Do finances sometimes affect merit aid awards?

mdoc
Sun, 01 Feb 2009 15:35:40 +0000

Friend’s D filled out an application for a small LAC which asked which other schools the applicant was applying to, whether this school was top choice, top three, etc., and finally what factors might tip the balance. Her mother told me that merit aid was a factor, as they’d never qualify for need based aid and preferred not to spend $200,000 for college, but they ultimately did not write that on the application. If colleges are trying to figure out how much they need to offer to get you to go there, wouldn’t it make sense to be upfront about that on the application? Her D did get merit aid, but far from the maximum amount.