<p>I keep seeing these chances thread where somebody says that they need definately need financial aid and most people reply that this will hurt them in the process. I thought Stanford doesn't consider whether you need aid or not in admission? Also, people keep saying don't go to this presitigious school or that prestigious school if you can't afford it, go to a state school or something instead. In one instance this was directed at Stanford. I thought Stanford had great financial aid because I know somebody who was accepted to MIT and Stanford but went to Stanford instead because it gave him a full ride. </p>
<p>stanford admissions is COMPLETELY need-blind. don't even worry about that... seriously. some of those other schools must not be need-blind (for example, wash u.) but stanford definitely is. i got a GREAT deal from stanford, so if you really need lots of financial aid, you can count on stanford to give it to you in full.</p>
<p>if this puts it into perspective for you... amherst, pomona, and williams gave me equal financial aid as stanford. buttt duke, northwestern, and umich hardly gave me ANYTHING (which is ultimately why i chose stanford over duke. but oh wait, stanford is way better in every other aspect i can think of as well... maybe minus basketball.)</p>
<p>"I thought Stanford doesn't consider whether you need aid or not in admission?"</p>
<p>to reiterate what dreamsicle posted, yes it is need-blind. I'm paying 1.7K a year to attend stanford. It was a lot cheaper than JHU, MIT, Williams, Columbia (especially Columbia...it is horrible with finaid!), and Berkeley.</p>
<p>Stanford is need-blind for domestic applicants. However, it is a factor in admissions for international students. This is probably what the comments were referring to.</p>
<p>Does Stanford's financial aid benefit middle class students, too? I've seen some kids who can't afford these expensive school. But, they do not recieve a generous fin aid(unless you consider staggering amount of loans) even though these schools are need-blind and say they meet full need.</p>
<p>It may depend upon how you define "middle class," since I have seen it defined on cc as anything from $50,000 to $200,000. As someone coming from the lower end (but not the absolute bottom) of that range, I can say that Stanford was quite generous. My son just graduated and he has a total of $7,500 in loans for the four years. I don't think that is bad at all.</p>
<p>Of the three schools that accepted him, Stanford offered the highest grants and lowest loan amounts.</p>
<p>Does anyone know if the awards for current students (not incoming freshman) have been made yet? I'm still waiting to hear... I'm too nervous too assume it will be the same as last year's award.</p>
<p>Agrophobic, go on the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) calculator at Finaid.com and choose "Institutional Methodology". It is an online simulated version of the financial aid forms which you will have to officially complete later when you actually apply for financial aid. The EFC calculator will give you a fairly good ESTIMATE now of what the colleges will determine to be the amount of money your family should be expected to contribute. Annual income is a big factor but they will also want to know what other savings or resources your family might have. </p>
<p>Stanford is need blind. That means they will cover everything above and beyond what is determined to be the amount your family should be able to pay. What people mean when they say they "can't afford" to go to stanford even though it is need blind, is that they feel that they cannot come up with the amount of money that the calculations have shown that your family should be able to contribute (EFC). Unfortunately, how much one can "afford" is partly a matter of opinion and family values. The letter that came along with Stanford's financial aid packet said something about expecting families to understand that a Stanford education is valuable and may, therefore, require some degree of sacrifice or shifting of priorities.</p>
<p>BTW, Harvard's latest FA initiative will no longer require any family contribution for family incomes under $40,000; so my guess is that you will be able to qualify for a good financial aid package at Stanford. As has already been mentioned, applying SCEA does NOT mean you will not get financial aid. If you are accepted, Stanford will send you a letter that gives a preliminary estimate of how much you will qualify for, for FA, so that you can still make other choices if you are offered a better package elsewhere if you apply RD at other schools.</p>
<p>We don't own any property except a car and we don't own a house. There are 5 members in our family, but my sister(divorced) and her son has always lived with us. She however makes some money to support herself. How does that factor into the financial aid stuff? When they ask for number in household, is it 5 or 3? And when they ask for income do I include my sister's as well?</p>
<p>i know of an '09 international from china who's getting like 45k in financial aid next year...if i remember correctly, Stanford costs like 46 - 47k per year, right? that's a really good deal...</p>
<p>Estimated comprehensive fee for 05-06 for Chinese students is $47,053.
Of the Chinese int'l acceptances I know this year, several are equipped with really wonderful aid packages. Like Mr Lin, he gets around $44,500. Ms Chu gets $44,000. Personally I get $46,553, comprised of a $43,953 grant and $2,600 work-study, awesome deal.</p>
<p>The FAFSA will want your parents' income, not your sister's. It would not be included, since she is supporting herself and not helping to support you. The number of family members listed would depend, I think, on how many your parents list as dependents on their income tax form. If they list your sister and her son as their dependents, they MAY count. (However, according to at least one college I talked to, they may have to prove they contribute over half of their support--don't know if Stanford uses the same standard.) If your sister and her son are not dependents of your parents, they would likely NOT be counted on FAFSA either. (I believe this is true, but I am not an expert, so don't take this for fact, just educated opinion.)</p>