Someone posted, “OP is looking for a unicorn. If there is one out there, I am looking for 2.”
I don’t think that’s an insult. I think they’re saying that the desire is like a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, and if there is such a thing, she has two kids and would also be looking.
Schools consider merit as something that diminishes “need”. Obviously if there are two students with equal incomes/assets, but Student#1 has a 50% tuition scholarship, then s/he has less need than Student #2.