<p>so since i will more than likely not get any aid at the schools i’m applying to, I’m thinking of applying to some competitive ‘free’ schools which i have no interest in attending at all(like olin and cooper union). That way, if i get accepted to say, carnegie mellon, or upenn…i can try and get them to match the financial aid offer of olin or cooper(full ride…i.e if i get in). Is this a decent strategy? I’m not saying that all the schools will like- definitely match the offer but it seems to have worked for a handful of people on here…And do you guys know any other free schools out there?</p>
<p>BUMP…</p>
<p>edited…</p>
<p>what’s your major? you won’t be able to even get into olin or cooper union if you’re not doing something math/science/engineering/art related. if you did happen to get in, I would wonder why you’d want to go o Penn or CMU when Olin and Cooper are just as well regarded, if not better. </p>
<p>As for your plot, I don’t know if it would work, but I doubt it. Reason being: the scholarships given at Olin and Cooper are merit-based, not need-based, and most schools have a real problem matching awards unless the opposing offer is need-based.</p>
<p>engineering…math minor…</p>
<p>Granted, olin and cooper are highly regarded but I wouldn’t go to either simply because i like cmu and upenn alot better(for many reasons). </p>
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<p>you absolutely sure about that?</p>
<p>yes, the scholarships there (that cover tuition, room, and board) are given to every admitted student simply based on merit; i.e. you’re good enough to get into our awesome school, so you’re good enough to receive a bigass 4-yr. scholarship based on your merit. If you look at their websites, it says that if a family has “need,” they must apply for financial aid, but you’d have to be dirt poor to get any extra money for things like books, travel, etc.</p>
<p>The thing a/b matching offers will vary by school and you should check with Penn/CMU’s financial aid office before going through the trouble of applying to Olin/Cooper. For me at least, I received a nice scholarship from WashU based on merit and Wesleyan wasn’t willing to match it because it was not based on need. I would imagine most stingy ass CSS profile using schools will be the same.</p>
<p>carnegie says it has like a 10 day review period where they look at aid offers from other schools the student has been accepted to and see if they can give you any more aid. Didn’t give me a clear answer. I’m trying penn and stanford now…</p>
<p>yeah I hear CMU is really good a/b matching offers.</p>
<p>lol at stanford- i didn’t even finish the question…I’m like ‘does stanford try and match…’ She immediately cuts me off and goes **“NO…WE DON’T MATCH”<a href=“scared%20the%20hell%20outa%20me”>/b</a> </p>
<p>columbia said something about sending them tax returns and stuff and letting them know that i support myself financially…it will have to be approved…etc…</p>
<p>penn and yale told me exactly what you just said…they do it if it’s need based aid…</p>
<p>haha what a *****.</p>