<p>Our D’s first choice was Macalester and she was so excited to be accepted. But the cost in nearly $5,000 more per year than her other favorites, Grinnell and Tulane. Plus the other schools offered larger scholarships as opposed to grants, which will not be effected by yearly income changes or other scholarships received. Seems like those other schools may be a better financial choice for our family.</p>
<p>So somebody got a “much better” aid package from mac than grinnell, but others have gotten better aid from grinnell. Interesting.</p>
<p>final – Grinnell awards merit. Also, every need-meeting school defines need differently. You’ll see.</p>
<p>My family’s income is pretty low but we have quite a bit in savings. Macalester is at least 8k more per year than earlham or grinnell. It totally depends on your family situation I guess. I got both merit and need based from both. It looks like at grinnell this actually affected loans and at macalester it didn’t effect my package. Either that or grinnell just gives less loans in general.</p>
<p>I got merit from both Grinnell and Macalester, but in the end Mac’s about 5k/year cheaper than Grinnell, which is definitely significant (especially if I also consider that travel to Grinnell would be a lot more expensive.)</p>
<p>I am an international applicant.Accepted… Still waiting for aid notification.Do they also send aid notification by email ?</p>
<p>Congrats to everyone who got accepted! is anyone going to the spring sampler on April 11-14? I’m going and am kind of nervous ahaha</p>
<p>spnlove, I hope you have a great time at the spring sampler and that the weather is truly springlike. By the way, my daughter’s favorite part was the “Chat with Mac Students”.</p>
<p>So happy to be admitted by Mac with 3w/y FA!!!</p>
<p>My S loved the sampler. It was fantastic for both him and the parent attending (me). Definitely stay with a student. It gives you much more of a feel. Out of the 8 kids he hung out with during the weekend, 6 went to Mac, and 4 are very close friends today. Don’t be nervous, but be prepared to be awed by your peers attending. Even the overheard conversation in the rest room is interesting! (which schools people are visiting in April, which ones are their first choices, which ones they THOUGHT were their first choices but have now decided Mac is, etc…) ENJOY and take advantage of all the information and sessions Mac offers. It’s a well done weekend. FYI, my S had great choices last year and Mac won him over based on this sampler. Turned down more $$ at other schools because of the profs, students, and overall culture at Mac. Pay attention to how every school makes you feel – it’s important to feel comfortable and a part of what the school is about.</p>
<p>Got the worst aid from Mac :(</p>
<p>Going to Duke. Good luck to all.</p>
<p>Interesting. For us Macalester was the best aid (by significant margin) out of 10 schools. NYU the worst by more than a country mile (didn’t know whether to laugh or cry so did both :)).</p>