<p>Last of five kids heading to Hamilton next year (twin brother will be attending that other school in Hamilton, NY). I have been paying private tuition for the last ten years (including oldest son that graduated from Hamilton a few years ago), and am getting a tired of eating mac and cheese every night. What are the chances of "getting thrown a bone" from Financial Aid Department in the form of merit aid? For the last few years, the Hamilton mantra has been that it is "need blind". But isn't that a clever way of saying "need based"?</p>
<p>It’s been 4 years now since Hamilton College eliminated merit-based aid so I wouldn’t expect that bone to come flying through your window anytime soon. Hamilton is both need blind (in admissions decisions) and need-based (in financial aid decisions). If your EFC is 25K the balance should be taken care of by Hamilton. If it’s 60K you might think about investing in Kraft.</p>
<p>That’s kind of what I thought. Sad to think that my kids are eating better than us at home. I wonder if mac and cheese, if sculpted into the shape of a chicken, will taste like it.</p>
<p>Try tofu instead-its easier to shape.</p>