<p>At schools that take need into account when making admissions decisions, is it a huge deterrent to ask for need, especially if you have a lot? I understand that colleges are financially limited, especially in these times, but at the same time, I wonder: is it really fair for them to expect that someone whose parents are making minimum wage to not ask for aid? </p>
<p>I know certain students are more likely to be desirable for colleges, but are legacies, athletes, etc. more likely to get aid than an average student? If so, is there anything us average students can do at this point to increase the chance of getting a good aid package, or has that ship sailed?</p>
<p>too early to bump? any advice is appreciated. i’ll answer your thread if you leave a link!</p>
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First, most schools are need blind anyway, but is it really fair for you to expect them to pay for everyone, including students who aren’t academically adept? If all colleges met full need they would go broke. If you need the FA you MUST ask for it. It does you no good to be accepted to a school you can’t afford.</p>
<p>Your best bet is to apply to a wide variety of schools that are academic matches and safeties, with just a couple of reaches, both public and private, and compare the aid packages come spring. Sometimes the more expensive private schools end up being less expensive in the long run as the offer more grants as opposed to loans so make sure you don’t avoid them thinking they are out of reach.</p>
<p>I’m not expecting them to pay for everyone, and it doesn’t really have anything to do with not being academically adept, especially since those students aren’t going to get accepted to the majority of schools anyway. And I am looking into schools that are need-blind, but most public colleges aren’t, and it’s not very viable to apply to ONLY top private schools that meet all need. It’s just that my family’s pretty poor and i’m the first person to go to college. My parents keep saying, “you can just get loans,” like it’s that simple. Maybe I’m just kind of frustrated because I basically have to figure it out by myself.</p>
<p>To answer some of your other questions, FA is based on need. As blueiguana stated, cast a wide net for schools so you have some choices. Colleges determine need differently. Based on your chances thread I think you are competitive for virtually all of them. You could also consider merit aid at a school like Alabama where you would get a full ride. <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html</a></p>
<p>Well, your parents are wrong. You can’t “just get loans”. Without a qualified co-signer, you can’t borrow more than the federal maximums of $5,500 freshman, $6,500 sophomore, $7,500 junior, and $7,500 senior years.</p>
<p>Sit down with your parents and run the Net Price Calculators at the websites of the colleges and universities that you are interested in. Can your family pay the estimated cost that those NPCs come up with? If your family can, then your list is fine from the financial aspect. If your family can’t, then you need to do some serious research in order to come up with some places that your family can afford, and where you are likely to get in.</p>
<p>There is a lot of useful information in the Financial Aid Forum. Go spend some time there reading through the various threads, and start one of your own if you have specific questions.</p>
<p>Wishing you all the best.</p>