<p>and queries openly if "merit aid" is justified with so many people needing financial aid. In other words, is it just to give scholarship money to people who don't need the help? Or should colleges always consider financial need together with merit aid in a NON-NEEDS blind analysis. An age old debate. </p>
<p>I do think that students that have done well in school should be rewarded by receiving merit aid. I also think that students that are financially disadvantaged should have every opportunity to attend college to make a better life for themselves and their families. I have much more of a problem with a college system that allows students who have any kind of URM background - even if they have never been at a disadvantage because of this (financially or educationally) getting into schools with lower stats than the rest of the applicants. I think that at some point private colleges (especially 3rd an 4th tier) that charge 40K+ a year room and board will see a huge drop in admission.</p>
<p>I’m officially offended…Quote from the article:</p>
<p>“It is particularly disturbing that public colleges are using such a large share of their financial aid resources for so-called merit aid in these tough times,” said Lauren Asher, president of the Institute for College Access and Success. </p>
<p>So, Student #1’s parents are low income, and cannot pay for college. Perhaps they even chose not to get a 2nd job to prepare for the future because they already knew that they’ll get aid from the government to pay for college. The student, likewise, would not really have to work very hard in school at all because the aid is purely income based, and the state university has a very high acceptance rate for low stats in-state students. Senior year arrives, student squeaks in, and his tuition is paid for by the state, due to his need based financial situation. They may not even have to take on any loans, or the student even get a summer job. But he/she gets an education provided at a good 4 year in-state university.</p>
<p>Student #2 would like to go to that same in state University. This student has a single Mother who never attended college, so this is the #1 job of this Mother…to get her child through college. She takes on extra jobs, squeezes every last cent out of each dollar. She pays her taxes. She insists her child do her part, throughout her school years, hoping she’ll help EARN her way through college through merit…as the other family is hoping for financial aid. Senior year arrives, and this child has, through incredible effort for 12 years, gotten incredible grades, participated in the arts, and outside activities, and earned stellar test scores. This student is offered free tuition due to her efforts. </p>
<p>Yet this writer implies Scenario #2 is “DISTURBING” aid, awarded for “SO CALLED” merit?</p>
<p>No, I think you misread the author of the article. I believe she was referring to people who have enough money to afford college for their kids and then some, whose kids are scoring in the upper tiers of SAT’s and getting merit scholarships…and there is evidence that a lot of the scholarship kids do come from high income/net worth families who don’t need the merit aid…and a huge percentage of all merit aid is indeed going to people who would not otherwise qualify for financial aid…and the author is suggesting that money would be better spent (since it often comes from the same college funding, not many scholarship funds are restricted) on financial aid for those qualified to be admitted but who need more aid in the form of grants. </p>
<p>Pell Grants are not that large in many cases and burdening students with excessive debt is almost immoral and setting them up for a huge problem when they graduate. But many colleges have funds for their OWN GRANTS,which can equal scholarship funds. Often the only difference between scholarship funds and grants in aid from a college are prestige. One requires the FAFSA and the other one doesnt. </p>
<p>Ivy League schools dont give scholarships. They ONLY give financial aid. If you need it, you get PLENTY OF IT. If you can pay your way, you pay your way. Fair enough, as far as I can tell.</p>
<p>merit aid doesn’t really make sense at ivy league/etc schools, as most every is pretty solid academically.</p>
<p>@michone you are very miss informed about what it means to be an ethnic minority in the US, as well as affirmative action. neither of those points have to do with need based aid though.</p>
<p>@R124687 One thing I think you have to be careful of in all of this kind of stuff (financial aid and college admissions) is creating story. It’s always going to be the case that you can come up with some story that makes the holes in the financial aid/admissions process obvious. I’m sure that there are situations exactly like the one that you described. However, the financial aid office has no way of knowing how hard one family vs another has been working to save for college. They also aren’t really in a position to judge what constitutes “working hard” (i.e. having 2 jobs vs 1 job). All they can do is take the numbers they are given and do the best they can.</p>
<p>I haven’t talked to a financial aid officer about this “creating story” type issue, but I have talked to admissions officers about it. It’s natural to do it but it has to be avoided.</p>
<p>Retc said: "Perhaps they even chose not to get a 2nd job to prepare for the future because they already knew that they’ll get aid from the government to pay for college.The student, likewise, would not really have to work very hard in school at all because the aid is purely income based, and the state university has a very high acceptance rate for low stats in-state students. " </p>
<p>Ah, the search for the evil layabouts goes on. The great thing about a hypothetical straw man is that they can strengthen one’s argument without having to worthy about its relationship to reality.</p>
<p>Kei</p>
<p>I KNEW my post would create just the type response that it did. </p>
<p>GHOST…I didn’t misread anything. I understand that you agree with the author by your comment that scholarships could basically be put to better use by being used for those with “financial need”. I disagree that low income students should be necessarily be granted aid SOLELY because of their income. To do so is to award an education to a low income, low achiever…while high achievers must, after paying the taxes to put THAT child through school, then also pay again for THEIR child. However, that isn’t really the point I was making. </p>
<p>My comments were in direct address to the two items in relation to each other.
