My D1 starts her junior year of high school tomorrow. We visited a few colleges this summer, and will start more visits soon. I understand that with some colleges, demonstrating your interest can make a difference when admissions decisions are made. I know this isn’t the case with all schools.
Other than one or two reach schools, D1 will only be applying to schools where she has a very good chance of being accepted – and that offer excellent merit aid for a student fitting her profile. My question is – when do you indicate that the amount of aid will make a difference? I have one small LAC in particular in mind. We had a great visit and it feels as though they are courting D1. I know in recent years they have accepted all of the students from D1’s school who have applied – and none of them have enrolled! D1 attends a small, elite private school on scholarship. She is very interested in this school, and she would likely be a top stats kid for them. Because D1 attends this school, will they be less likely to offer merit aid?
Also, in the general scheme of things, when and how do you discuss scholarship aid? How much information schools provide on their websites about their merit policies can vary so much – sometimes it is spelled out ("we give X number of X scholarships for $X) and other times it is maddeningly vague!
@Momto2girls
If your kiddo is applying for merit aid…you really don’t “indicate” anything until you get your merit aid package. If the money is NOT sufficient…some schools will discuss this with you…and others simply will not. Each school has criteria for awarding merit aid…and some won’t bend a bit once its been offered.
Every college has a net price calculator. You should run your financials through that at each school for annestimate if your potential aid.
The NPCs are currently being updated for students who will be applying for fall 2018 admission. Your junior daughter will be starting college a year later…2019, right? So anything you do now will be an estimate only. Also for the 2019-2020 academic year, financial aid (need based) will be based on 2017 tax return income information. Some of the NPCs also ask for GPA and SAT or ACT scores. If these are asked for, sometimes you will see possible merit aid too.
As a starting junior, your kiddo doesn’t have the SAT or ACT scores yet…at all. In addition, her GOA at the END of her junior year will be the one you need to be looking at when comparing what schools offer for certain stats…maybe even mid year senior year…depending on the college.
If a school does NOT guarantee merit awards…and most don’t guarantee them…you just have to apply and see. If your student is in the top % of accepted students…they have a better chance at merit than if lower than that.
Different colleges have different criteria for awarding merit aid.
I should add…the colleges will determine the whether your student gets merit aid…or not. You really don’t ask for an amount.
Big questions you need to answer.
- How much CAN you pay annually for your student to attend college?
- What are her SAT or ACT and her GPA....as these will very much be considered when schools determine merit awards. The higher...the better.
- Do you have financial need?
At most colleges that offer merit aid there is no separate application for the aid. If the student meets the criteria they are offered the merit. Some may have a separate applicate to top merit awards such as full tuition.
They don’t especially care what you want. They make a calculation based on how your kid stacks up to their pool, but they know not all students will accept their offer even with merit, and they accept/offer merit with that calculation in mind. You have little leverage. But it should not make any diffference what high school your D attends.
Application deadlines for students who want to be considered for merit are often earlier than general app deadlines . Nov1 or Dec1 are fairly typical but it varies by school. Look for those dates and make sure she hits them.