Your opinion on financial aid

Colleges & Universities A-Z Princeton University
181

<p>Re: YaleBound72
"ED: You applied ED to pton in good faith. You never contmplated this unexpected gift from TAM. You were naive, perhaps, but not calculating. And you didn't write the rules, Pton did.And ED is a bad deal for needy students. You are a victim of the ED system. Don't let this be a factor."</p>

<p>What do you mean "applying to Princeton in good faith?" Everyone applies to Princeton in good faith with the hope of gaining acceptance. And even if Valdez did not contemplate the gift from A&M, he still made a commitment. As I have read in Valdez's past posts, he is "well-off" from a "wealthy suburb" in Texas. ED is a bad deal for needy students, but Valdez isn't needy. He is not a victim of the ED system: he opted to use it, and now he is facing consequences. And that too, the consequences are not any harsher than those imposed on other families.</p>

<p>Whatever the intentions, whether naive or calculating, Valdez landed himself in this situation. He could either lie to Princeton and say that there is absolutely no way he could afford their tuition (if it were impossible for him to afford the tuition, then this debate wouldn't come up in the first place), or he could admit the discomfort of paying upon himself. </p>

<p>Princeton, I feel, seems expensive because it is being compared to a great deal at Texas A&M University. Sure, people may be getting great deals, but, as Valdez read (supposedly) in the ED agreement, applicants agree to enroll at Princeton unless they absolutely cannot afford it.</p>

<p>The deal at A&M is good, but just because something better comes along does not allow you to break a commitment.</p>

182

<p>"The deal at A&M is good, but just because something better comes along does not allow you to break a commitment."</p>

<p>it's not necessary something better coming along, even, it's just more money coming along, you know, marrying for money (but with college)</p>

183

<p>I would assume that just about everyone who has the credentials to get into HYP could get a free ride at many other places. My son never read his college mail, but I was tossing out at least one free ride offer a week from some very good schools. I didn't even open the Texas A&M ones, and they were plenty.</p>

<p>The point is that everyone who decides to go to one of these top schools knows they are passing up generous merit scholaship offers elsewhere. We are not rich, and we alreday have another son at an expensive college and a third coming up. But as my husband said tonight, "It would be a crime not to let this kid go to Princeton." We consider the opportunities that Princeton will offer him to be priceless. So we will clip coupons and keep our old furniture and forego exotic vacations. Our son has been given the opportunity of a lifetime.</p>