<p>Thanks hsmomstef</p>
<p>Those details are a very helpful map for many of us.</p>
<p>You are welcome – all I can do is tell you what I did for my son. If you have a daughter interested in biology and water polo, who wants to be close to home and wants to be near the big city, your choices in schools will be different. Probably the biggest thing I suggest is to divorce yourself from the idea that only a top few schools are the ones to aim for. My son only applied to one of the so called “top 10 schools” because he felt that they were not a good fit for him. In retrospect, neither was SPS. I have said this alot – don’t compare every school to Andover and Exeter, compare them to your safety. After all – you aren’t admitted to Andover/Exeter yet, but you can count on your safety.</p>
<p>What they used to do is make a pile of all the accepted people without regarding aid. Then, upon calculating how much they could spend, they would pull out a certain number of students they thought were good enough to be accepted but would drain too much money. In 2000, they had to pull out 46 applications.</p>
<p>In 2008, they pulled out zero. They made that pile of accepted students and took no one out because of financial aid. This was from a presentation they made to us. Therefore, financial aid no longer factors into their decision.</p>
<p>Even though there were less accepted FA applicants than last year, its not because they needed FA, but rather because other students were more qualified.</p>
<p>I am not sure I have the insight needed to make a judgement on Andover’s admission policy. As istoleyournose said in an earlier post, it seems tough. Either way, benefit of the doubt will be given.</p>
<p>I just told you how they did it… How could you have any doubts? Why would the Dean of Admissions lie in a presentation to all new parents?</p>
<p>I have conceded that Andover is the most financially flexible school. I have an inkling of doubt, however, if it is a pure need blind school. Two, identical applicants. Which would you chose, the one that costs more, or the one that costs less?</p>
<p>Maybe I am wrong, and as such, I am giving them the benefit of the doubt. Innocent till proven guilty?</p>
<p>It is all about money, everywhere. Always has been, always will be. Schools are not generous with financial aid for altruistic reasons. They are merely acting in their own self interest, as all institutions do.</p>
<p>Exactly. Not free money, so they want at least a nominal bang for the buck. Either way I will believe Andover’s policy.</p>
<p>pan1956, you are such a cynic. Whether or not they have it for altruistic reasons, they are still need blind. You can have the wrong means and still get to the same end.</p>
<p>Two identical applicants would both be accepted, then they would decide how much FA the FA one deserved.</p>
<p>Soonto, yes I am a cynic. And astute enough to acknowledge that in the final analysis, all institutions make decisions based on their financial interests.</p>
<p>Exactly. It is not cynical, it is the truth. I am not denying they are the most financially flexible, I am saying, however, it is NOT altruism or charity.</p>
<p>There was an article, they must be slow changing the website. Or maybe it applied for next admission cycle, idk.</p>
<p>Exeter is UTTERLY NEED AWARE! If amazing got an amazing award, it is a testament to its amazing talents!</p>
<p>Times have changed Pan. There are need blind schools out there. Andover and Roxbury Latin. Get with the times! Your old cynical ways do not apply to the excellent kindness of Andover in its ability to provide as much FA as acceptable applicants need.</p>
<p>ha. so, 2 schools are NB? that leaves tons more that aren’t. maybe cynecism can’t apply to Andover and RL, but it applies everywhere else. take off the rose colored glasses.</p>
<p>Many schools, such as Exeter, are very close to need blind. They, however, may have been more honest.</p>
<p>They are islands of hope in a sea in a sea of greed. Pan was even denying that these two schools were need blind which is ridiculous in my opinion as I have provided adequate evidence to the contrary. I’ll admit most schools aren’t, but people on here need to accept that Andover and Roxbury Latin are need blind.</p>
<p>To the extent of two identical people (objectively and subjectively), in which they would chose the richer one.</p>
<p>since when is non-need-blind-ness become greed? not all schools can afford NB.</p>
<p>"Many schools, such as Exeter, are very close to need blind. They, however, may have been more honest. "</p>
<p>Ha! Is this called “critical thinking”, PPV? Or, if you were “less cultured” you’d just say “it’s too good to be true”.</p>