<p>Ah…but Muhlenberg does not guarantee to meet full need, and Muhlenberg also gives merit scholarships. Schools that have some “leeway” in how they award aid (e.g. don’t guarantee to meet full need…but can if they so choose, or schools that can offer merit aid to sweeten the pot) are better able to make “adjustments” to financial aid packages than those that award need based aid ONLY…and guarantee to meet need for all accepted students. Those full need guaranteed schools typically award aid based on parental financial information and the total package regardless of your “hook” is likely to not vary from another accepted student with the same finances. Simply put…the financial aid office at these schools may not even KNOW about your hook. They are plugging your financial information into their need based aid formula.</p>
<p>Now having said that…if you are an athlete, for example, and a highly desirable one…you may find that your financial aid PACKAGING (as noted in the Muhlenberg example) may include more grants than loans. Maybe…no guarantees.</p>