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[quote=Anonymous]OP again

I looked up last year's Common Data Set for a lot of colleges.

I don't know how to interpret the data, though.

Clark U, for example, gave 172 freshmen merit scholarships averaging $17K [COA: $64,690; so, $47,690 COA with merit]
The College of New Jersey gave 156 freshmen merit scholarships averaging $5K [COA: $42,392; so $37,392 with merit]
Muhlenberg gave 154 freshmen merit scholarships averaging $23K [COA: $66,430; so $43,430 with merit]
Davidson gave 15 freshmen merit scholarships averaging $40K [COA: $70,225; so $30,225 with merit]
George Washington gave 719 freshmen merit scholarships averaging $23K [COA: $79,760; so $56,760 with merit]

etc. etc.

Judging by this list (I looked at about 30 schools), the only school we can possibly afford with merit is Davidson.

I realize these are the average merit awards, but how do I find out whether or not DD will be eligible for (or likely to receive) a larger award?

Is it all just chance? If someone in the admissions office likes DDs application, will she be arbitrarily offered a larger merit scholarship?

BTW, is it worth it for DD to apply to HYP given the near-impossible odds she'd be admitted? I've heard of kids with few or no ECs and good, not perfect, stats getting admitted to these schools, but it's appears to be a lottery. These are the only schools (plus Johns Hopkins thanks to Michael Bloomberg's largesse) that offer exceedingly generous financial aid to middle class families. 
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