, Williams, Pomona, Swarthmore, and so on....) then the only question is what will be your EFC. If the school has no EFC below a certain income, or even if they do if they are open about how they calculate it (how they handle home equity, etc.) then you may be able to have a pretty good sense of what aid will be available before applying -- and so there is no risk in applying ED.</p>
<p>Obviously you won't be able to compare awards from different schools, but if you have a clear first choice and you know in advance the financial side will be manageable, then there is no reason not to apply ED, contrary to the conventional wisdom.</p>
<p>My son did it and it's worked out just fine. Granted this applies to a limited number of very generous schools who are open and transparent about aid, but if one of those schools is a kid's dream school, they shouldn't be worried about applying ED.</p>
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Only fully apply to the 2008-2009 freshmen though. Half apply to those who already there. More and more like 'price' war just attract the newly addmits to attend.
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<p>Actually the new tuition aid policy is in place for all Dartmouth students effective fall 2008. Currently enrolled students will see their loan expectation cut by 50 percent beginning next fall for each of their remaining years at the College. The elimination of loans will significantly reduce the debt burden of Dartmouth graduates (under the current stafford loan rates a current freshmen could reduce their loans by $7750). </p>
<p>All juniors receiving FA are eligible for the $2,950 to allow financial aid recipients to take advantage of research or internship opportunities in their junior year. They are just extending the eliminating financial barriers program that has been in place where juniors could get a stipend if they tooka non-paying internship or leave term opportunity. In addition the school has always been very generous when it comes to funding students for reseach projects, study abroad programs, etc.</p>
<p>In response to posts #10 and #15: It probably is $75,000 AGI (adjusted gross income) which is a before tax figure. This generous move is most likely due, at least in part, to stave off government regulation at the federal level of college and university endowments. Smart move which is long overdue.</p>
<p>A great news for all international students! Even better if they put that before the deadline.</p>
<p>From the Dartmouth website:</p>
<p>"Starting immediately with the Class of 2012, the College will extend its need-blind admissions policy to all international students. Previously the College was need-blind for students from the U.S. as well as those from Canada and Mexico and provided financial aid to other international students up to a preset budget maximum. This cap will now be lifted and Dartmouth will join a very small group of schools that have a fully need-blind admissions process for international students."</p>
<p>I guess they wanted to keep the announcement till after the deadline to test the waters and see how much aid they'll have to give out this year through need-blind admissions.</p>
<p>or maybe they were planning to start it one year later in the first place, but have just found a large pool of money leftover from ED this year. or something. </p>
<p>i dunno why. but im just glad that i DID apply!</p>
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Also, increasing to 75 grand from like 60 grand is not so big.
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<p>actually, it increased from 30k to 75k which is huge because 75k is reaching into the middle class.</p>
<p>I realize that the endowments at schools like Dartmouth which fund these offers are huge (3.7billion) and their return of 23% is remarkable.<br>
<a href="http://ask.dartmouth.edu/categories/administration/08.html%5B/url%5D">http://ask.dartmouth.edu/categories/administration/08.html</a>
However, one has to wonder just how long these offers truly can exist need blind, especially with a slowing economy. </p>
<p>The money filling the endowments will have continue to come in. If Dartmouth grads thought they were hit hard after graduation for donations, they probably haven't seen anything yet. </p>
<p>Obviously, it is much more complicated than I have suggested, but one must question the financial impact to an enrollment if say half the 4,300 student body received free tuition times four years.</p>
<p>Any thoughts?</p>
<p>While the school does run on a quarter system, students rarely attend school all 4 terms for 4 years. As a matter of fact you can't as all student are required to take leave terms. </p>
<p>Summers are counted as terms. Most students are off during the summer with the exception of sophomore summer, which is a required term.</p>
<p>Students must be on Fall, winter , spring freshman and senior years
students must be on sophomore summer</p>
<p>other than that, students pick and choose when they want to be on campus.</p>
<p>"However, one has to wonder just how long these offers truly can exist need blind, especially with a slowing economy.</p>
<p>The money filling the endowments will have continue to come in. If Dartmouth grads thought they were hit hard after graduation for donations, they probably haven't seen anything yet.</p>
<p>Obviously, it is much more complicated than I have suggested, but one must question the financial impact to an enrollment if say half the 4,300 student body received free tuition times four years.</p>
<p>Any thoughts?"</p>
<p>^On the contrary, I think that because of the slowing economy, schools will be forced to implement better financial aid... not stop it. Their endowments are growing at a much faster rate than people's salaries after all.</p>
<p>That's a good point, the endowments are growing at a faster rate than people'e salaries, but their growth will slow too. Hopefully the pace of decline will be at a rate that will not significantly impact this new admission policy.</p>
<p>Yay!!! I'm in love with Dartmouth but I was so worried about my parents being able to afford it!</p>
<p>Ooh, as an international student, I'm so much glad about the news!!! I was so frustrated at the fact there are only a small number of american universities offering need-blind FA to internationals... My parents always scrutinize me, saying how they are supposed to pay for my huge college tuition if I am not accepted to one of those schools offering internationals need-blind...
Thanks so much Dartmouth! I'm definitely going to choose this wonderful school. DARTMOUTH ROCKS!!! :P</p>
<p>Am so glad about this college discussion let me hope alot from it.I would like to get many friends and palz to share some Ideas concerning Education.
Thanks for everything</p>