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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]CTCL schools aren't worth anything close to sticker price.  But if you're good enough to get a lot of merit aid from them, you can get into a much better college that actually has a name.  Therein lies the rub.  [/quote]

The rub depends on the size of your bank account. Students who get large merit aid awards from lower-ranked colleges probably can get into a higher rated college with a more recognizable name. But that's good only for bragging rates if you can't afford the price tag.

This is why statements like yours become tiresome. Are you under the impression that families are charmed by the offer of merit aid and get lured away from higher-ranked schools because the aid makes them feel special? That might be true in a small number of cases, but IME not very often. For most families seeking merit aid, the choice is not between, say, Clark with merit aid and Amherst. The choice is between Clark with merit aid and the big in-state flagship, because that is the affordable alternative. If you want a small-college experience, then you go to Clark. Amherst is never really in the running at all for these families, because it's too expensive unless they qualify for a lot of need-based aid.

[b]Few students approach the college search with the goal of collecting merit scholarships.[/b] Most approach the college search looking for a particular type of school or a particular type of experience. You find the schools that offer that experience, and then you figure out whether you are a good candidate for admission to each and whether you can afford the cost of attendance. In your opinion, perhaps, the in-state public would always be a better choice than Clark. Other people feel differently. ~shrug~[/quote]
"Few"? Get real.[/quote]

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