<p>Do you really think they just get "handouts"? You have to have merit to get in, maybe not so much athletes, but if you're sub-par legacy (Unless your parents donate a crapload of money) or URM, there's no handout, you'll still get rejected.</p>
<p>But the standards are lowered a bit for athletes/legacies/URMs, can we agree on that?</p>
<p>By the way, I certainly qualify as an URM but I want the schools I apply to to be blind to my race, so I know that the decision I get is based on merit and merit alone.</p>
<p>Sure I can agree to that, but colleges are also looking out for themselves, and you know what? Those 3 groups can be advantageous to colleges, sucks but that's the way it is.</p>
<p>Besides, if I get your point, over 50% of Andover kids get into top 20 schools; that's incredible, and besides just names, any spot at any of those 20 schools is still marvelous. The gap between those schools isn't as huge as you think.</p>
<p>You lost me with that one pro, you're a URM and not taking advantage of it? That's dumb dude. Everyone has different advantages. Some get athletic genes, some are born rich, some get musical genius.</p>
<p>There's a reason for AA, if your skin is black you will suffer some injustice. You deserve to get the flip side.</p>
<p>It would have been nice if you told us you were a URM earlier when making it sound like Andover has money for all smart kids who apply.</p>
<p>I am of mixed race. I did not check any boxes for the Racial Question on my application. </p>
<p>I was given NO money for freshman year.</p>
<p>Andover IS need blind.</p>
<p>The end.</p>
<p>Top colleges are need blind but race aware. They also don't interview (most) like Andover does. Hard to believe with your bitterness that you'd leave URM status out of the mix.</p>
<p>Your Andover money story gets more convaluted by the second too. You were wealthy the first year and they didn't want to make you leave is a whole different game then getting in with aid.</p>
<p>I love how all these need blind schools come up with the same % of kids on aid every year and spend the same dollars on aid. That's a great trick.</p>
<p>Hi all,</p>
<p>I stumbled onto this website and this thread, and I have to say, I am appalled.</p>
<p>Before I give my thoughts, here is my background: I graduated from a frankly not very good public school in the Midwest. Out of the 1600 students that graduated during my time there, perhaps three went to what you all might consider good schools. Many graduates didnt go to college, and almost everyone else stayed in state in a state where there arent very good state schools. We didnt have science labs, and I had never, EVER heard of prepping for standardized tests. That said, I graduated first in my class and was fortunate enough (some how????) to be admitted to a top 5 University. When I arrived at my now alma mater, I was terrified. I had no idea if I would be able to compete with these graduates of prep schools. After all, what did being valedictorian at a pretty bad public school really mean? Quite frankly, I was never overwhelmed with academics in college, and I did graduate at the top of my class. I am not saying that to brag, but rather to point out that its unfair to judge people just because of the school they went to for high school. Of course I had a TON of friends who graduated from ritzy NE prep schools at my college. Quite honestly, out of all of my friends that got THE incredible job in their field or are going to a top grad school didnt go to prep school. In fact, none of my friends who went to A/E/D graduated with honors, while MANY of my public school friends did. There was another guy in my graduating class at college who went to an equally not so great public in my town. He and I both got into the top grad programs in our field. At graduation he came up to me and said hey, I guess we sure showed up those private school kids, huh? I will admit that some of my HS classes may not have been as challenging as some of the kids who went to prep school, but dont be mistaken, that doesnt mean that they are any more deserving of a spot at a top school, not does it mean that they will graduate from college with THE job or THE grad school admission. Those of you who think you are more deserving, more hard working, and smarter because you go to prep school: once you go to college, I am sure you will get a taste of the real world.</p>
<p>collegekid, I'm sorry for your confusion. I thought we went over this. I come from a suburban professional middle class family. My family is making many, many sacrifices for me to attend A. I am receiving aid for my second year because after paying $40000+ for freshman year my family is in a bad financial situation and the school sees that now. Like I said, if you come from the ghettos you're more likely to get a good fin aid package; but also, like I said, if you demostrate true need the school will let you in. My family made these sacrifices because we subscribe to the philosophy of : EDUCATION above ALL OTHER THINGS.</p>
<p>"ritzy" is no longer the word you can use to describe A, Alum.</p>
<p>You know, the education we're receiving here at our public schools isn't bad. You've just got to be self-motivated. My family values education above all else, too, but they rely on me to put those values into action through my own hard work.</p>
<p>Pro, you may be onto the best strategy yet to get money from a prep school. Seriously, I would think the top ones would reconsider the second year if you apply as a full payer the first. It wouldn't work if too many did it but I think it might for a few.</p>
<p>I am willing to rescind my choice of the word "ritzy"</p>
<p>but what I meant by that was big science labs, libraries overflowing with books, test prep, etc., all things most publics don't have.</p>
<p>I know you are saying your school is need-blind, and I believe you. But most average kids in the midwest just don't come from families that would ever even remotely consider the concept of boarding school, and you do have to admit that MANY kids at your school are wealthy (as was the case at my top 5 university, of course).</p>
<p>We applied for fin aid the first year and didn't get anything :( I had to beg my parents to let me go... Now we're in pretty bad shape and if the school hadn't offered to help out this next year I would have dropped out because I feel really bad about the situation.</p>
<p>It's a 2:3 ratio of fin aid to full paying students at A. So yeah there are the wealthy kids but there are MANY underprivileged but highly qualified students too.</p>
<p>2:3...so 40% are on financial aid?</p>
<p>That is exactly the ratio of my alma mater...a school considered to be VERY wealthy. </p>
<p>I'm not arguing with you, just commenting.</p>
<p>Alum007, out of curiousity, what is your alma mater? :) You don't have to say, but I'm really curious.</p>
<p>Trust me, a North Dakota kid who went to a prep mostly on scholarship, there are tons of kids in the MW applying to these schools.</p>
<p>Haha...I think I am going to leave that out, sorry.</p>
<p>Guys whats the gen. conclusion on this forum? Im kind of going through the same dilemma and the school needs a decision like.. this week :(</p>