<p>They say it repeatedly: "Notre Dame does not give merit-based aid . . . Notre Dame does not give merit-based aid . . . Notre Dame does not give merit-based aid . . . " </p>
<p>But yet I frequently hear a different tune from people who have applied, even the people who have high-salaried parents and weren't expecting their financial aid offer to be so "kind." </p>
<p>So what's the true deal? What was ND's offer to you, and was it higher/lower than expected? An alum told me that if Notre Dame really wants you, it will find a way to make it affordable for you.</p>
<p>My package was great but my dad doesn't make too much and my mom doesn't work. So I'm not sure about those with high salaries. What I do know is that ND makes the admissions decisions need-blind b/c I wouldn't have been accepted if they did not.</p>
<p>The reason higher salaried people sometimes get financial aid is that ND uses the CSS Profile as well as the FAFSA. Private school tuitions for younger siblings, if you have little or no equity in your home, if you own a lot of rental properties, etc., are considered, both pro and con. </p>
<p>I know people who seem not so well-off in our area who were denied all financial aid at ND. Seems they owned a lot of rental properties, and I guess ND thinks that counts, or they could sell them, or something. It is an asset, and a kind of savings account you could, technically access. It's not your primary home. The daughter of this particular couple did not end up at ND, and they were ticked that they didn't get any aid at all and were expected to access their assets.</p>
<p>Another example: I have a friend who owns a part ownership in a farm. Interestingly, the FAFSA counts it as a full asset and they got no financial aid at the first school her daughter attended, a public school. The second school, private, took into account the fact (relayed to both schools) that they could not access the funds from the farm as it was family owned, and all had to agree if they were to sell it. So the private school was very generous in giving her financial aid.</p>
<p>You really don't know until you file. Just don't be afraid to send a letter explaining extenuating circumstances along with your other financial aid information.</p>