College Confidential - View Single Post

DVMMOM · 04-15-2005, 12:37 PM

Isn't the question really, "What schools are most likely to give my student merit aid?" Surely a more useful answer involves a discussion of why virtually every school gives merit aid and what is the best strategy for getting it.

There have been many threads touching on this issue. Our experience, and many of the experiences I have seen shared on cc, include the following:

Know your hook (the thing that makes you desireable ) and research the schools you are considering to see if this is an area where they are trying extra hard to maintain or improve. Is this school a bit low in average SAT scores when compared to others in its category? They might be willing to use merit aid to attract very high SAT score holders who will improve their stats. Another school might be trying to enhance its ethnic diversity or international population. A third might be looking for science students or french horn players.

If merit aid is critical, don't apply "above yourself." Make sure that your applications include many in the so called match and safety zones. There are lots of wonderful, lower name recongnition and lower selectivity schools out there. Don't be a snob. If you need or want the money, you must be at the very top of that school's applicant pool. The down side of this strategy is the fear that the education at said school may lack the rigor and status of a more selective school. Do your research. A well developed honors program is reassuring. Placement tests for entering freshmen and remedial courses for those who don't place suggests that more classroom rigor might exist than the stats indicate.

Apply frequently and often! If you are hoping for merit aid, double or triple the number of applications. Merit aid is unpredictable. It is common to hear of a student given substantial merit aid at the more selective of two schools while the "lesser" gives none or very little. If you cast a wide net, and you have followed the above steps, you may get some really wonderful surprises.

Don't be shy! If the prefered school doesn't pony up, don't give up. Call the admissions office and let them know how much your son or daughter wants to attend and let them know that their competition has offered substantial merit money. Sometimes you can broker a deal. (probably best not to tell your child you are doing this - most are mortified - but heck, that's why they have parents, right? If it works, you are allowed to boast about it after the fact.)

04-15-2005, 12:37 PM	#93
DVMMOM Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 122	wrong question = wrong answer Isn't the question really, "What schools are most likely to give my student merit aid?" Surely a more useful answer involves a discussion of why virtually every school gives merit aid and what is the best strategy for getting it. There have been many threads touching on this issue. Our experience, and many of the experiences I have seen shared on cc, include the following: Know your hook (the thing that makes you desireable ) and research the schools you are considering to see if this is an area where they are trying extra hard to maintain or improve. Is this school a bit low in average SAT scores when compared to others in its category? They might be willing to use merit aid to attract very high SAT score holders who will improve their stats. Another school might be trying to enhance its ethnic diversity or international population. A third might be looking for science students or french horn players. If merit aid is critical, don't apply "above yourself." Make sure that your applications include many in the so called match and safety zones. There are lots of wonderful, lower name recongnition and lower selectivity schools out there. Don't be a snob. If you need or want the money, you must be at the very top of that school's applicant pool. The down side of this strategy is the fear that the education at said school may lack the rigor and status of a more selective school. Do your research. A well developed honors program is reassuring. Placement tests for entering freshmen and remedial courses for those who don't place suggests that more classroom rigor might exist than the stats indicate. Apply frequently and often! If you are hoping for merit aid, double or triple the number of applications. Merit aid is unpredictable. It is common to hear of a student given substantial merit aid at the more selective of two schools while the "lesser" gives none or very little. If you cast a wide net, and you have followed the above steps, you may get some really wonderful surprises. Don't be shy! If the prefered school doesn't pony up, don't give up. Call the admissions office and let them know how much your son or daughter wants to attend and let them know that their competition has offered substantial merit money. Sometimes you can broker a deal. (probably best not to tell your child you are doing this - most are mortified - but heck, that's why they have parents, right? If it works, you are allowed to boast about it after the fact.)
	Reply