What makes Princeton's financial aid stand out?

lefthandofdog
Mon, 10 Oct 2011 09:03:15 +0000

Princeton requires the FAFSA and their own institutional form. They don’t require the college board form (can’t recall the name). Read the financial aid thread and you’ll learn the differences. In my experience, schools (many of the privates) that use the CB form are less generous with aid. Maybe it’s because our particular circumstances (non business owners, income from salary, some retirement accounts, house mortgage) fare better under Princeton’s own form. Grinnell is another private that doesn’t require the CB form, so there must be others out there.

I wouldn’t base a strategy on the experiences of one poster. I’ve no reason to ferret out why P’s need based aid was more generous to us, just telling you that you have the most influence, obviously, on the process when you choose where to apply. You can always ask for reconsideration if a school’s aid offer is not enough and don’t assume that Princeton will cost you more than your state u. (It is costing us more than state u, but not the full fee and less than any other private on D’s list.)