<p>I have read that Skidmore meets 98% of financial need freshman year, and 94% of financial need after freshman year (on average). </p>
<p>I have also read a number of posts about their aid not being good at all from families who have received packages.</p>
<p>We are upper middle class. If there are other upper middle class families who have gotten a package, were you priced out of this school, or is it doable to pay for this school without going to into massive debt?</p>
<p>Similar financial picture. Priced out of it. Did recieve some merit aid (6-7K or so) and have saved enough for "state school (22K total)" X 4 years X 3 children, but fairly certain graduate/professional school is in future too, so do not want too much debt. Other schools have been much more generous in merit aid and offer similar academic profiles and programs.</p>
<p>Well, I don't mind 20k in debt, but my tolerance for more than that is zip. The average need met is 98% for freshmen. Did they accomplish that for your child (including the Stafford loan, whatever the max. is currently for a freshmen), or did they gap you more? Did they meet need by adding on some Perkin's loans and/or a large amount of w/s with that? I am trying to see whether it is worth applying, because if the aid package on average is poor, there is no point.</p>
<p>Thanks for your help, vtmt. Anyone else?</p>
<p>vtmt, if you don't mind my asking, was the merit aid that you were offered, by Skidmore, related to either the Science or Music scholarships? My daughter has been interested in Skidmore, but after browsing their website it appeared that those two scholarship programs were the only merit aid offered. I was interested in discovering if there actually is any other sources of merit-based aid at Skidmore. Thank you.</p>
<p>Sorry, I was off on the details. Total "Aid" was $2000 Grant, $2000 student employment and $3500 Unsub Stafford loan so total was $7400. Estimated total cost $51,000-7400=$44,100. That was it. Therefore after what we have saved so far, need $22,000 in loans/year X 4 years. Plus grad school UgggggHHHHH! Iguess it depends on how much you have already saved and how many children you have to get through college.</p>
<p>Applied for Science Scholarship but didn't get it.</p>
<p>Other school such as Hobart gave $20,000 merit (a little less competitive), Denison $13,000 merit (about the same competively)</p>
<p>vtmt: Thank you for the clarification, which seems to confirm my initial impression that the only merit aid options are the science and music scholarships. I'm sorry that the finances didn't work out for you at Skidmore--best of luck wherever you do attend this fall.</p>