Why does everyone say Financial Aid is bad??

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Chicago ✅
1

<p>Financial Aid Statistics
Full-time freshman enrollment: 1,206
Number who applied for need-based aid: 809
Number who were judged to have need: 566
Number who were offered aid: 566
Number who had full need met: 566
Average percent of need met: 100%
Average financial aid package: $28,547
Average need-based loan: $4,474
Average need-based scholarship or grant award: $23,405
Average non-need based aid: $9,205
Average indebtedness at graduation: Not reported </p>

<p>I found this on collegeboard.com and it looks like financial aid packages are really good. Especially the fact that 100% of need is met for those that are judged to have need. And nearly everyone that applies for need based aid is judged to have need. Is collegeboard misrepresenting the data because out of all the schools I am looking at it seems as though University of Chicago has the best aid. What is wrong with this data? I mean this is the difference between my applying and not applying as I come from a very economically disadvantaged situation and need a lot of aid.</p>

2

<p>who says it's bad? :confused: apply for aid if you need. but don't put all your hopes on U of C, in case the aid you get is not sufficient.</p>

3

<p>Chicago's financial aid package was pretty. They gave the smallest amount of grants out of all the schools that I considered.</p>

4

<p>^^^
That doesn't make sense. Grants are good. Unless you meant petty? :confused:</p>

<p>
[quote]
Average indebtedness at graduation: Not reported

[/quote]

The important info is missing lol. </p>

<p>From my personal experience and others I've talked to, Chicago's aid is hit or miss. My financial aid was pretty good, but some had really bad FA. It varies from person to person, I think, and Chicago includes a ton of factors other colleges don't. </p>

<p>You might as well apply. You only get one chance to apply to college, and you're not obligated to go.</p>

5

<p>i meant pretty bad. I left out a word. Chicago's FA sucked! Do you think that Chicago considers merit also.</p>

6

<p>Chicago does not have the depth of resources that a Princeton or Harvard have. I have no doubt that aid offers vary for reasons having to do with how badly C wants you to come. It's not the same as merit aid, but it is a way schools use fin aid as an enrollment management tool.</p>

7

<p>This might help: <a href="http://collegeaid.uchicago.edu/prospective/average_aid.shtml%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://collegeaid.uchicago.edu/prospective/average_aid.shtml&lt;/a> </p>

<p>I understand it is pretty accurate.</p>

8

<p>My aid package was good based on the information that was given. I think a lot of people just get what the forms say they should get but dont think it is enough. There is no real way to tell whether it is fair except for other schools offers which may be biased/built on different factors.</p>

<p>As for merit aid...good luck...there definately are full and part scholarships (and it doesnt hurt you to check the box and apply for them) but take a look at who gets into and goes to this school. You have to be better than ALL of them for merit aid...this isnt a state school.</p>