<p>The only reason I'm surprised the yield is so high because aren't Harvard acceptees the kids who are getting merit money at top schools like Duke, Notre Dame, UNC, Emory, Wash U, and Vanderbilt that give merit scholarships? I can understand why someone would choose Harvard over say, U of North Dakota but why would someone choose Harvard over a full ride at a school like Duke?</p>
<p>Cos it’s Harvard…</p>
<p>And they have great finaid, so the people who get big merit scholarships will:
a) be rich and so not need them and so be able to pay full price for Harvard
b) be poor and get as much or more at Harvard.</p>
<p>It’s only the middle ground - earnings of about 200 000 a year where the merit aid may tip the balance. Basically, the reason it just;
It’s HARVARD</p>
<p>People see the name and just can’t say no.</p>
<p>People like my parents would not pay for their kid to go somewhere else if they are accepted to Harvard.</p>
<p>It’s only the middle ground - earnings of about 200 000 a year</p>
<p>200k is middle ground now?</p>
<p>The number of merit scholarships offered by Top 20 schools is much smaller than the number of admits that do not matriculate with Harvard (>500/year). Furthermore, those merit scholarships are not offered to unique students, there is overlap. My daughter was offered merit scholarships to two of the schools on your list and I’m sure that is repeated many times over. </p>
<p>Also, as Idiosycra3y points out, Harvard’s generous financial aid greatly reduces the relative impact of a merit scholarship for most students. Roughly a third of the students at Harvard are full pay, say about 750 per year. These are the ones that would have a significant reduction in their cost of attendance if they were to get a big merit scholarship.</p>
<p>Because it’s freaking HARVARD.</p>
<p>Middle ground between generous need based aid from Harvard (up to about 150 000 get substantial) and mega rich who don’t care about cash. Perhaps it is slightly high though, so say 150 - 250 000 are the people I would think would be swayed by a big merit scholarship.</p>
<p>is because its HARVARD a good enough reason for you?</p>
<p>Take a family of $80,000 earnings. </p>
<p>Harvard will cost TOTAL about $10,000 per year. Even full tuition at another school will leave a student with $12,000 Room and Board, plus another $3,000 in books and incidentals, for a total of $15,000 out of pocket.</p>
<p>Take a family of $60,000 earnings. Harvard costs ZERO, zilch, nada. Full Ride. What merit scholarship can top that?</p>
<p>Take a family of $120,000 earnings. Harvard will cost about $20,000 total. Even with full tuition paid at another college, Harvard is only $8,000 more.</p>
<p>HYP has some of the most generous FA packages available. It’s nuts.</p>
<p>Harvard’s endowment really is amazing</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I feel it is not just about money. It’s something like:</p>
<p>Consider Facebook’s net worth - $100. Even if someone asks Facebook for $100,000, Zuck will not sell it. It is because he knows that the prospect is much better than those extra $99900 ($100,000 - $100).</p>
<p>He may earn those $99900 or he may not, but the thing is HE IS WITH FB.</p>
<p>Agree with above few posters.</p>
<p>Because everyone is a conformist</p>
<p>Including me.</p>
<p>Whether it’s education, or cars, or clothes, or golf clubs, or anything, why does anyone ever buy the “top of the line” when the next tier down is just as good in quality but for available for less money? Because they perceive more value in “top of the line.” Now “value” can be financial, or opportunity, or social, or personal in nature or some combination thereof. For them it’s worth it.</p>
<p>ranked number one since the beginning of time. </p>
<p>i personally would much rather choose stanford or yale (and i will) but some people really care about the numbers.</p>
<p>Wait . . . people choose Harvard over the Fighting Sioux? ;-)</p>
<p>hahaha lobzz
that’s the spirit.</p>