@booklady123 - hear ya. UChicago didn’t disappoint us on the FA this year - it was within our budget. She was looking at full-tuition merit elsewhere, and she might have gotten some money RD from a school or two . . . but that wasn’t going to be our primary factor for choosing a school (not that we gave away our bargaining strategy to any schools at first . . 
). When we went to Move In we met a LOT of families of very, very talented kids who went EDI and that just confirmed that D had been wise to switch to EDII. Hearing things like “2% accept rate for RD” also helps, of course, but nothing substitutes for meeting the kids themselves.
@JBStillFlying my thoughts exactly. I feel like there are some things you shouldn’t be bargain shopping for, and a college education is one of them. Which isn’t to say you can’t get a great education at a school that offers full merit, at all - but I just get antzy thinking about it as the primary consideration. In my dream world, I think Chicago’s FA policy (which is the same as a lot of other “top tier” schools) is the way it should be - they determine what you can pay and say “we think your kid deserves to be here so we got the balance.” That IS the merit scholarship.
The challenge I see often is with how people perceive the idea of “demonstrated need.” A lot of people confuse the idea of what they are ABLE to pay with what they WANT to pay. I don’t think the school should be expected to give you enough money that you can “continue to live in the lifestyle to which you are accustomed.” You should pay every bit that you are able (imho). Because the mere price of admission is inevitably higher for someone else.
Yes, yes, I am not naive…I understand that schools are businesses and need to recruit for various reasons. I understand that not all schools have pockets deep enough to have these FA policies. But in a perfect world…
PS - I hate the term “top tier” so forgive me that…
PPS - If we get another 10K merit on top of need based aid, I’m MORE than happy to take it…
What are unofficial acceptances? I did not get that, but I got one that was thanking me for my interest and direction me to diff chicago websites
@booklady123 - yeah, “demonstrated need” isn’t the same thing as “demonstrated want.” They will grab all the consumer surplus you have - but they will make it possible for your kid to attend. I have friends who think we are just nuts to turn down a full tuition scholarship for something that - regardless of the FA - is a LOT more expensive. But our family values a college education very highly, even if there is a large consumption (as opposed to investment) component to it.
@JBStillFlying Thanks for the input. Sounds like you have a current student at UChi. Did you use the tactic you suggested - telling them what the 2nd choice school was offering/offering to enroll right away? We are waiting for confirmation on NMF. But also waiting on resilts of other scholarsip applications from her non-top choice schools. Plus, another factor is, what will her twin brother end up with scholship-wise at his schools? He isn’t as set on one particular school, but we still want him to get to go somewhere he is excited about. I wish this was all over!!
“Bill Gates said his three children understand why he has pledged to leave his $70billion fortune to charity when he dies. In a revealing insight into his private life, the Microsoft founder, 60, said his children are ‘proud’ of his decision to dedicate his money to helping the world’s poorest.”
“Gates said that instead of billion-dollar trust funds, his two daughters and son will be given a ‘great education’ to help kick-start their own careers.”
The man is as smart at raising his children as he is running his company.
“Did you use the tactic you suggested - telling them what the 2nd choice school was offering/offering to enroll right away?”
@Kathy V not for UChicago because my D17 was admitted EDII.
@CU123 - the Gates’ always seemed to be very wise parents. His kids weren’t allowed a cell phone till 14 and I heard someone recently quote Melinda as saying she thought even that was too early.
Just remember that the FA office has been playing this game a lot longer than you or I.
@CU123 - not a game - a way to try to make a mutually-desired goal happen. You have to keep your word, and they can always say “no thank you”. It never hurts to ask. FWIW.
I have a newfound appreciation for the “where fun goes to die” mantra of UChicago. I had my alumni interview this past weekend and the alumna who interviewed me was very frank and honest regarding the university’s quirks as well as its imperfections. We talked about everything from the political climate in my area to Cards Against Humanity (I know…). She cursed and laughed aloud throughout the conversation, but it wasn’t awkward at all because it seemed to just flow with the entire corkiness/nerdiness/spontaneity of UChicago as a whole. Sorry, I’m beaming. 
10/10 love UChicago
“10/10 love UChicago”
Then why the BYU megaphone?
I think that’s a Yale megaphone with a bulldog. Perhaps Benji3025 is switching allegiance from Yale to UChicago.
^^^ Ah. Of course. Though we knew quite a few BYU alums who were at UChicago for grad school.
It is on the web site ED2 on Thursday early afternoon.
@JBStillFlying It’s actually Yale’s Handsome Dan! And I was accepted to Yale SCEA, but I’m still keeping my options open (love UChicago haha)
@Benji3025 did you apply EDII or RD to UChicago?
If one applies SCEA to Yale and is accepted it would be odd to apply ED any where else…so I’m thinking RD.
@JBStillFlying As @CU123 mentioned, I applied RD. On a side note, does anyone know when RD decisions are released? Historically, they have been released mid to late March, correct?
@Benji3025 - yes.
@CU123 - didn’t your kid get accepted SCEA somewhere before applying EDII? Or am I misremembering?
@JBStillFlying SCEA - deferred.