<p>jersey, thanks, sorry I was dense. I can see where you were going now. I didn't see a contrast because I was endorsing full need-based aid for every student at the best college s/he can get into, whether the money comes from Pell grants, private foundations, or institutional aid. Simply put, at colleges with limited scholarship dollars, merit aid favors the wealthy at the expense of the poor. Parents on the list have been patiently explaining to me that EFC doesn't truly reflect their financial need, and I see now that my view of "need" is different from yours.</p>