<p>i've heard people get MEINIG SCHOLAR...but are they awarded these in order to make up for "cornell grant" money? </p>
<p>i.e. it is actually a merit scholarship but based on "need" ?</p>
<p>is this the difference between cornell scholarships and MERIT AID at other colleges?</p>
<p>The three Cornell Commitment programs – Meinig National Scholars, Rawlings Presidential Research Scholars, and Cornell Tradition Fellowships are hybrid merit programs/need-based financial aid programs.</p>
<p>They are merit programs if you don’t qualify for financial aid – you are provided additional opportunities to work with faculty/staff and interact with students in structured settings.</p>
<p>There are also financial aid programs if you qualify for financial aid – they will replace $4,000 of loans with $4,000 a grants a year. Again, if you qualify for financial aid.</p>
<p>I was a Cornell Tradition Fellow, but I didn’t qualify for financial aid (well, I did for one of the four years). So it was essentially a merit program with no financial aid for me.</p>
<p>so how does cornell get around the whole “no merit aid” ivy rule?</p>
<p>Because there is no merit aid being offered? There is only the replacement of loans with grants for students who have already demonstrated financial need.</p>
<p>Cayuga, basically you needed to apply for financial aid to even be considered for any one of the above awards? I was hoping to be considered for one of them since I really needed the merit aid because I don’t qualify for FA… yet I missed the FA deadline so I didn’t bother filing the FAFSA at all since i knew I wouldn’t get anything.</p>
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<p>No. The admissions committee nominates you for those programs. The financial aid only kicks in if you qualify for it.</p>
<p>there is no FA deadline in general terms…</p>
<p>its only a deadline if you want to see your FA in order to make a decision…</p>
<p>FAFSA must be filled out along with the PROFILE in order to determine a proper award (i think)</p>