Hi again! I want to thank everyone for posting - it’s nice to hear confirmed what I’ve been suspecting for a while: there is no “if they want you, they’ll find a way to bring you in”.
To elaborate more on my specific situation, I’m well in range to get into any of the Ivy’s or other top schools (grades, test scores, extracurriculars), but the financial aspect is holding me back. I fall into the bracket of middle class aid (which has been heavily discussed on this thread) that has too much money for aid but cannot pay the EFC. This is where my family got the whole “If they want you, they’ll find a way to bring you in” idea - they couldn’t fathom a college rejecting a very qualified applicant with experience in a niche subject the university is diverting focus to (hot, upcoming, but relatively unheard of biological topic) due to their inability to pay, and figured they would find a way to bring them in.
Not to diverge too much from the original thread topic, but does anyone have any experience with this situation? Right now my overall plan is just to apply to as many places as possible (even that need-based aid only dream school [MIT]) in hopes of a miracle, pray for a Stamps scholarship (or anything else I can get), and then work my butt off to get into said dream institution for grad school. Thoughts?