@actorparent Don’t assume a school like NYU doesn’t give out any merit aid even though they have high academics as a criteria for admittance. We didn’t qualify for any need based aid, but D received $11K a year in merit aid for talent. That was through Steinhardt and she graduated in 2012. But my understanding is that merit aid (without need) still exists in Steinhardt and Tisch for performance/ portfolio majors. These scholarships are only given out for RD candidates.