My DD got accepted to Case with a ‘University Scholarship’ of 27K (merit aid). If we get need-based aid from Case as well (of which I anticipate a moderate amount), will that be reduced by the merit award?
CWRU’s policy on outside scholarships is to use them first to replace student work and student loan: Outside Scholarships | Financial Aid | Case Western Reserve University
However, there does not appear to be a clear statement on how CWRU’s own scholarships interact with CWRU need-based financial aid.
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Thank you!
I would be surprised if any school does not factor in merit when determining your financial need. If a student receives $27,000 in merit, that reduces the student’s need by $27,000. Most of the time merit is determined first by the admissions dept and any remaining need is determined by the FA dept.
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Thank you!
Some colleges DO allow stacking of merit and need based aid. I don’t know the policy at Case. I’d call and ask.
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Does this mean you don’t have a preliminary financial aid package from Case yet? That is surprising, as they are a CSS profile school.
ETA: @bopper do you know if Case stacks merit and need based aid? I assume they do, but for some families a largish merit award might cover all their need (as determined by CSS Profile/FAFSA)?
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If a college costs $75,000 and the college awards a $25,000 merit, the out of pocket for the student to attend is then $50,000. If the college feels the student’s need is $15,000 then the student should receive $35,000 in combo of grants/workstudy/5.5K loan. (If the school is a meet need). Would there be some school that says, ignore the $25K merit and we will give you financial aid based on $75? I guess there could be some school, but between my kids I’ve seen packages from 25 schools in the last 2 years and all considered merit.
But never say never!
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I think this parent needs to ask Case their policy about stacking need based and merit aid. Some schools do this and others do not.
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Right?! We definitely did the CSS and named Case as one of the potential schools, so they should have received it!
CSS schools tend to send the FA package along with the acceptance or a day or so later. That has been our experience with five or six CSS schools. Definitely look in the portal; sometimes, things are buried. All our CSS schools gave one sheet that broke down the total cost minus merit and grants (if any).
And the portal will show whether or not they received the CSS - and I assume that was filed a few months ago. If not, call immediately.
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Thank you. I’ll definitely contact them. Case’s net price calculator put our parent contribution at 20k; their cost of attendance is in the 80k’s, and the merit award (as mentioned) is 27k. Plus, she qualifies for5k from a state scholarship to any in-state school because she’s in the top 5% of her graduating class.
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Yes, CSS filed many months ago (she applied EA so it had to be done). Would CSS site have any indication? My daughter will need to be the one to check Case’s portal (I don’t believe that, as a parent, I have access).
The only place to find out if Case received the CSS is on her Case portal. Once she applied she received access to their portal. On that portal it has a place for all things financial along with admission needs. Typically the CSS and FAFSA are both noted and there should be a big green checkmark (or something to that effect) by the CSS. That would have happened pretty soon after she applied.
After you get accepted there is an admitted students portal but you often have to go back to the applicant portal to find some things.
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Thank you…very helpful! I’ll definitely have her check!
She should check her spam folder too. Sometimes emails are sent there…so look look look.
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I just went on the Case thread on CC and it looks like admitted students in March received their FA package with their acceptance.
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Her full financial aid package could be in her portal. She needs to check now.
And spam too. Just in case she received something from Case there.
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She was admitted EA…so, a while ago! Yikes! Gonna have her check … She’s sleeping off her Easter meal right now.
THANK YOU ALL!
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She can give you access to her portal BTW… Lol. We did for financial stuff. Kids tend to sleep of the Easter meal while we parents worry about the payments for college 
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