<p>The basis of the award might also be that the kid who got it is a better candidate than your kid. Is this all about petty jealousy? The people awarding merit aid do not, in general, have the financial statements of the comeptitors available to them. They have no idea how much is neccesary to capture a given student. Of course, all aid is a form of price descrimination designed to squeeze as much out of us as possible, so what? By the way who turned this into a debate about merit aid? The issue is which is better more need based aid or preferences for admissions based on income.</p>
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They have no idea how much is neccesary to capture a given student.
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<p>Don't kid yourself. These are admissions professionals. They know what they are doing.</p>
<p>There are universities that track contacts with the school and use algorithms to calculate how much discount might be required based on demonstrated interest. With two equally qualified candidates, the one demonstrating more interest might get a smaller aid offer, on the assumption that the student is already likely to enroll.</p>
<p>The basis of the award might also be that the kid who got it is a better candidate than your kid. Is this all about petty jealousy? The people awarding merit aid do not, in general, have the financial statements of the comeptitors available to them."</p>
<p>You have no idea what you are talking about (and, for the record, my d. got the largest academic merit scholarship her school offered - they only gave 5 of them - and all kinds of needs-based aid on top of that.)</p>
<p>Give the professionals some credit; they are paid to do their jobs, and to do them well. (I'm biased when I say that, 'cause a couple have asked me to consult. ;))</p>
By the way who turned this into a debate about merit aid? The issue is which is better more need based aid or preferences for admissions based on income.
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<p>I'll take responsibility for that.</p>
<p>My response to the title question was to continue shifting resources to merit aid (i.e. lower need based aid).</p>
<p>I have no idea why you oppose merit aid then. Since you have no coherent arguments for doing so and apparently no self interest in doing so either.</p>
<p>I have a thought. Since the left seems to believe that SAT scores coorelate more with wealth and socio-economic status than anything else, why not provide a preference in admissions to low SAT scoring students.</p>
<p>why not provide a preference in admissions to low SAT scoring students.</p>
<p>or just do away with dependence on test scores altogether & use them as one part of an application, along with with grades, portfolio review, recommendations, interviews, essays, & ECs</p>
<p>EK wants a more holistic admissions process, to which many universities are moving. UCLA, for example, moved to a more holistic approach this year.</p>
<p>Loved the line about giving a preference to low SAT scoring students! But, of course, people would try to game the system and go to SAT non-prep classes. The rich would once again have an advantage...</p>