<p>twomules - Did she receive an offer >17k? I know the 2k NMF scholarship stacks, but I’m not aware of others except for some geography-limited local awards.</p>
<p>thank you everyone for the detailed posts!</p>
<p>Keilexandra, I knew that my reach schools (amherst, pomona, carleton, swarthmore) don’t offer merit aid. First off, I will probably apply to 0-2 of the above schools (right now I’m thinkin carleton/pomona) and although merit aid is important, I talked to my parents and they feel that if I get into one of my reach LACs and choose to attend, we would work it out so they pay for a certain amt. and take out a certain amt. of loans and I’ll also take out a small amt of loans (nothing unreasonable). Also, all these schools (i am pretty sure, don’t quote me) meet full need without loans (or few loans) and so I’d get some financial aid as well. </p>
<p>Regarding the ‘politcal spectrum’ stuff; I realize that at most of these schools the majority will be overtly liberal. Frankly, I am a liberal on most political issues (if anyone wants to know, I’d say I am a social liberal and a fiscal…moderate). My best friends are all ultra liberal and I don’t really mind that. But what I was worried was that Beloit (much less so at kalamazoo) would be a bard/reed/hampshire type school. But now that I’ve learned that it has that ‘accepting vibe’ I don’t really have much to worry about.</p>
<p>^Amherst, Pomona, and Swarthmore are all no-loans, and known for FA generosity. Carleton has a significantly smaller endowment, is not entirely need-blind, and is correspondingly less generous.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t characterize Beloit in the same category as Bard/Reed/Hampshire, which are more strongly radical vs. merely activist. (Generalizations, of course.)</p>
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<p>Of course, a 100%-of-need, no-loan policy applies only to need as defined by the gap (if any) between the calculated EFC and the cost of attendance. For many middle class families, the EFC will equal or exceed the COA (sometimes by surprisingly large amounts).</p>