<p>If you are a parent of a student who has applied to 2nd and 3rd tier schools outside of their parent’s area of the country, and these schools are “match” schools overall, have you seen a better financial package from the “far away schools” than the packages at schools that meets similar amount of need, but is located within 6 hours of your home?</p>
<p>I am not talking about merit aid, just financial aid, when asking this question.</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>We have gotten a larger “travel costs” amount factored into overall cost-of-attendance, but otherwise I believe the need-based aid is provided according to a formula that is the same for all students. The travel costs are based on two r/t fares per year.</p>
<p>My experience is limited, however.</p>
<p>rentof2, I have heard that plane fare for 2 RTs are factored in. I don’t know if this is the case at all schools.</p>
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<p>This is where I thought that schools have room to provide grants with their institutional funds as they choose. For example, if a private school meets 92% of financial need on average, I think that means that they could meet 100% of financial need for one student (ie: the drummer that they really need), 75% of need for the next student (okay student, but nothing that stands out in particular), but overall their “average need met” is 92%. I also thought they can offer more grants and less loans for students that they really want.</p>
<p>Yes, that makes sense, northeastmom. I guess the answer is, “it depends.” ;)</p>
<p>I’d like to read some other comments from parents who have compared packages between “match” private schools that are 2nd and 3rd tier, some that are in another part of the country from home, and some that are within 5-6 hours of home. Thanks for commenting rentof2.</p>
<p>Please disregard tiers. I just noticed that some schools that I thought were 2nd or even 3rd tier schools are being labeled as 1st tier schools in USNews. I am now defining my question in terms of “match” schools for B+ students.</p>
<p>northeastmom, I didn’t find that to be true with my B kid. They may have accepted her because of geographic diversity but the package was dismal. </p>
<p>One of my kid attends a top LAC. They do give more $ for geographic diversity. They are in the north and seem to factor winter clothes for needier students. (I don’t know if they requested this.)</p>
<p>Perhaps the difference lies in how much diversity they really want. If college is a stretch to pay for in this economy, or just because you are not wealthy, but more money is not offered from the school that is at least half way across the US, you are probably going to go to a school that is not going to require air fare expenses if a Greyhound bus or your parent can get you to campus with a 2 hour drive (even if it is a RT drive for the parent).</p>
<p>Sorry to hear that only the top LAC offered more money, 2collegewego.</p>