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<p>Have you estimated your Expected Family Contribution (EFC)?</p>
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<p>Yes, I think so too. The Ivies offer little or no merit scholarship money; however, Harvard relaxes the EFC for middle income families in calculating need-based aid. Families with incomes up to $180K have an average expected parent contribution of 10 percent or less of their income; the EFC is zero for an income of $60K. Yale has a similar policy. Don’t overlook your own summer or on-campus earning potential.</p>
<p>[Harvard</a> College Admissions § Financial Aid: Harvard Financial Aid Initiative](<a href=“http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/financial_aid/hfai/index.html]Harvard”>http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/financial_aid/hfai/index.html)
[Aid</a> policy changes little for 2012 | Yale Daily News](<a href=“http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/2009/feb/12/aid-policy-changes-little-for-2012/?print]Aid”>http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/2009/feb/12/aid-policy-changes-little-for-2012/?print)</p>
<p>The most selective schools that offer substantial amounts of merit aid would include Grinnell College, Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Southern California, and Vanderbilt. These schools all grant merit aid to more than 20% of students with no demonstrated need. However, the average awards are less than $15K, and considering the competition I would not assume the OP has a good shot at a full ride (though it might be worth a try). S/he might have better luck at a slightly less selective but still wealthy private school.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/696637-merit-aid-percentage-common-data-set-6.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/696637-merit-aid-percentage-common-data-set-6.html</a></p>