A.) Public schools DO use public funds (my taxes) to support some merit scholarships, but the author does not agree that is acceptable. She has made the determination that is not how she wants the funds distributed, and
B.) Feels they are basically bogus (“so called” merit). </p>
<p>I would LOVE to have had her at my home when my D was up until 1am in Intermediate School because the rigor of the school many nights required 4-5 hours homework, and tell me that her 34 ACT score is only a a “so called” merit indicator. </p>
<p>I’m unsure why you’re mentioning Ivies. This is very specifically a comment on the fact that my state has chosen to award it’s best-of-the-best, to keep them instate. Private institutions can do whatever they wish with their funds, and build their classes however they like. I’m quite familiar with their process as, indeed, my D will be applying to several. And, yes…it will take my lifetime to pay off those loans. </p>
<p>Mike: You actually make my point FOR me. This is a very true story. Mine. And the other half of the story, is QUITE real, and I watch it unfold again and again with my co-workers. I can list by name a minimum of 2 families where I work, and 3 of my D’s classmates who EXACTLY fit this “CREATIVE story”. It’s not creative. But you don’t think one would “name names” on CC , do you? </p>
<p>The unquantifiable “hard work” is not the point, nor have I ever expected an admissions officer to look at that. It’s not admissions that are in question. It’s OUR government sponsored financial aid. My mentioning how hard we work for what we get, is by way of musing how the country can better it’s citizens by continuing to rewarding lack of effort. </p>
<p>Kei- “The emperor has no clothes”. This straw man LIVES. We ALL know this scenario is quite common, but it’s just EASY to post comments that don’t really move the conversation forward just for the purpose of using a “sound byte”. </p>
<p>My daughter wasn’t BORN with these grades. I wasn’t BORN with money. I lived in someone’s basement with my D for many years. I would NEVER expect her to get a free education anywhere. We do what we have to do. BUT…there is no reason to expect anyone to try and excel, when they’re guaranteed a cost free college education regardless of grades or income. </p>
<p>I have no qualms in my state using my taxes to fund high achieving children who otherwise cannot afford college. I DO have a problem with being told that MY high achieving child’s rewards are “disturbing” and that her merit is “so called”. </p>
<p>For the author to say that it’s BETTER to give state tax money to someone of low income regardless of ability, than it is to give some of that same money to higher income who’ve demonstrated exceptional abilities…is to say that no one needs to try and achieve anything. When we are GIVEN an education (or anything else). we SQUANDER it. </p>
<p>This is the first time I think CC has “gotten to me”. I try to ignore the posts that are meant to “incite riots”. But…really. This author’s comment is truly a slap in the face. Someday, perhaps an undergraduate degree will be guaranteed to all citizens, just like the first 12 years. But that time is not yet now. So we’ll just have to agree to disagree. She steps down from her soap box lest she protest too much.</p>
<p>R12:</p>
<p>Ya’ gotta learn to stop taking policy suggestions personally. </p>
<p>Out here on the Left Coast, merit scholarships have all but disappeared from the public colleges – sure the UC has a few, but only a few. It is what it is in a state run by politicians who believe it’s better (for whatever reason) to help the poor more than it is to reward high grades & test scores of the middle-upper class (however defined). But, regardless, public college finaid is poor.</p>
<p>BigMike3541-I think you misunderstood what I meant. I live in a affluenjt suburb of NY. I have heard of many families (some firsthand bragging to me) about how the only way their child was admitted to X college was playing the URM card. Their children would not have beem admitted to these schools any other way. If you are a URM and need the extra help to get into college - I am the first one to support that. I am just frustrated at the way some people milk the system - and that they are allowed to get away with it. I personally know one family on my street - the great-grandfather was born in the Dominican Republic - every other generation was born here. They own a very successful business, live in a beautiful house. The parents admitted to me that the only reason their son got into X college was by stating that he was a URM.</p>
<p>How many of you who argue against merit aid really can afford what is laughingly known as your EFC? I know we can’t, particularly now that much of what we had saved was lost last year. And despite all comments to the contrary, our “need-based” financial aid did not go up to make up for those losses. I know that, no matter what FAFSA or Profile say, we would not be able to afford to send my d to her current school without merit aid.</p>
<p>So before we start arguing about “financial need”, let’s please remember that the term, as used in college financial aid, has no bearing on reality.</p>
<p>Why do colleges offer merit aid? To attract students with impressive academic qualifications. If having such students is actually valuable for a school, merit aid is obviously a worthwhile practice.</p>