<p>I agree that one might expect or receive merit aid at their safety schools. My oldest child had two safety schools…Conn College and Lehigh. To be honest, we were not aware that any of her schools gave merit aid (most on her list actually do not). Conn College doesn’t. But Lehigh apparently does and she did win a substantial scholarship. But that’s different from expecting a full ride. My D was offered a full ride at her state U but had no intentions of applying there and so she built her list without that school. Conn College and Lehigh offered the criteria she was looking for in a college that UVM did not. So, free ride or not, she had other safety schools. That said, again, I can see assuming or expecting merit aid at one’s easiest schools on the list. Not sure about the “must get a free ride part”. It might entail the son to go several tiers down to get the full ride and it seems rather odd for a family that is so prestige conscious.</p>