Financial Aid Even when EFC is almost full?

twoinanddone
Wed, 07 Nov 2018 20:30:11 +0000

Most of the schools that have no merit, only need based aid, do so because all the students it wants have the stats to get in and would most likely get merit awards at other schools. They aren’t going to entice you to come by offering aid when you don’t fit into the profile for deserving aid. That said, the Ivies do match aid from other Ivies, so they do want you if the other Ivies want you.

Schools also have to consider their standards for FA. If they say no merit but then give need based aid without regard to need, well that could cause a problem. If they do it with athletes, the NCAA can sanction them (it happens with hockey players).

If you want merit aid, apply to schools with merit aid. If you want need based aid, be prepared to show you have need within the formula the school sets up.