<p>lbp-</p>
<p>perhaps i should have been more specific. when i was admitted i approached the finaid office with an ivy league aid package in one hand and my best package (from colgate) in the other. half an hour later my best package was matched. i know two other people who had their packages matched/beaten as well; both has also been admitted to elite colleges. as such, i am aware of cases in which offeres have been matched or beaten for top students. thats really all i know!</p>
<p>times have changed, however, and ‘above need’ merit aid is now in full swing at bucknell. [your daughtor might want to raise her sats 10 points!](<a href=“http://www.bucknell.edu/Admissions_Aid/Financial_Aid/Types_of_Aid/Scholarships_and_Grants/index.html”>http://www.bucknell.edu/Admissions_Aid/Financial_Aid/Types_of_Aid/Scholarships_and_Grants/index.html</a> ) much of bucknells merit money is reserved for students with demonstrated need and consequently serves in much the same way as the matching process i recalled above (only better, since bucknells packages are competitive to begin with). does that mean the practice is no longer in place? i dont really know. it just means that policies, official or not, may have changed.</p>
<p>to the question of the consideration of a students major, i doubt that has much impact on either the admissions or academic merit scholarship process. however, your daughtor does seem as if she would be a very strong candidate for merit aid at bucknell if she qualifies for need and can get a qualifying score (either from her recent act or an sat retake) regardless of prospective major. </p>
<p>hope that helps. and good luck!</p>