<p>do hyps and the like determine financial aid solely based on financial need? or is it a combination of need and how much they want you? bc in previous years, my friends have gotten different financial aid packages from different schools. shouldn't be the same amount if the FAFSA/CSS is the same?</p>
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does hyps and the like determine financial aid solely based on financial need?
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<p>short answer, YES.</p>
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in previous years, my friends have gotten different financial aid packages from different schools. shouldn't be the same amount if the FAFSA/CSS is the same?
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<p>No, as each school has their criteria for calculating FA along with different financial aid bugets (some schools have deeper pockets and bigger budgets). My D was accepted to 7 different need blind meet 100% demonstrated need (mix of ivies and top LACs) and the range was about $12000 from the "best package" to the worse.</p>
<p>I never knew what our PROFILE EFC was.
D didn't apply to HYPD, however her school did pledge to meet 100% of need.
HOwever.....
their own finaid forms were used as well as FAFSA/PROFILE
The package was roughly similar to what was left after FAFSA EFC.
BUt other families- with more complex financial data, may vary from FAFSA.
ALSO
sophomore year, you are eligible for increase in Stafford loan amount- as well as some schools offer best packages freshmen year- as an enticement.
But don't forget schools own forms, as well as students often don't fully know all of their parents details- so that may explain some difference.</p>
<p>Oh- but you are right- it does to an extent depend on merit as well.
While you can say that just being admitted to the school, is an admission of merit- the aid packages may have higher grants, for students they most want to attend.
And it doesn't always depend on grades/scores.
My D had lower grades/scores than the median for her school.
However, she also had other qualifications that made her an interesting candidate & she was offered a package with more grants, than other students who perhaps relied more on grades and test scores.</p>
<p>I also think this must change from year to year.
Many recent grads of her school now joke that they wouldn't even be accepted let alone with money!</p>