<p>So I just got into Princeton and I'm obviously really excited, but I don't know if I can go there. The financial aid estimate is good . . . not fabulous, but pretty decent. My family and I might be able to swing it, probably by taking out loans. The only problem is, I have an older sister in college, which improves the aid considerably because Princeton assumes that we are shelling out big bucks for her education. The problem is, we're really not. It's a state school, we're in-state and my dad works there and gets a tuition discount, so they're paying next to nothing. In two years she graduates, and my aid package would go down by about eight thousand dollars, which means we would no longer be able to afford Princeton. It would really suck to have to transfer out of a school like Princeton after two years. I suppose that I could go really far into debt, but with two full rides from state schools it's going to be hard to justify that. Is there any way to guarantee the same or better financial aid package for four years? I'm pretty sure that trying for outside scholarships would be useless, because all they would do would be to reduce the Princeton grant instead of go towards paying my family's contribution. Any thoughts on how I could possibly make this happen?</p>
<p>that's what I was wondering. Do you have to reapply for Financial Aid every year? it would be great if you could keep the same package for four years....</p>
<p>No. We're actually in the middle of applying for financial aid for next year right now. If there are certain circumstances that the financial aid office needs to know about your situation, certainly bring it up to them when you're applying for fin aid in the coming years. They have been known to alter packages according to circumstances, though admittedly sometimes they don't do too much to help. But yeah, come, and then they'll work with you to keep you here.</p>
<p>Definitely talk to FinAid. If they admit you, they're probably willing to work with you to make sure you come.</p>