<p>More than a little dramatic I think. One of my daughter’s friends is going into her second year at the University of San Francisco. She was a good student with somewhat higher standardized test scores than the OPs daughter (but excellent ECs) and received a very good FA package from USF.</p>
<p>Was any/much of the FA pkg merit-based? My nieces and nephews got good pkgs from USF, but nearly all their aid was merit-based.</p>
<p>the problem that this student would face is that the schools that give the best need based aid often require higher scores, and her stats aren’t high enough for good-sized merit at some of the mentioned schools.</p>
<p>Chapman may be a good choice…good with both merit and need based aid.</p>