Financial Aid

<p>Hi, I'm not sure if this is the right place to put this thread in, but I think it is. :) So my question is if the applicant is applying for financial aid, will it affect his or her chances of getting in? No financial aid will be required for me, but I was just wondering if mattered. Especially because a school has a certain limit of financial aid money that they can give out, so they can't over-do it. Even a school like Exeter has to have a limit. From some people I've heard that it doesn't affect your chances at all, and they just look at your application and if you need financial aid, they'll give it to you. On the other hand, I've heard that the financial aid is usually given to people with special skills in music, athletics, arts, etc... or people who are from destitute countries, not just normal people with a great application. So can someone give me a detailed explanation of how the financial aid actually works?</p>

<p>There are a handful of schools where an applicants need for FA will have no bearing on his/her admission or FA award -- schools like Groton, SPS, Exeter and Andover.</p>

<p>Then there are schools where the need for FA will have no effect on admission, however -- they don't guarantee they will meet that need, so a student may be admitted but not have the money to attend.</p>

<p>Finally, there are schools where a student's need for FA does have an effect on admission -- they are looking to spend those dollars wisely on kids who will do well at the school.</p>

<p>The fact that you do not need financial aid will give you a slight boost at the third type of school, may allow you to attend the second type of school -- and will have no effect on whether you are admitted to Groton, Exeter, Andover or SPS.</p>

<p>Some school use financial aid to bring in kids that might not otherwise attend -- athletes or musical talents, minority students, students from underrepresented states -- and other schools use financial aid to make sure that kids who are a really good fit for their school can attend. Most schools use the financial aid dollars to do both.</p>

<p>OH. That makes a lot more sense. Thanks!</p>

<p>Just to add onto this thread does anyone know is Loomis Chaffee falls into the third category?</p>

<p>judging by their website, most likely a cross between second category and third</p>

<p>Ok thanks. I need substantial FA, but I really like Loomis. :)</p>

<p>you should still try for it, you never know, you still might get a sizable amount of financial aid</p>

<p>Sweet. I'l try. </p>

<p>I really like the size. I know most people look down on the larger boarding schools, but it's something that I really want. The music program won me over too. :)</p>

<p>do you know what mccallie fits under or baylor</p>