To how many BSs should we apply

SatchelSF
Tue, 31 Oct 2017 16:16:44 +0000

Don’t apply for financial aid at the top places if you could make it work without it. The reason is that many of them pride themselves on “meeting all demonstrated need.” If you would be an admit at those places if you were full pay, but don’t quite match the profile of who they are looking to spend their financial aid dollars on, they will simply reject you. I’d put most of the GLADCHEMMS in this category. Note that Andover and Exeter are materially less expensive than the others on that list.

At the next level down in prestige I think it matters less whether you apply for financial aid. Many of those schools will admit a student but deny financial aid or put him on a “financial aid waitlist.” So no downside to applying for financial aid at those places and you just may get some money. Just my opinion of course.