<p>does Notre Dame offer merit scholarships? if it does, are applicants automatically considered for them?</p>
<p>thanks!</p>
<p>Nope, notre dame does not offer any merit-based scholarship, only need-based.</p>
<p>Unless being an athlete qualifies as being meritorious? But I'll let that slide since, despite all those scholarships, the Athletic Department runs a surplus and returns money to the school.</p>
<p>For the rest of students ND goes with a totally need-based approach to financial aid. Merit scholarships are seen as a way of "buying" the best students and El Dome doesn't want to get into bidding wars, even though it has the financial muscle to play with almost anyone. There's actually a large bit of concern about merit-based scholarships crowding out need-based scholarships and limiting access to higher education as the college going demographic becomes more minority and more poor in the coming years. I understand the frustration of middle income families searching for merit scholarships becase they feel squeezed but I am proud that ND offers up to full demonstrated need rather than 80% or something because it is wasting resources convincing talented wealthy students to come here.</p>
<p>I agree having purely need-based aid is good, except ND's (and many other school's) definition of demonstrated need can sometimes me laughable. I haven't gotten in yet (I applied early though) so I don't know what sort of financial aid I'll get (assuming I get in), but I know tons of people that go there. While most of my friends are upper-middle class, I know most of their families are still really, really stretched by having to pay full tuition. I'm not expecting aid due to my dad's income, so I think that's gonna be a real struggle.</p>
<p>yeah this sucks. i'm an international and i indicated that i do NOT need financial aid because i want to be considered as an EA applicant (they have to push int'l students back to RD if asked for FA). now i guess i'm fully depending on outside resources, assuming i get in.</p>
<p>Oooo that is not good. I would suggest you contact them and try to get put in RD because unless you're loaded and your parents wanna pay 50k a year, you're gonna need some FA. Just my advice, it's probably not worth it to hear back earlier and still have to pay a full 200k</p>
<p>ND does not offer merit scholarships - only need based. We are probably considered upper middle claiss. A good income, (last year anyway) but a lot of debt. We knew our S was going to college - we just didn't know it was ND! It was a huge decision to accept ND with basically no aid other than Stafford Loan. Made 1st semesters tuition ok, but now agonizing over 2nd semester. Will have to take out a loan.</p>
<p>Suggest all of you to apply for local scholarships offered in your community. Those seem to be based on merit. Most other scholarships we have found are need based. If two parents/student are working you probably won't qualify for much if anything.</p>
<p>so does ND completely meet the need of the student with regard to CSS/Fafsa and EFC? B/c i come from a upper middle class fam - my dads income (mom is retired) is 6 figs- and live in michigan - there are 9 kids in my fam with 3 in college - but my efc was 10k now down to 3k - but i got into Umich and they gave me nearly a full ride with grants and such - i pay maybe 500.... can Nd possibly match that - i am a transfer by the way - but i hear they do not reduce aid for transfers over frosh - they can afford to not do so.</p>
<p>Six figs is pretty vague, but regardless, I doubt ND will come very close to that. Their aid isn't usually as generous as "meeting full demonstrated need" sounds. I think you have to be pretty low income to get out with paying less than 20k a year to ND. Even that would be pretty great. This is just speculation though, obviously you'll have actual numbers to deal with when deciding.</p>
<p>partygrl--Contact the Financial Aid Office and ask if they can offer anything at this time. With the markets in turmoil and job loss across the country, many schools are re-evaluating financial aid for students. It doesn't hurt to ask!</p>
<p>the only reason I applied early is because my GPA is quite solid and my grades are kind of slipping this year.
well, 2 more weeks left untill I know whether it is necessary to contact the office!</p>
<p>There actually IS merit money in a way, but it is somewhat disguised and certainly not a separate or publicized form of financial aid. If you read closely, even though they say that it is need-based, they also say later that they evaluate academic achievement/intellectual promise(not sure the exact wording) in combination with other factors. Essentially, it is like most of ND's finaid in that it is a real mystery to anyone except those on the inside how exactly they award their money.</p>
<p>Also, ND does not change their offers based on a more competitive offer from a different school. Been there, done that. They will go beyond their original offer only if you show them that something has changed in your family situation. (They will do this, I have a friend whose parent had a sudden illness which would likely greatly increase medical bills, and ND was very understanding and helpful about it.)</p>
<p>There is no pure merit aid--you can interpret wording any way you like. All aid is based on financial need. You can have perfect scores, grades, etc., but if you cannot demonstrate an ounce of need, there is no pure merit aid! Outside scholarships (alum clubs, etc.) are completely separate. Even National Merit Scholarship Foundation does not recognize and fund ND. No pure merit aid from Notre Dame. At least this was the rule when our student applied in Fall of '05. Maybe things have changed since then and perhaps BPK you have more current info?</p>
<p>Of course theres no purely merit aid, they explicitly say that. But they also say outright "The University is committed to offering a financial aid package designed to meet the financial need of all undergraduate applicants for financial aid. The level of University assistance is based on both demonstrated financial need and academic performance. "
I'd say a clear interpretation of that would be that if you qualify for any financial aid based on need, academics can and most likely will increase it.</p>
<p>You won't get more aid based on academics, only better - such as grant and scholarship aid, rather than loans that need repayment.</p>