<p>I'm not sure if everyone heard about what Stanford is now doing, but they have decided, in a sense, to wave a bunch of fees if certain criteria are met. For those that get accepted and their combined family income is less than $100,000, they are waiving all tuition fees. For those that combined family income is less than $60,000, they are also waiving room and board costs. I was blown away at hearing this, so I am betting others will be also. I figure anyone who is struggling to pay for college (like myself) will appreciate what they are doing to help. Don't believe me? Check it out:</p>
<p>Of course...the first hurdle is getting accepted at Stanford...no easy thing to do.</p>
<p>Sounds really great, except that for most families that have been living in California for a while and own a house, the equity is more than 1.2 times the annual income. Foiled again! But it's a fantastic program.</p>
<p>No, really?! Wow!!</p>
<p>Except that would be sort of bad for next-years, because suddenly everyone would want to apply to Stanford more. So then the admittance rate drops again... :(</p>
<p>I'm finding this discussion interesting. The implication is that tons more students will apply to Stanford because of the financial aid incentive program they have adopted. I would like to say that I DO think that some students who might have applied to other schools similar in style and competitiveness to Stanford might (note MIGHT) now consider Stanford.</p>
<p>But Stanford isn't for everyone. Some students know that their chances of acceptance are limited and won't bother. Others simply won't want a school like Stanford for other reasons.</p>
<p>One of our kids toured Stanford, and actually hated it. It was way too sprawled out and, while lovely, didn't have the close feel of the smaller school that child chose. Oh...and the kid KNEW that regardless of the financial aid incentives, she wasn't going to get accepted at Stanford.</p>
<p>I would hope that most students are looking for things other than the financial aid incentives the schools are offering. The reality is that IF you really could get accepted at Stanford (really!!) you would likely be a strong candidate for a great merit aid package at many many other places.</p>
<p>thumper</p>
<p>My son will be attending Stanford in the fall. :-)</p>
<p>Around our neck of the woods, it is common for students to apply to the UCs, and what the heck, throw in an application at Stanford as the only other well known university in California (kind of like trying to win the lottery).</p>
<p>On the other side of the coin, I know some high stat students whose parents won't allow them to apply to Stanford (before the new initiative) because the parents felt they wouldn't receive any financial aid. UCB, UCLA, UCSD etc are excellent schools yet the COA is about half that of Stanford. I am thinking that with the new initiative, more of these type of students might be encouraged to apply.</p>
<p>FresnoMom...congratulations to your son. Stanford was clearly the choice for him!!! I agree that other high stat kids might apply...might. But while it's a terrific school, it's just not for everyone.</p>
<p>Same response that I have to all of these programs at the most selective schools--very nice for the vanishingly small percentage of low to middle income people who would be admitted and for Stanford pub., but in the big scheme of things, so what?</p>
<p>Should read "Stanford pub."</p>