<p>I'm seeing on this forum, that many people get into top schools like harvard and then they can't go there because of money. On harvard's website, it says that there are Financial Aid package; is it true? How is it difficult to get it?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Their financial aid program is one of the best in the nation. This change only came about recently, but they really do make an effort to ensure that finances won’t be an issue in your choice whether or not to attend. Scholarships are need-based, not merit-based, and students with family incomes up to $200,000 still get pretty generous aid.</p>
<p>I think aid might be different for international students, though (I assume you’re one). I can’t really say.</p>
<p>[Harvard</a> Financial Aid Office Fact Sheet](<a href=“http://isites.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k51861&pageid=icb.page246751]Harvard”>http://isites.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k51861&pageid=icb.page246751)</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Over half of all undergraduates receive need-based Harvard Scholarship aid, totaling over $145 million.</p></li>
<li><p>One fifth of families qualify for the Harvard Financial Aid Initiative, where parents with total incomes less than $60,000 are expected to pay nothing.</p></li>
<li><p>Parents with total incomes between $60,000 and $180,000, and typical assets, are now asked to pay an average of up to 10% of their income.</p></li>
<li><p>Foreign students have the same access to financial aid funding as U.S. citizens, including the Initiative outlined above.</p></li>
<li><p>Two thirds of students work during the academic year.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>For me, the financial aid package from Harvard was absolutely incredible. Don’t let financial reasons prevent you from applying if you feel that Harvard is a good match for your interests.</p>
<p>I pay less to go to Harvard than I would to go to community college. Their financial aid package is very generous (though upper-mid class families probably get the short end of the stick).</p>
<p>This is wonderful, the best schools offer the best financial aid programs.</p>
<p>“This is wonderful, the best schools offer the best financial aid programs.”</p>
<p>change best to richest. i dont see oxford or cambridge giving any generous aid packages? yet top 5 in the world.</p>
<p>@reptil: did hogwarts give you financial aid package? :P</p>
<p>Regarding Oxford and Cambridge - the system in the UK is different, universities are controlled by the government and about 90% of Oxbridge’s funding comes from the government. </p>
<p>The private sector realises that Oxbridge are no longer part of the best universities in the world (and have done so for quite a while), and are instead relying on their name and history - it took Cambridge nearly 10 years to raise £1 Billion in funding, something I think Harvard (and other Ivy League schools) would probably take 1/2 years at most to do so.</p>
<p>In Denmark, university is completely free, some aspects of 50% tax are good.
We have several world class institutions as well.</p>