<p>My parents</p>
<p>What Lehigh considered our need and our FAFSA EFC were very similar or the same. They were very consistent in their aid all 4 years. Of course the aid went up and down based on our income and circumstances. (We had different things that went on that aren’t important to this conversation). Of course the student contribution went up every year but she earned more every year also. Work study was also given and she kept the same job all though school, it was easy to find, and they didn’t burden her with too many hours either. </p>
<p>Idk how it was with other students but we were from a state they would like more students from and she was an engineering student which I’m sure didn’t hurt. </p>
<p>Actually, Lehigh doesn’t do badly with about half the kids getting full need met. The kicker is what their need is as compared to what FAFSA and other schools define as need. So you have about a 50/50 chance of getting what they consider full need met. Congrats, Deb922 in getting a great package from Lehigh.</p>
<p>I’ve also heard good things about Lehigh and their financial aid and was actually surprised when i pulled out he numbers and Lafayettes’ came out better. But then who knows what the two define as need. That’s why I keep saying that I wish there were stats using the EFC definition.</p>
<p>OP, what is your FAFSA need number? Did you run NPCs for Lafayette and Lehigh? Have you met the due dates and are ready to get that final return and IDOC completed by end of the month? That will maximize chances of getting need met at schools. But as I said earlier, it’s doubtful you will get to pay less than FAFSA EFC at these schools. You need to find out what your parents are willing to pay, and make sure you have some school options that you know are affordable. It’s not a good thing to have a table top of unaffordable acceptances. It will put your parents in a tough and painful position to have to say “no” or to take out loans they should not be in order to give you what you want. As a parent, I can assure you that it hurts even when there are other alternatives. My kids were wonderful in that they would not consider any unaffordable school because they did not want to put us in that position.</p>