<p>I heard that a lot of schools(that aren't need blind, like Michigan etc) just reject you right away if you need a lot of aid even if you are as competitive as a person who has more money. Are there schools that do not meet 100% of the need but do give you even a little bit of aid if you are competitive enough for them?</p>
<p>For example, the school I am looking for would do this: if your need is $40,000, they might accept you and just give you $10,000 in financial aid.</p>
<p>Many schools like Michigan and Stanford do this: if your need is $40,000, since it is a lot, they just reject you(unless you are SUPER outstanding)</p>
<p>I don't know if I'm making any sense here but need help!! thanks</p>
<p>Colleges usually don't do this for a good reason:</p>
<p>If you actually need $40,000 in aid, it is a waste to offer you only $10,000 because you still wouldn't be able to attend. Given that the pool of financial aid money is limited, it makes much more sense to offer those $10,000 to somebody who will actually be able to attend with those $10,000 in aid.</p>
<p>On the other hand, if you could actually attend with only $10,000 in aid, your need is not $40,000, so colleges wouldn't even consider giving you $40,000.</p>
<p>I completely get what you are trying to say, managinglife, because I have been wondering the same question. Correct me if I'm wrong, but some schools have this need-blind admissions policy. Do realize that there is a difference between "need-blind" policy and "full-need" policy. I'm not talking about the likes of Ivy League and Middlebury, Amherst, etc. Need-blind does not necessarily means that admitted students will be guaranteed 100% financial need; it means the school considers admission and financial aid separately. Basically the admission committee reviews your application and gives admission decisions without looking at each student's financial situation. Then, the office of financial aid will review financial applications of students who are already admitted.</p>
<p>If this is the case, the college won't reject you right away simply because of small contribution. Provided that you are good enough and are accepted, if your financial need is too high, the school will offer you admission and meet part of your need. If you are willing to pay the rest, you are in.</p>
<p>Your example was a little extreme. Let's say your need is $15,000, and they offer you $10,000. If you decide that you can afford the rest $5,000, you'll get in.</p>
<p>That's my opinion, feel free to correct me. </p>
<p>By the way if what I think is right, can someone compile a list of schools with need-blind admission policy? Thank you very much!</p>
<p>batdoi has a good point. I am wondering though how many colleges with need-based aid for international students actually "gap" (that's what it's called if colleges admit an applicant with less aid than her demonstrated need). It seems uncommon because most international students don't have a source of loans in their home country and because it's nearly impossible for them to get a loan in the US.</p>
<p>If you want to know if a college gaps, you can look at the "% of demonstrated need met" in its financial aid statistics (e.g. at collegeboard.com). If a college meets 100% of need, well, it is safe to assume that you will only be admitted if finances work out.</p>
<p>Btw, you are more likely to succeed with this approach at colleges with merit aid. They would freely admit you with a half-tuition scholarship when you actually needed full tuition (which of course they don't know), and then you could get your loans to cover the rest.</p>