<p>In the dark ages, I was accepted at an ivy and MIT, but their aid package was much less than two other schools that gave me a nice scholarship. Back then, I did not know that I was just getting need money from the first two school, but got merit as well from the latter which was why they package was much plumper. </p>
<p>Though, yes, it is possible to get outside scholarships for any school, I find that it is more common that people mistake financial aid for merit money. Many, many have said they got scholarships at schools that give for need only. The other confusion that often occurs is when someone gets a merit award that covers need plus some, and it is misunderstood.</p>
<p>The thing that most people don’t understand is “some schools have money and some don’t”, plus you must know what type of aid is given by the school…100% need (and typically no merit) ranging to little/no money at all. If you get into Harvard and have no need, you pay sticker, but if you’re the last one admitted to Harvard and have need, they essentially meet all of your need with free money! </p>
<p>Unfortunately, this information and therefore understanding is not clearly communicated and/or readily available…</p>
<p>My oldest daughter received a fairly decent scholarship to a state school because she was Valedictorian. Many years ago, however, this same school gave full tuition to Valedictorians. Now a student has to be invited to apply for the full-tuition scholarships, and the process is quite involved. I don’t know if lack of funds contributed to the change, or if “grade inflation” and multiple 4.0 Valedictorians at the high-schools had something to do with it, too. </p>
<p>On the other hand, my younger daughter got a ton of scholarships and grants to a different state university, because (I believe) that school is trying to diversify their campus with more residential students - a lot of their students are commuters. They were handing out good money to in-state kids who live outside the area where the school is located, and you didn’t even need that great of ACT scores to get it.</p>
<p>I guess it just goes to show that all schools are different, even public universities within the same state. So it IS worthwhile to do a ton of research on what the schools have to offer. Especially when so many kids start college as “undecided major”, and don’t really care where they go, as long as they can “move away”.</p>
<p>The list of automatic full scholarships for NMFs has really dwindled. It used to be quite a list. Once upon a time awards like Bright Futures in Florida, paid full tuition. It’s not your imagination here. There is a squeeze with less money available.</p>
<p>Sofrustrating, had a similar situation with my son’s award, which is over 10k short of what I can afford. Our EFC was 13,000 and we are expected to be able to meet 24,000. Note that is a little below 1/2 of my yearly income. I am a bit schocked, as you are. This is a small private school in OR which shall remain nameless. Obviously I had expected having to pay more for a private school over a state school, but not that much. It will be difficult to small private schools to add diversity to their student body, a diversity this particular school talked so much about as being one of its goals, if those who have need are not given the proper means to attend. I am not saying that the school should pay for my kids’ education, but true diversity as we saw when we visited the Stanford university, for instance, is not going to come forth for small schools any time soon. To their own loss.</p>
<p>Does this school guarantee to meet need, Cyamops?</p>
<p>It is true that small schools generally do not have the big programs that attract big donors for attracting ( & paying for) high need students.</p>
<p>Most private schools gap students need as well as take additional information into consideration when determining need besides FAFSA.</p>
<p>When your EFC is below the cost of an instate university, yet you don’t qualify for merit aid or to gain acceptance to a 100% need met school, you may want to consider attending a community college for a few years to save expenses.</p>
<p>“a little less than 1/2 my yearly income.”</p>
<p>Exactly. Same here. How can any school, public or private, expect a family to live on 1/2 their income? And don’t forget, scholarships get taxed. So what then, exactly, are the Profile and the FAFSA for? Clearly these schools are pressuring me to refinance my house. My house is currently worth 1/2 what it was 5 years ago. Do they want me to give the whole thing up? </p>
<p>A thought. Some have said that schools “don’t have money to give away.” But these so-called grants and scholarships are really just a decrease in their grossly inflated sticker prices. They don’t “give” the money to us. They just take less.</p>
<p>I know I sound bitter, but having worked in industry and seen the cost cutting that has gone up exponentially since the '80s, I’m getting frustrated with all levels of education resisting the factual change in the US economy. We started paying co-pays for health care in 1990. My kid’s teachers went on strike in 2007 when the town government wanted them to start a $5 co-pay. Needless to say, they got zero symphathy from the parents, all of whom had been paying higher copays for years. All the teachers succeeded in doing was to bring attention to their actual salaries. The paper published them. What a shock!</p>
<p>But recently, the game supposedly was that a great applicant would pay a reasonable tuition. All based on a fair assessment of family assets. This gets dangled in front of the kids as they spend all their time working and their Saturdays taking SATs, AP classes are glorified, and don’t forget the few remaining hours that absolutely must be spent on volunteer work. Guidance counsellors contact them in a panic and create a frenzy. This gets pushed on parents at evening school presentations. Pamplets come in the mail with glossy promises. Kids memorize every line of US News and World Report and spend their 20 minute lunch periods discussing them. All based on the promise of a fair tuition. </p>
<p>A relative of mine, an established professor at a major university, told me they’ve had a salary freeze for 3 years, so I know changes have started. I understand there are contracts and tenure and prior commitments, but something’s got to give. Education is hanging on to the past for dear life. What an unfortunate time to be sending kids to college.</p>
<p>like I mentioned earlier. I haven’t seen many changes since my eldest first applied to college twelve years ago. Many people have lots of options regarding their choices after high school. Attending college at 18 is only one choice & from what I have heard, it is optional. ;)</p>