<p>I found out yesterday that my family does not qualify for need-based fin. aid, according to my dad who has "plugged in the numbers". This unfortunately may limit where i can go to college. However, i was wondering if i could get some need-based aid at one school while i dont get any at another school; do schools use different criteria when determining where there aid goes, and would i have a chance?</p>
<p>If looking at the numbers you find that you are not eligible to need based FA, you should try looking at schools where you may be at the top of the applicant pool which offers merit aid. There a re many schools that offer merit aid and don't take into consideration financial need (there are also schools which give need based merit also). This should not be hard since in reality there are fewer schools that need based aid than there are schools that offer merit.</p>