Is there ever secret merit-based aid?

[Anonymous]

I know all the schools say that aid is based solely on need. But do schools ever offer aid as a way to attract a student they want, even if the family is borderline in terms of qualifying for it?

[Anonymous]

All the time..

[Anonymous]

OP here ... do you think it's limited to sports? Or geniuses? or possibly just a kid that fits really well in the school?

[Anonymous]

Please elaborate, 21:06! I find this news stunning. I find myself questioning often enough FA decisions (we give generously to the annual fund, then folks on FA take a vacation and we don't, etc.). But now you're telling me that money is also being doled out to families who don't really need it b/c the basketball team needs a center, or the band needs a tuba player?? I thought there were so many talented kids in this area that "merit" aid would never be required to fill out a class at the "best" schools that might be in a position to hand out this sort of money. What schools are doing this, for what reasons, and how do you know? How can we as donors find out what our contributions are really being used for?

[Anonymous]

I know of one specific case. It definitely happens . . . quietly.

[Anonymous]

I agree. I hope no private school does this.

[Anonymous]

But then isn't it really FA if the family's on the cusp of qualifying for FA?

[Anonymous]

curious. what is the cusp? Is there an income amount above which there will be no financial aid? what if there are extenuating circs, like single parents with no family in the area?

[Anonymous]

I think there's a range and yes it's circumstantial.

[Anonymous]

right. the question is what is the range. if a single parent with no family in the area to help makes 250k/year is there no aid available? does applying hurt the school admission application?

[Anonymous]

Is that 250k just a shot in the dark figure? Or are you really asking if a family (single HoH or not) with that income should be getting FA?

[Anonymous]

Another poster here. I know a kid who was recruited for soccer by a top 3. But the school wouldn't offer any money, and the family couldn't afford the school without aid, so the kid didn't go.

[Anonymous]

I'm not clear on what folks are saying really happens. Are you saying some schools bend the FA rules just a little for really desirable applicants (however they define that)? I originally thought someone was suggesting that assistance is sometimes offered to people who don't even apply for FA as a way to woo particular candidates who might otherwise choose other schools. (For example, "You don't qualify for FA, but you are thinking of playing lacrosse for X? We could give you a 'scholarship' if you come play for us at Y.") Is anybody suggesting the latter happens? Please clarify! I am glad someone reactivated this thread.

[Anonymous]

16:35 here again. For the kid we know who was recruited to play soccer for a top 3, the school noticed the kid during one of their summer camps, approached the mom, and had her talk to a few sports faculty and admissions people. Apparently the kid really is terrific and plays for a top area travel team. The family's original (and in the end final) plan was to send the kid to their Virginia public high school. They had no intention of applying to privates until this particular school suggested it, and it's the only private they considered. So it wasn't as if the kid was going to play for a rival top 3, supposing a rival school had offered money. It's impossible to say, in this case whether saying "but school Y is also recruiting her" would have led to the offer of money, or not.

[Anonymous]

Responses to two separate ongoing questions in this thread:

(1) I have heard of some DC independent schools that would still consider a family for FA at the $250,000 total family income level. They are aware that the cost of living in DC is incredibly high. My guess is that $250,000 K for your family income might put you outside of the FA range at other schools, however, with more limited FA pools. (But that's a guess.) Go ahead and apply for the aid; in most places it is a separate process from admissions decisions (I don't know anywhere where that is not true, but I don't know the practices of every school so I'll stick with the modifier "most").

(2) I have not heard of schools trying to "buy" athletes or geniuses with bogus financial aid awards. The admissions staffs at these schools are not corrupt, and although sports are seen as important in the local private school scene we are not talking the SEC here! They are trying to bring great kids into their schools and if they use the FA pool to try to buy kids they will lose other talented students that need the FA. Would it give a given school an advantage if they could do a Harvard-style 100% aid package to middle-class families? You bet. But nobody in town has Exeter/Andover level endowment levels.