<p>I'll be dependent on financial aid whenever I apply to colleges because I'm at the bottom of the barrel. Is it true that Northwestern gives out terrible financial aid with loans instead of grants? Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>Kind of. They give out a "scholarship" which is essentially the same as a grant that other schools give out (for one year only, etc).
Id say they are decent tho. Stanford gave me a slightly better package and Duke gave me the best out of the schools ranked in the top 5 that I made it to; harvard and yale were pretty similar. NU was like 1G/yr more for this first year.
If you're bottom of the financial status ladder you have little to worry about. Schools will be forced to give you fat packages since they boast of meeting your need 100%.
Essentially, it is the middle class that is screwed by the way the schools give out finaid. Bottom generally turns out okay.
Look into applying to Duke; if you have good stats they will hook you up fat with aid.</p>
<p>They give grants/scholarships based on need that are part of the financial aid package. The grants are given every year, not just for the first year. However, sometimes the amount of the grants vary from year to year.</p>
<p>We were very relieved with the package NU offered my daughter. She would not have been able to attend without an excellent financial aid package. They offered grants, loans, and work study. The loans are reasonable. We'll have to scrape a bit for the parent portion, but it will be managable. I don't know where you heard the negative stuff, because all the research we did suggested they would be very fair, and they were.</p>
<p>i thought i got very nice finaid.. everyone tells me so.. about 4,000 in loans. and i applied ED...even though im at teh "bottem of the barrel" of the needing money bracket seriously. it was a big risk doing ED.. but it turned out great!</p>
<p>middle class. screwed. grant = 0. stafford loan and work study given, but i didn't take them. </p>
<p>but i've met people who seems to be from a different economic background who have gotten practically everything... one girl told me she only had to pay like 5000, because their package was that big for her...</p>
<p>Financial aid was one of my biggest concerns in applying for college. I ended up going to Northwestern because of its comparatively terrific financial aid package (and because of its wonderful programs and the wonderful things I've heard about the school of course). I turned down Ivy league schools because of the substandard packages I got from them. Northwestern communicates wonderfully with its newly admitted students and I'm looking forward to going to the school that I'm sure is the right one for me. Best of luck to you in finding the school of your dreams.</p>
<p>Yep: I got a need-based aid package from Northwestern the first year they actually give aid for internationals. With what my parents earn in my country turned to dollars, I'd fall into the same financial category as you, StepIntoThisReality. I think they really try to be as need-bases as possible, but they'll hardly ask for less than you and parents could give at your current pace. More likely they'll ask for more, but affordably so. Plus the loan. That's what my package is like. If you're really at the bottom (like me), you'll probably get a loan equal to or greater than your parents contribution.</p>
<p>Same situation as lorddragon04 here. StepIntoThisReality, have in mind that your family contribution is an investment that will give good yields for your whole life. Actually, it's probably the most reasonable investement you can make with your money.</p>
<p>Thanks for all of the information, everyone. I'll be certain to send Northwestern my application come this fall. Getting accepted will be the true test, I imagine.</p>