<p>You need to look at what those “other schools” are, of course. If you’re comparing financial aid packages to Harvard’s, Chicago’s will be lower; their endowment eclipses Chicago’s. If you’re comparing Chicago’s financial aid package to a safety school’s, you need to fact in the fact that, as a superior student, you are being offered the types of scholarships and grants that most students aren’t getting. </p>
<p>There are definitely financial aid issues which need to be addressed, and there is a massive campaign in place already to try to improve financial aid. I know that when you look at endowment numbers, tuition costs, or other schools’ financial aid offerings, it may not make sense why Chicago can’t just give you enough money so that paying for college won’t be a hardship for your family, but I do think that Chicago recognizes the problem and is taking steps to alleviate the financial aid crunch, most notably with the Odyssey Scholarships (which especially effect middle-class students whose families make <$75,000 / year).</p>
<p>Anyway, I totally support your cause and wish you luck, but the U of C does know that many student need to turn down the school due to finances. I think that they lament that fact, and I do think that they are working to improve the situation.</p>