<p>The bottom line for YOU is all that counts in the end. I’ve seen kids get their best packages from schools like BU NYU that do NOT guarantee to meet full need, and don’t most of the time. They are known to gap big time, but hey, if you are one of the lucky ones to get full need met and by a definition more generous than other schools, good for you. So you do try to cast a wide and varied net when applying for fin aid. The only caveat I make is not to bother at schools where by definitions you have NO chance of getting money and you absolutely have to get it. An international student is wasting time and an app to apply to schools that out and out say there are no awards for non US students. If you have a very high EFC, you are not going to get anything from those schools that have zero merit money and you can clearly see you don’t qualify for need there. </p>