<p>When I tell them I need merit money, they say “the Ivies have GREAT financial aid, anybody can make an Ivy League education work.” Well the thing is, I DON’T think my family can,</p>
<p>1) Tell them that the ivies give great aid to THOSE who QUALIFY. They don’t give great aid to those with high incomes and/or lots of assets. The ivies expect high income earners and those with lots of assets to PAY. </p>
<p>2) Tell them that your stats are good, but not really ivy-quality. Your 2100 is likely the bottom of the mid 50s range (so almost at 25%). </p>
<p>For example…Yale…</p>
<p>Test Scores
Middle 50% of First-Year Students<br>
SAT Critical Reading: 700 - 800<br>
SAT Math: 700 - 780<br>
SAT Writing: 700 - 790</p>
<p>Maybe if these people knew this info, they’d understand. They may be operating under the guideline when they went to college in the 70s when a 1400 M+CR was good for an ivy. </p>
<p>3) If they still won’t “give up,” just say, “I’ll think about it.”</p>
<p>BTW…don’t tell people your specific list of schools. It’s none of their business. Just say that you’re looking at many schools and figuring some out.</p>
<p>For schools that will give you assured merit scholarships for your stats…look here…</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/848226-important-links-automatic-guaranteed-merit-scholarships.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/848226-important-links-automatic-guaranteed-merit-scholarships.html</a></p>