tennisgirl08

I am disappointed with the financial aid offer I received from Williams. How have others found their financial aid offers? I thought that Williams might practice similar policies as Amherst, but comparing the two offers, my family would have to pay $8,500~$9,000 more next year for me to go to Williams over Amherst. I was a bit surprised at the difference...is this common?

bagpiper

Yeah, mine sucked too =(

$15k more per year than MIT...ah well.

christinawang

..even though williams is need blind to all, for internationals, will Williams be so committed to meeting the full need that if it can not meet the need , it will reject the student or the students can be accepted without enough financial aid.

Ephman

Every school caculates aid differently, in same cases, you will do better at Williams than its peers, in some cases (including yours, alas) worse. Considering both schools now require no loans at all, I am pretty surprised at the difference. But if you really want to attend Williams, don't let the aid offer stop you -- if you have a better offer at Amherst or MIT or anyplace else, definitely show that to the financial aid office and see if they will match -- they may well do so, and it's worth a shot. Don't view this as a final, unmaleable offer, again, especially if you have better offers from peer institutions.

aznfishy

^^ i think they might just accept u & estimate your need as lower than it is

unregistered

Two years ago, Amherst and Williams gave me extremely similar FA packages (and I had to pay 15k less than at the next cheapest school). I'm surprised at that disparity.

sgtpepper08

I'm disappointed with the Williams package. I have yet to receive my Amherst package but I hope it's better because I don't think I can afford Williams

SENI08

I'm happy with the Williams package.

karagon7

^Did any of you apply thru Questbridge?

otaru

i got into comparable schools (swarthmore, amherst, etc) and williams definitely has the lowest finaid offer.

SENI08

No for the Questbridge thing...I just found them rather generous. Then again, I didn't apply to any comparable schools such as Amherst, etc, so I guess I don't really have a good perspective.

mythmom

S got the best FA package at Williams. It beat comparable institutions by thousands of dollars, so Ephman is correct.

middsmith

I've received the purple folder, but there is no FA letter inside. Did they send it separately for you guys?

lowfatsourcreme

yes, when does williams' financial aid letter come?

stupidme

yeah, it's a separate letter, expect it within a week. My williams offer was actually the best compared to amherst, swarthmore, duke and dartmouth.