<p>So I'm currently being recruited by a few different Ivy League schools (to narrow them down - Princeton, Dartmouth, Columbia, Harvard). As only need-based aid is given at these schools, I was wondering if anyone could give me personal insight on financial aid at some of these.</p>
<p>My family has 6 people, and we have an income around $95k per year. From what I've heard, schools like Princeton and Harvard (with their new programs, no loans, and not counting home equity) give out much better aid. I was just wondering if someone has had experience with the different Ivys in comparison of aid packages. All the schools I'm talking to so that money should be no object when looking at them - but I know it is, and I know each school gives differently.</p>
<p>I would like to add a note of warning. My niece was being recruited by by Ivies, and while she did get into another good school, she was not accepted for admission by any of the Ivies to which she applied.
Please use any highly competitive school as a reach, no matter your accomplishments.</p>
<p>^^
You'd be surprised. It is possible that at H he <em>may</em> only pay $3K. Remember his family has 6 people in it. I think at HYP you'll pay <10k at the others you may be responsible for up to $20k-though Dartmouth and Columbia will be likely more generous.</p>
<p>I guess if he has 3 siblings also in college then maybe $3k could be a good number. The expected student contribution from summer and work study runs about $2.5k. This seems impossible to avoid?</p>
<p>I think it's funny I am being called a He. Definitely a girl... :)</p>
<p>I guess my main question was whether there was a big gap between schools like HYP and then Columbia/Dartmouth/Penn etc. in terms of aid. I actually filled out the Pton and Dmouth financial aid calculators and found that there was a huge difference. Uh oh.</p>
<p>emeraldkity4, I'm aware that this sometimes happens. I'm banking on getting a likely letter, and I've already been approved at some admissions offices. So hopefully everything will work out. :)</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure that at least Penn matches FA offers from "comparable" schools.</p>
<p>I got an email from my regional admin last year saying Penn would match any deals I might have gotten from about 15 other schools, and all the other Ivy League schools were included.</p>
<p>harvard, yale, and princeton will all be comparable. a bit below that (depending on where your income falls) is dartmouth, columbia, and the rest of the ivies.</p>
<p>thejock- I will say that as an athlete, that is a hook.
The only students I personally know, who ( ok except one or two) attended Ivy schools, were great athletes.
Unfortunately, that does not get you any merit aid, but they do award need.</p>
<p>Dear Jock,
You mentioned that your banking on likely letters and that you've 'been approved' by Ivy League admissions offices already in July for next year? Interesting. What sport are you being recruited for? No expert on this at all, but I'd take Emeraldkity's advice on the admissions. Nothing's a sure bet. I saw crazy things this year with friends and admissions. It really seems to come down to whether or not they need you to fill their student body, plus alot of variables, too, like even if your regional admissions director [or perhaps a coach, in your case] is pulling for you. Sorry, off topic here...</p>
<p>As to your original question, for me, Penn's financial aid was better than Cornell's and all of the other schools I was accepted into. And by God's grace, it also happened to be where I wanted to go!....hehe</p>
<p>Basically, the schools I've been looking at have sent my academic stuff (transcript/scores/school profile/senior schedule) onto admissions offices. The admissions office gives feedback (whether I'm a good candidate, I need to improve, they should stop talking to me...). The likely letter is so that at the same time I'm being offered at schools where I can sign a letter of intent and get a scholarship, I will have something which guarantees acceptance (unless I decide to commit a felony...), so that I will feel comfortable turning down other scholarship offers. If that makes sense...</p>
<p>I didn't send any of my transcripts in the summer, so I guess I'm not experienced in your situation. Are you being recruited for the sports? or Academics? </p>
<p>Good luck with all. And just a word to the wise, as you know most of the Ivy applicants are top of the top, so the schools do have quite a choice when selecting their pool of candidates, as they have scores of Valedictorians and perfect SAT testers. And while the likely letters sound very common place here on CC, [and in fact schools are sending out more than they used to], they definitely don't go out to all the qualified candidates. It's really nice if you get one, and can be quite stressful if you don't. Best of luck.</p>
<p>My daughter was given the opportunity to complete early estimates of financial aid last summer during the Ivy recruiting process. You may want to ask the coaches if that is possible.</p>