<p>cptofthehouse, thanks for your anecdote.</p>
<p>That Harvard’s rivals are nearly as generous in their aid–enough to make them affordable options for me–is an objective truth based on their average aid grants. That said, very few universities can reasonably be called peers to Harvard. I do realize, and said that I realized, that I will receive less generous aid from schools that are my likely fits, like Kenyon and Vassar and even Vanderbilt.</p>
<p>Therefore I will carefully consider taking a gap year should all my financial lottery tickets turn out to be duds. Though I’m curious which “real lotteries have better odds” than Harvard’s 5.8% acceptance rate, or even my 1.2% chance of a full merit scholarship at Kenyon.</p>
<p>My circumstances aren’t quite as critical as your children’s friends, for my stepmother has maintained a relationship with me and is happy to fill out the NC PROFILE and any other financial aid forms. Further, their income is more modest than you may realize, especially considering that my dad is providing for his wife and two young kids. He may even be able to contribute $2500 to $5000 if absolutely necessary–I’ll ask my stepmom next week.</p>