<p>I'm applying to Northwestern RD, and I had a few questions about possible financial aid. I am Latino, both my grandparents on my dad's side went to Northwestern, and our total family income is around $30,000 (my mom's on social security disability, and my dad's been unemployed for what seems like forever). I have good stats (3.97 UW, 1420 so far on SAT, but on practice ACT I got 34, and I've been studying, ranked in top 6%, etc.) and I was wondering if I would most likely piece together full tuition with all of that together. I love Northwestern, but if we have to pay much more than a few thousand, or take out loans, we're going to be in deep guano financially. So my question is this, if I get in, do you think I would be provided for well by the school financially?</p>
<p>Also, would the legacy of my 2 grandparents, and the fact that I'm hispanic add any boost to my admission potential?</p>
<p>Legacy helps only for ED. Good Luck!</p>
<p>Northwestern will meet all of your demonstrated financial need without requiring student loans, which is pretty dandy. Make sure to file all your financial aid applications on time! IF you don’t… then FA becomes a lot, lot less likely, because they stick you at the back of the metaphorical line.</p>
<p>[Application</a> Instructions for Regular Decision Prospective Students: Undergraduate Financial Aid - Northwestern University](<a href=“http://ug-finaid.northwestern.edu/tasks/prospective/regular_decision_instructions.html]Application”>http://ug-finaid.northwestern.edu/tasks/prospective/regular_decision_instructions.html)</p>
<p>Crimson, I just PM-ed you!</p>
<p>We received a tremendous amount of financial aid from Northwestern (thank you NU) but it comes only from financial need and has nothing to do with your background. IF you get in, and it is extremely difficult, all the FA is interested in is the info in your FAFSA application. You parents must have their taxes done early in January, and you need to fill out the FAFSA right away. It is complicated if you and your parents do not have traditional jobs with IRS W-2 forms from their employer. Then, if NU’s financial aid office asks for more info, take it seriously and don’t be late replying. You can always ask for more information about your financial aid offer from their office, which is nice, and see if you can raise your offer once you are accepted. And do not forget Financial aid does not pay for anything in your dorm room like new-sized sheets, or clothes for a different climate, or medicines you might need or toiletries or health insurance: even with great financial aid, college still comes with a lot of costs.</p>
<p>My son is a junior at NU. For incoming freshman it is pretty much all about need-based aid unless you bring merit scholarships with you from outside sources - and even then the merit aid replaces the loan and work-study FA - anything you bring beyond that decreases their NU grant aid (need-based) - which happened to us with lots of freshman year outside scholarships (which took away his loan and work study). NU relies heavily on CSS profile as well as FAFSA. I really explored all of this with NU when my S received his acceptance. Loans are part of the FA package with a total cap amount (20k for 4 years, I believe) - except in some situations of students of greatest need and with some situations with accepted students from the Chicago area from what I have recently read. They do expect the student to contribute $$ from earnings when they award their FA - either from work study or from the student contribution calculation they see as part of their package. This has been my information gathered in talking with FA or reading their site information over the last two years we have been there. GREAT school and my son could not be happier there. We have felt they are very fair and very up front with us in all communications.</p>