What School Is Right for You?
Advice from experts on the college search
My mother graduated from Princeton and my father graduated from the University of North Carolina--Chapel Hill. Will I have an advantage if I apply to either school? A number of schools--both public and private--favor legacies. Often, colleges will look at the degree of commitment the parent has to the alma mater.
I need to apply for financial aid. Will this hurt my chances? The National Association for College Admission Counseling has spent three years asking that question. It discovered that there is no simple answer. Colleges want to be need blind in making admissions decisions and to meet the full need of those admitted. But some simply do not have the resources to do so. Generally, financial aid needs will not affect you negatively if you are very competitive in the pool of applicants. Colleges that must look at financial aid needs are often able to accept the first 80 to 90 percent of their class without regard to need but may look at need in filling the remainder of the class. Some schools are need blind in admissions but do not meet full need in their aid packages, a practice known as gapping. Others will admit students with high need but deny them aid.
I do not qualify for financial aid, but my parents never dreamed college would cost over $25,000 a year. They are opposed to taking out big loans. Will I be limited to attending college in state? Not necessarily. If you are a top student, you may want to look at colleges that award merit scholarships. Talk to your counselor and look at data like U.S. News's best-value rankings (which appear in next week's issue) to see which schools offer substantial merit aid. Before you rule out a school, discuss your situation with its financial aid office. More colleges are offering merit awards to attract top students. You may have many more choices than you think.
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