<p>
[quote]
apply to the school(s) you desire and then see exactly what is on offer in your case.
[/quote]
Yes. And then if you find that the family contribution seems far removed from your actual ability to pay, don't be afraid to call to ask if your offer can be reviewed.</p>
<p>Bylerly, the difficulty is this: The representation that Harvard will apply an income-based test -- without a qualifier as to assets -- may lead unsophisticated families (i.e., the very moderate-income families at which the representation is directed) to forego application to a college that in fact may have a far more favorable package for their financial circumstances. betterday55 is a case in point in stating, "great, i might apply Harvard ED instead of Princeton then." Harvard could erase this possibility by representing that families "under $60,000 with moderate assets" will attend the college for free. This simple disclosure would give the unsuspecting a heads up, and increase the school's credibility in an area that creates real anxiety.</p>
<p>I think Harvard's policies with respect to financial aid are as "credible" as anyone's. </p>
<p>And since Harvard is not an ED school, no one is locked in; admits are free to compare financial aid offers from any school to which they are admitted.</p>
<p>But this is not another country...This is America, where everything costs so darn much that you have to kill yourself to live.</p>
<p>Byerly:</p>
<p>This is very good news for my kid and me also. As a parent of JKC young scholar kid, this will allow us to even think about applying. So many JKC young scholar are flocing to elite colleges, without $$$$$$ in financial aid most of these JKC young scholar would have gone to colleges which offer significiant merit based aid.</p>
<p>I am sorry but i think this is great news...my family earns less then 60K even though my parents both work..i have a small brother that will also have to go to college...there are a lot of families like us in US which cannot afford to have a kid go to an ivy because of the costly tuition. Right now i have a friend with a sister at Princeton and her parents earn 100k a year...that means that my friend who has even higher chances at going to an ivy will not get to go because her sister got all the dough</p>
<p>That may be a little excessive, although there is no doubt that colleges consider the financial impact on parents of paying 2 or more tuitions concurrently.</p>
<p>Heh, I didn't even bother applying to the Ivies. Honestly, I didn't see the point. I mean I would've had to pay to take 3 SAT II exams plus the application fee to find out they weren't going to offer me any money because my parents made too much money despite the fact that I had been told I was on my own for tuition. This doesn't even take into account the fact that I had thought to save money while I was working during high school. I got lucky though, ended up being a NMF and got a full tution scholarship to a small school that I love. It makes me sick how much emphasis is placed on the Ivies though.</p>
<p>Thats a great idea in theory, especially considering that most colleges are raising tuition. However, will total income be a factor now on the applications before Harvard decides whether or not to accept an student?</p>
<p>Nope. And it hasn't been for some time. Indeed, they are actively SEEKING qualified applicants from the lowest economic quadrant. In the years to come, such candidates, ironically, may even have an ADVANTAGE at Harvard and other need-blind elites.</p>
<p>I hope the Harvard move makes some other schools perk up their aid departments. </p>
<p>The middle class posters like me know there is really something wrong with the idea of "demonstrated need" when the method of calculating the need is not only not demonstrated but also so opaque. I think there is also something wrong with the unreasonably high prices vs. the use and funding of the large endowments. Sure we want our kids to have a great education, but they can't eat it or live in it. When it comes time to liquidate that asset due to the inability to pay out of monthly earnings, they can't sell it, either. </p>
<p>The schools are subsidizing ''needy" students with the money they get from the "privileged" who can pay the high prices. The scissors cuts on the middle class.</p>
<p>The phrase might sound good...but really think about it...under 60K...Harvard is not stupid when it said was goin to let them in free...this is Harvard's advantage of "lookin' humble and nice"...so it bring dreams to ppls under 60K --like me-- ...but only few can achieve it...and Harvard knows this...dirty...and yet...appreciative</p>
<p>I don't take your point. Making it possible for <em>qualified</em> admits to attend for free if they have family incomes under $60,000 does not mean that Harvard can open its doors to <em>every</em> would-be college student in America whose family has similarly limited resources.</p>
<p>Harvard just got more competitive. Honestly, i can see more people with <60K applyinh to the school. Hence, there will be more competitive.</p>
<p>Also, you have to remember that Harvard needs to make $$$$$ from its students via tutition and other fees. Therefore, i cannot see them accepting 5-10% of their pools of <60K because it would be too costly for them. I think that the harvard adcoms know that rich parents can afford to send their children to better high school/private schools so they implemented this policy. Also, most of the people attending harvard are come from high status families. Of course that does not mean everyone that is rich is automatically excepted to harvard it just means that people that fit the <60K mark will have to compete very hard for a minimum amount of seat.</p>
<p>That is just my view on this...</p>
<p>70% of Harvard students get financial aid. I think that the rough projection is that 24-25% of applicant/admits have requested and will qualify for an application filing fee waiver - a rough equivalent of the percentage which may qualify for total or near total waiver of tuition charges for the Class of 2010 if they matriculate.</p>
<p>What a joke... from a school with a 24+billion endowment. They and the rest of the elite private school bandits should give some sort of financial aid if family income is $125K or less.</p>
<p>In 2004-5, there were at least 1,000 students receiving financial aid whose familys' income was in excess of $125,000.</p>
<p>Really, truly, people need to APPLY and see what happens rather than whining about Harvard's list price. Only a minority of the students at Harvard pay full list price. There is a very large percentage of the United States population that will be eligible for Harvard financial aid by current Harvard policies. </p>
<p>Oh, yeah, if you have any doubts that Harvard will provide enough financial aid (or if you have doubts, which you might well be warranted in having, that you will get into Harvard), apply to other colleges too and compare offers. But don't conclude what offers you will get until you actually apply.</p>
<p>For those who need to be concerned about costs (which includes the bulk of applicants) the fact is that well-endowed elites are often the best educational bargains - when financial aid is taken into account. </p>
<p>Here are the top 10 "best values" on the USNews list - based on the "net cost" for financial aid recipients, and the fraction of matriculants who pay less than full "sticker price":</p>
<pre><code> 1. California Institute of Technology
2. Harvard University
3. Princeton University
4. Yale University
5. Massachusetts Inst. of Technology
6. Rice University
7. Stanford University
8. Dartmouth College
9. Duke University
</code></pre>
<ol>
<li>U. of North Carolina Chapel Hill*</li>
</ol>
<p>Byerly:</p>
<p>where WUSTL, U chiacgo, Upeen, Columbia, Cornell, Georgetown and Brown stands for best value basis</p>