<p>DD applied to one school mostly because they were sending us letters noting that "her academic record may make her eligible for our outstanding merit awards, etc." and they mentioned their named scholarships that ran from $10,000 to $17,000. The scholarships had certain academic requirements attached to them, and DD's record qualified her for any of these including the top award. However. In a sort of bait-and-switch, her acceptance came with an award that was identified as a "leadership" award, not an "academic" award, for around $7000. What I find interesting is that this is the only school that asked for the CSS profile along with the EA application. So I am wondering if they take a look at the family's finances and award their merit aid based on what they think you might be able to pay, and what they think you might need to be enticed to accept -- and not a penny more. Of course, the reason she didn't get a higher, "academic" award might also be that they had an unusually high number of applicants with the required stats, or perhaps they are cutting back on their merit awards because of endowment losses and awarding fewer, then giving the rest of the qualified applicants a lesser amount. I just wondered what CC people think/know about this. DD got merit awards at two other schools EA, neither of which asked for CSS or FAFSA with the application. In one case she got their top award, in the other a mid-level award. It's interesting.</p>
<p>Absolutely, you are correct as to how it often works. BTW, my older son got a very similar "leadership award" for about 7k. I was expecting a higher academic award, or an academic award plus leadership. I felt that leadership hurt him bc I felt that might have gotten the academic award if he did not have a lot of leadership qualifications. He did not attend that school, bc there really wasn't any additional financial aid. He got much better packages elsewhere. I was kind of sad about it at the time bc I felt that this school was a good fit.</p>
<p>Sometimes it does work that way. Sometimes not. I know kids from very wealthy families who got merit money. The parents felt that there was no way they would get a dime, and the kids got substancial awards. If a school wants that PROFILE or FAFSA to give merit money, that possibility is stronger. I do know kids who got varying awards at similar schools which indicates that you really can't tell where you will get the money. S got an award from a school that gives NO merit money. They have it packaged under research grants. One school that gives out a lot of merit money and was a good possibility for S, gave him $10K but other kids we knew with stats similar and not quite as high got more. In one case, a classmate did not get into a school where S was accepted when he had a more outstanding academic profile. Though on the average, you can predict, there are always the outliers.</p>
<p>Even though there are stated academic criteria for the awards, it does not mean everyone who meets those criteria will get the maximum. They still award the top $$ to the top students. The lessor amount awarded still meets their stated goal of giving $$ to all who do meet the stated criteria, though.</p>
<p>The requirement for the CSS and FASA is to make sure that the need based dollars are met, though, they may decide to trade off to attract the student profiles they want. They really can distribute the merit $$ anyway they wish.</p>
<p>These schools have professional enrollment managers who profile you and figure out what it will take to reel you in.</p>
<p>Hmm. Obviously depends on the school. DD applied EA to two schools. Both awarded merit aid, one 10K, one 15k which was the top of the scale for both. In neither case was FA information considered as I had not submitted FAFSA or profile or any financial aid prior to the merit awards. Same with DS a few years back. We got the merit information prior to giving the schools any financial information.<br>
All were EA not ED.</p>
<p>We never filed for FA. We knew we would not be eligible. S1 applied for two merit scholarships at his state u. and got both. No FA info. was required. It was strictly merit based.</p>
<p>There seem to be two views: one, that the top scoring kids get the top merit rewards regardless of finances and two, that as someone said, they profile you and offer just as much merit aid as they think it will take to get you. My point is that D applied EA to 3 places and checked "applying for financial aid" at all. (We knew we would not qualify but were told you should apply and send in the forms if you even want loans.) At only 1 school were we required to send in the CSS before merit aid was considered-- required, it was not optional. So it seems obvious that they must take the financial picture into account and that it is not simply that the top money goes always to the top scorers.</p>
<p>Friend's D filled out an application for a small LAC which asked which other schools the applicant was applying to, whether this school was top choice, top three, etc., and finally what factors might tip the balance. Her mother told me that merit aid was a factor, as they'd never qualify for need based aid and preferred not to spend $200,000 for college, but they ultimately did not write that on the application. If colleges are trying to figure out how much they need to offer to get you to go there, wouldn't it make sense to be upfront about that on the application? Her D did get merit aid, but far from the maximum amount.</p>
