Thanks for the insights into the process. Sounds like anyone who needs to consider / compare aid packages really needs to wait until the May 1 deadline to make any final decisions, barring any unbeatable offer. (For us that would be the Stamps scholarship at UMich, probably.) @Twoin18, I can see how some colleges might have last-minute offers to make if they originally offer them to students who choose to go elsewhere.
@LoveTheBard, I was surprised to hear that UChicago kept “sweetening the pot”–I’m assuming you mean with larger merit aid offers? Were they aware that your daughter had received other offers, or were they just assuming so? I didn’t think they offered a lot of merit aid anyway, but I suppose it makes sense that they would use it to try to hook a kid who might otherwise head east to an Ivy or another elite school.
In response to a post above, i strongly doubt that Carleton would give much merit aid. Macalester…maybe, or even probably.
The very smart, high stats kids around here who didn’t get into their dream school (usually MIT or Harvard) have all gone to the local State flagship ( Minnesota) honors program. In some cases, they aren’t paying a cent. Not sure if the would do the same for a Michigan resident, but it’s worth a try.
The Honors programs in many of the state flagships are no joke.
As stated, financial aid and merit package notification dates vary greatly. Some schools informed us with the acceptances, others much later. Some schools did have a hard 11/1 deadline for applications for merit awards so be sure to look at each school’s deadlines.
Carleton does not offer merit; both Macalester and St. Olaf do.
U Chicago gave us a combo of FA and merit. Over time, the merit increased a bit (under $10K) from their initial offer. We were hoping for a miracle (the Stamps full ride), but that was not to be…The fact that it was 30 degrees in April was a bit of a turnoff…
@TwoHearted - in answer to your question, we didn’t directly tell them about other offers (but they might have surmised – they flew her from the east coast to Chicago and then home to California).
This was two years ago, and I think their maximum merit (other than the Stamps) was either $15K or $25K / year, if memory serves. Not sure what they offer these days…