<p>Particularly at the non-merit, non-loan schools... if you and I have identical financial info... will our financial aid be the same, even if your kid is going into engineering and mine is going into Asian studies? I'm not sure what other situations that this question may apply, but if it does.. what is the answer there as well?</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>Schools that meet full need will meet your need regardless of your major. Remember, many college students switch majors MULTIPLE times during college. </p>
<p>YOUR need is determined for YOU…it has absolutely NOTHING to do with the need of other students attending a school that meets full need.</p>
<p>Each place has its own policies about this. Some use preferential packaging to attract students to under-filled majors. Unless the institution specifically states its policies, you really have little way to know how things will work out there.</p>
<p>NO. Not necessarily. Many schools code the students that they accept as “1”, “2”, “3” level or however their system works. For the most part, it doesn’t matter what you are coded, and you may never even find out. But the "1"s may get invited to special receptions, accepted student day sessions, visit and other goodies, and are the kids who often get the “likely” letters.</p>
<p>Where it can make the difference is in financial aid. The "1"s get the top of the bottle aid. All scholarships, perhaps sometimes more than need. If the school does not guarantee to meet 100% of need, the "1"s are the ones who will get it. No loans, no work study may be the case for them. The "3"s get what is left and may be gapped. </p>
<p>Now for schools that give only merit and meet 100% of need, the theory is that everyone gets the same package when the financials are the same. When the financial aid office is independent of admissions, that may be the way it works. Where it can become an in issue is if the aid is appealed. I always feel that the admissions office should also be brought into the picture if you want to appeal aid and the student has high stats for the school. THough the departments are separate, the folks may know each other and have some relationship. If the student is a “1”, there might be more effort made to find some reason to up the aid package.</p>
<p>I thought the OP was speaking about schools that guarantee to meet full need with no loans. Those schools…in theory…do NOT do preferential packaging depending on your MAJOR…which is what the OP asked.</p>
<p>Schools that practice enrollment management typically are schools that do NOT meet full need. These are the schools that might package your aid differently…but typically not based on your MAJOR as an applicant.</p>
<p>The field of study makes a difference in potential graduate school aid.</p>