<p>I'm considering applying to Dartmouth ED next year, and I have heard a few horror stories about kids not getting the financial aid they need. Is this something that should be a major concern, or if I take care of all the paperwork before I apply ED will it work out? I think my parents might make <75k next year which seems to be the threshold for them covering all of your need. Any advice? Thanks!</p>
<p>I would suggest running your numbers through the FA calculator to get an idea as what your family's EFC is going to look like.</p>
<p>It has been our experience that Dartmouth's FA calculator has been pretty on point</p>
<p>Cost</a> Estimator</p>
<p>I agree with Sybbie. My S was accepted ED and his financial aid package was very close to what the FA calculator predicted, actually a bit more generous.</p>
<p>what all is included in their financial aid package? is it a grant or does it include loans? in either case, i assume that means you can still get other outside scholarships to cover some of the left over?</p>
<p>Dartmouth has eliminated student loans from their FA package. This does not mean that a student may not have to take out loans (to meet their EFC, to make up the student contribution, to cover study abroad expenses or to purchase a computer). With the exception of Junior year, the student will have a student contribution that they are suppose to meet through summer earnings and the student may end up with work study through either Federal Work Study or employment.</p>
<p>Outside scholarships will usually reduce the self help aid first (work study, student loans). Some will allow students to use the outside scholarship toward the one-time purchase of a computer. However, outside scholarships will not be used to reduce the EFC.</p>
<p>Dartmouth states:</p>
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<p>*How will my financial aid award be adjusted if I receive an outside scholarship? *</p>
<p>Students who receive scholarships from external sources can use these funds to reduce the loan and/or job portions of their financial aid packages. If the outside scholarship is greater than the self-help level, the family responsibility can also be reduced to the federal level. (In most cases, outside scholarships do not reduce the Dartmouth family contribution.) Alternative student loans can be used to replace the self-help component (job and/or loan) of the financial aid package or replace the family contribution.</p>
<p>If you receive a Federal Pell Grant or a grant from your state, we will make a commensurate reduction in your Dartmouth scholarship. These grants are fully or partially supported by federal funds, and most are based solely on financial need. Therefore, we package them as resources to “meet your need” as calculated by the Dartmouth Financial Aid Office.</p>
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<p>Use Princeton's FA estimator to find out your family's approximate EFC.</p>
<p>I applied ED this year and my FA package, like all of the ones that Dartmouth offers, meet 100% need. The <75K threshold means that they cover your tuition, but not necessarily anything else (with Dartmouth General Scholarship; however, there will be other resources for you, no worries). I had a $0 EFC, and with the stimulus package, it looks like Pell, SEOG, a bit of work-study, the $2700ish student contribution (summer earnings) and the tuition scholarship covers everything. I have outside scholarships, which they're letting me use to buy a computer. Basically, it goes into your FA and you "take out a loan" on your FA for the computer, which you pay back with Work-Study. At least, that's how they're having me do it.</p>
<p>EDers do not get jipped on financial aid; however, remember that your EFC might be higher because they use institutional methodology to get your number, which takes into account home equity and stuff. If it's that much of a concern for you (don't worry, it is for a lot of people, including me-- but I was dead set on applying ED), then apply regular. EDers don't really get a boost, once you take all the hooks out of there. But, if you can and really want to go there, I'd recommend it bc you will not have to worry while your classmates are freaking out about the college process :)</p>