<p>Is it true that Princeton is very generous with finaid?</p>
<p>Princeton is generous to the extent that grants replace loans in their primary aid package. Hence, their need-based aid will be more attractive than most other schools even if their expected family contribution is about the same.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, almost all other colleges consider loans to be part of their financial aid award which "meets 100% of need", so Princeton gets my nomination for the "truth in financial aid" award. :)</p>
<p>Thanks so much! :)</p>
<p>Hey.</p>
<p>You might also want to review the thread titled "Give up Princeton?" at this address:
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=20954%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=20954</a></p>
<p>That might give you lotsmore insight. :)</p>
<p>Yes, they are very generous imo. No-loan policy totally pwnz. of course u can still request a federal loan, which the gov't will pay the interest off of until u graduate i think.</p>
<p>The government only subsidizes your Stafford loan if you qualify financially. However, you can get an unsubsidized Stafford loan. And Princeton itself has a Princeton Parent Loan program that is similar to the PLUS loan that people at other schools get.</p>
<p>Princeton is VERY generous</p>
<p>Does Princeton offer full rides like Harvard's HFAI?</p>
<p>i dont know what's HFAI , but they do offer full rides for your ( room , borad , tution ) and like two hours daily for work to help u with ur personal expenses</p>
<p>HFAI - Harvard Financial Aid Initiative. Parental contribution completely waived for families with an income of <$40,000</p>
<p>well my family annual income is 19000 $
hope to get one when I apply</p>
<p>i dont know what's HFAI , but they do offer full rides for your ( room , borad , tution ) and like two hours daily for work to help u with ur personal expenses</p>
<p>Do you, or anyone else, know the details on this? Thanks</p>
<p>Try this Early Estimator: <a href="http://www.princeton.edu/main/admission-aid/aid/prospective/estimator/%5B/url%5D">http://www.princeton.edu/main/admission-aid/aid/prospective/estimator/</a></p>
<p>As stated above, Princeton does not require students to take out loans; it replaces what is usually the loan portion of a financial aid package with a grant. You are encouraged to call the financial aid office with your questions.</p>
<p>I did that early estimator thing, and I'd have to pay $42,000. Guess it's either Harvard or nothing for me :(</p>
<p>Why Harvard or nothing? If Princeton is making you pay $42,000 there is no way you qualify for HFAI or the similar Yale program - they require your family income to be less than $40,000 and $45,000 a year, respectively. The Ivies have a strict need-only financial aid policy, which means that I suspect you will be disqualified from aid of any kind from all the Ivies. They DO NOT give scholarships - HFAI is not a scholarship, just a fancy name for the fact that if you're from a low income family you won't have to pay anything. In truth, if your family made less than $40,000, I would expect your EFC to be near zero at all the Ivies.</p>
<p>Why Harvard or nothing? If Princeton is making you pay $42,000 there is no way you qualify for HFAI or the similar Yale program - they require your family income to be less than $40,000 and $45,000 a year, respectively. The Ivies have a strict need-only financial aid policy, which means that I suspect you will be disqualified from aid of any kind from all the Ivies. They DO NOT give scholarships - HFAI is not a scholarship, just a fancy name for the fact that if you're from a low income family you won't have to pay anything. In truth, if your family made less than $40,000, I would expect your EFC to be near zero at all the Ivies</p>
<p>I entered that my mom made $11,000 (she did), and that's what I got. Maybe I made mistake.</p>
<p>All of the "big three" have different forms of generosity. Princeton has opted to eliminate all loans, whereas Harvard has eliminate across-the-board any family contributions for low-income families (the HFAI, or Harvard Financial Aid Initiative). Yale has something akin to the HFAI v 2.0.</p>
<p>I found Princeton very generous. Not only are there no loans but the family contribution is lower than that of all my other schools (and other schools had scholarships)</p>
<p>Brightfuture, I think you need to use Princeton's Early Estimator again. Or call the Financial Aid office. No way if your family income is $11,000 are you going to be paying the full amount.</p>
<p>
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Princeton has opted to eliminate all loans, whereas Harvard has eliminate across-the-board any family contributions for low-income families
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Are you sure? My understanding is, Harvard eliminated parents' contribution (which probably means that they expect the student to take Stafford and Perkins loans, considering them part of finaid)</p>
<p>Well, I don't know exactly about Harvard, S goes to Princeton with wonderful finaid (grant only). Other S goes to another private university, which also met his full need - but in his case, the finaid package also includes work-study and loans (about $25000 in 4 years). So, here's the difference: parent contribution in each case is about the same, but for the S who is going to Princeton, financial situation is much better.</p>