<p>My family's 2005 tax return represents a $50,000 income anomaly. I am led to believe that this may be why I did not qualify for any need-based aid (and aren't the merit scholarships determined by need+merit?).</p>
<p>If I were to appeal this decision, how would the $50,000 affect the EFC? I don't need specifics, but will it substantially lower the EFC?</p>
<p>Any guidance is much appreciated. Thanks.</p>
<p><em>bump</em>
sorry for yet another financial aid thread, but this didn't fit elsewhere.</p>
<p>i dont think there is any need based aid from NYU, my mom makes 26k a year. i had no scholarships to stern</p>
<p>I'm almost certain that they do. When I met with a financial aid rep at NYU, she told me that I didn't qualify for any because the EFC was so inflated, so I can only assume that it exists..</p>
<p>Merit scholarships have nothing to do with financial aid. The two are separate - you may have little need and receive a merit scholarship, or you may have a lot of need and receive very little financial aid.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Merit scholarships have nothing to do with financial aid. The two are separate - you may have little need and receive a merit scholarship, or you may have a lot of need and receive very little financial aid.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I'd be interested to know exactly what standards they apply when deciding who receives merit aid and who does not. When comparing the stats of some people I know who got in and received merit-scholarships to my own stats and the amount of aid I received ($0), I do not see it as being proportional. Perhaps Gallatin doesn't have as much money to hand out.</p>
<p>Bleh.</p>
<p>Gallatin scholarships definitely max out much lower than CAS's. I believe Gallatin tops out at $15k. CAS's best is $25k.</p>
<p>As far as who gets merit scholarships, I'd like to know myself! I have a really great scholarship (only reason I can afford to be here) and there are a crapload of students who are as bright or better than me. I didn't feel like my application was as brilliant as other people's, yet here I am. I really don't know.</p>
<p>Ah, okay, I kinda figured that about Gallatin. Perhaps I should call and ask about the standards which they feel students need to meet. :P</p>