<p>I know to get admitted at Wesleyan one needs to have great grades and
stellar EC's, but does anyone know if they give out any merit scholarships?</p>
<p>They do not (except for the Freeman scholarship for a select few Asian internationals). However, they do give need based FinAid for everyone who demostrated need, and admissions is need bline.</p>
<p>Thanks for the information.
I feel that I, and probably many students like me, are going to be stuck.
If my parents make enough to save a little for college, but have real expenses
(I'm not talking vacations) and my Mom is on disability, how is a middle-class kid
who works hard supposed to pay for anything but a state school if a great school
like Wesleyan can't help out?!</p>
<p>you need to go the the collegeboard's Estimated Financial Contribution (EFC) website and punch in the numbers: EFC</a> Calculator: How Much Money for College Will You Be Expected to Contribute?</p>
<p>Please understand that many schools do provide financial aid to students who can't pay the entire COA. That's why you apply for financial aid, using the FAFSA and the college board's CSS profile (some schools don't need both of these applications and some schools have their own applications for FA as well). Merit aid is one way that schools help students, but many schools do not give merit aid because there would be far too many students who would deserve it. Ivies and other very selective and top tier schools do not. But often these very schools have very good financial aid. Check into the above recommendation, and also check the colleges' financial aid sites. If you are accepted to Wesleyan, it can and will definitely help, if you fit their criteria for financial aid.</p>
<p>
[quote]
how is a middle-class kid who works hard supposed to pay for anything but a state school if a great schoollike Wesleyan can't help out?!
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Actually, the answer is try for a school one step down. Many very good schools offer good merit aid to people who would be qualified for a place like Wes or other top school (most of which don't give merit aid), so as to woo those students.</p>