<p>I got a likely letter from the associate director of admission through email today. I almost jumped out of the chairXDD The fact is I’ve dreamed of the school since 8th grade and the likely letter is better than an acceptance to Harvard for me 
The sad news, however, is that there’s no way my family can afford NW. I found out after applying to NW that it doesn’t grant any merit-based aid. My family earns a gross income of $65,000, but somehow our EFC is $36,000. Also, we just moved to the US seven years ago and my parents have little retirement:(. Without some form of grant, I can’t attend NW. I have already gotten financial aid packages from other schools and no one gave me any aid. Should I email the director back and explain my situation?</p>
<p>probably, is there any other option?</p>
<p>i dunno. i was thinking maybe mailing an actual letter would be better than replying through email. what do those FA appeal letters look like? should i mention my academic record or just family economics? i guess what i really need advice on is how to write the letter.</p>
<p>post this over in the parents cafe, i’m sure they might have some insights on this too</p>
<p>i don’t think you should worry about it. Northwestern will give you adequate aid if you filled out the forms properly. For instance, my family’s gross income is higher than 65,000 and we still received a total package of 30,000 a year. In your case, I’d think you will get a package in the range of 40,000 a year.</p>
<p>i really doubt that^. when your EFC is around $36,000, there is no way that they will grant you any aid besides merit scholarships. also, i am the only child in my family, i do not play any sports…NW probably won’t give any aid unless i write to the FA office.</p>
<p>i dont think playing a sport means anything to the financial aid office, but i just think that Northwestern will give you the money you need to attend.</p>
<p>Your family probably has some outstanding assets to have an EFC of 36,000 with an income of 65,000. The colleges expect you to liquidate some of those assets to pay for college.</p>
<p>actually, the only reason our EFC is so high is b/c my parents saved a substantiated amount in retirement this year. however, we’ve only been here for seven years, and before my parents’ raise, our retirement was literally zero. i’m in the process of writing a letter to the FA office. with copies of past tax forms, hopefully they will lower our EFC.</p>
<p>I know a kid who got into 20 of the 21 schools that he applied to (only got waitlisted from Harvard). Anyways, he’d call up the financial aid offices at schools and kind of barter his way to get the most money.</p>
<p>“I really want to go to your school…but my family can’t afford the tuition.”
And then he’d kind of smoothly add in the other schools and offers he’s gotten.
“Princeton just offered me $20,000…but I really want to go to your school.”</p>
<p>angelic. Where did your friend end up going? and how much was the aid he got there? or the other places he bartered?</p>