<p>Hi I am a senior finishing her last batch of college apps.
How generous is the financial aid for someone in my income bracket?<br>
The money decides where I will apply.
Thanks!</p>
<p>Brown has a financial aid calculator on the admissions webpage:
[Brown's</a> Financial Aid Calculator | Financial Aid](<a href=“http://www.brown.edu/about/administration/financial-aid/browns-financial-aid-calculator]Brown’s”>http://www.brown.edu/about/administration/financial-aid/browns-financial-aid-calculator)</p>
<p>So many factors go into aid… especially how much $$ your parents have in savings, how much they owe on their home… You can get a quick estimate with the financial aid calculator, but just be aware it is a very rough estimate.</p>
<p>Unless your parents have said “we will not pay more than xxx for college, no matter what the school feels we should pay”, then what the tuition, aide history etc of a college should only be a little bit of your decision on where to apply. (that is why FAFSA etc exists). You should extend your application pool to some schools you might not have considered, but still think might be a good match for you, and which have histories of “exceptional” awards of aid. (My niece is on a full ride due to doing this!) This may give you the hard but good choice of choosing between your “dream fit” and an okay fit with a lot more money. However, if you rule out the schools you really think are a great match for you without giving them a chance to show you the package if you get in, you are not really giving yourself a fair chance. If finances are really tight, there are also waivers of application fees.</p>
<p>Brown’s aid is only needs-based. Other schools may have merit-based aid, ie if they really would like you to come there, they offer a scholarship. </p>
<p>As to the income bracket, Brown & other schools calculate based on many factors—such as whether you are an only child or are there 8 of you? Do any of your siblings attend college already, or tuition-charging high schools? Do your parents pay a mortgage on their house or own it free & clear? Do your parents have a lot in savings or is this income level recent? Do you have savings, a relative willing to help you, and so on? Are there a lot of unreimbursed medical expenses your parents have to deal with? </p>
<p>When you get your acceptance letters, wait for the aid letters or scholarship letters, and figure out the costs of the schools based on those. My d is a sophomore right now at a school where she has a substantial merit scholarship; she would not be there if not for this.</p>
<p>The NPC should work pretty well for Brown since it meets need and doesn’ t have merit money. Unless you have some unusual family asset situation like owning a business, it will let you know if you have a chance for some money from them.</p>