<p>Mdoc, you asked:
[quote]
If colleges are trying to figure out how much they need to offer to get you to go there, wouldn't it make sense to be upfront about that on the application?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>The purpose of merit aid is to entice you to attend the school. It is a given. They don't need to put it on the application.</p>
<p>Some schools consider need when awarding merit scholarships. Some schools consider need when awarding SOME merit scholarships. Some schools do not consider need when awarding merit scholarships. Policies vary by school..and sometime by scholarship.</p>
<p>Many schools have dedicated scholarship funds to distribute - many of those include need as a criterion. For instance Mr. Fatcat may have endowed the college with funds to provide money to worthy students in History who are not just star students but have financial need. Your kid intends to major in History. If you have demonstrated need, the school can award her the Fatcat Annual Scholarship and not have to dip into the general merit pool. Important for them to know.</p>
<p>We did not file any financial aid forms for our three kids. They got merit money with them. With the third, we filed FAFSA to get the unsubsidized Stafford as the interest rate is lower than the PLUS, but did not do this until he was well in the college semester.</p>
<p>There was only one scholarship in his group of schools that required special handling of the application and there were no questions about need in it. Two kids I know who did get that award did not file any financial aid forms. So scholarships do exist for those who have no need. However, for those kids who have very high stats and do need financial aid, there is some leeway given to them if the college really wants them. I have known kids who have gotten more than what their need was originally determined by the college.</p>
<p>I have batted this question around myself. My husband and I work hard to earn a good income. In doing so, we have taught our son work ethics, drive and determination. He has done extremely well in high school, many honors, NMS Commendendation, 35 on the ACT, etc, etc. And yet, because WE have acheived personal goals and taught him to go after the same, HIS scholarship eligibilities are based on what WE have done to succeed. Our FASFA EFC was more than his annual tuition so he probably will be turned away by many because of us. That's messed up.</p>
<p>I agree with TNMom, it will be interesting to compare the merit offers before submitting FA (D has three so far) and any that come in after the FA was submitted. I was tempted to just not file at all, but my job is in jeopardy at the moment, and I heard stories that you will have a hard time asking for need-based after the fact if you had not filed...</p>
<p>TNMom, it sounds like you're confused about the difference between need-based aid and merit aid. Your son doesn't have financial need so he won't get need-based aid, but based on his excellent record he could get lots of merit aid offers if he is strategic about where he applies. There's nothing messed up about that!</p>
<p>Since different colleges have different policies and procedures, and institutional objectives, there's no across-the-board correct answer to this.</p>
<p>This article, from Atlantic Monthly, explains how some of this works: The</a> Atlantic Online | November 2005 | The Best Class Money Can Buy | Matthew Quirk</p>
<p>Thanks so much for the Atlantic article link. Wow. This puts it all in an entirely different perspective.</p>
<p>My S applied to 13 schools to compare merit aid packages. He has been accepted at all 5 of his EA/Rolling schools so far with two of them providing merit aid. The one that is his best match so far did not give any merit, although his stats qualify according to their scholarship brochures. We do not qualify for need based aid and did not apply for any. Perhaps their enrollment managers misjudged what it would take to "reel him in," as you say, since we live in a fairly well-off CT suburb,etc. We are one of those families "caught in the middle," making too much for need-based aid and too little to pay $200,000+. Is it worthwhile for me to call and explain that he would love to attend but will not be able to without some sort of merit or is it a done deal?</p>
<p>I totally agree with Lisares.</p>
<p>Older son, valedictorian 2 years ago, came up short on merit awards requiring Fafsa/CSS profile. EA is the best way to get merit money before those papers are even submitted. Did get a full ride at a school that he did not have to submit the above.</p>
<p>Child number 2, applying now, NO FAFSA or CSS for us. called those schools wanting it but they only want it for financial aid, not merit, so I am not volunteering any information. (Maybe I would if they asked ont eh fafsa how much money we lost in the stock market, equity in house as prices are down, etc.....</p>
<p>Good luck to all trying to get decent merit money for our kids!</p>