<p>@francisvdahlmann
How else is NYU going to attract potential Ivy League students to their school? Colleges want good students to raise their reputation. If they told a student who got into lets say Columbia to pay the full $60k, now why would he pick NYU? NYU wants to attract these super-students to come and become BIG. Many of these kids are probably earning 150k+ as well (more money = more opportunities). My friend, whose GPA/SAT/SATII/Extras triumphed mine, ED’d to NYU because he wanted to live in the city. NYU gave him absolutely no money while kids like me actually got some money. It’s also important to add that we’re both upper middle class. I’m almost positive that if he didn’t ED, that he would have received a lot of money. NYU gives Merit only to attract these students to come.</p>