Does merit aid come with the admission decision or later?

DD has a 3.7 UW in-state and got $2k in merit aid per year.

Daughter just got in to Mason and was given $2k/yr in Merit. I was surprised as older daughter 3 years ago wasn't given any merit aid. They had similar GPA, but guessing the younger one's higher test scores (or intended major) bumped her over for aid. Wasn't offered honors college, which seemed odd.

Younger daughter's stats-
UW - 3.8
Weighted - 4.25
SAT - 1520/ACT - 33
good essay
Electrical Engineering
dancer for 12 years
Varsity athlete for 2 years
In state/FCPS

I'm the OP. Thanks for responding with some numbers. Sounds like their strategy is to give merit aid mainly to OOS applicants to bring down the cost so that it is equivalent to In state.

As for in state applicants... it's very very minimal.

Good data points.

They give every in-state student $1k/yr.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our son got 4K last year. Graduated from a fairfax county public HS. Weighted GPA 4.3. Was also admitted to the honors college.

DC got same and also admitted to honors college - from FCPS also

My son got this offer this year. Also from FCPS.

Anonymous wrote:Our son got 4K last year. Graduated from a fairfax county public HS. Weighted GPA 4.3. Was also admitted to the honors college.

DC got same and also admitted to honors college - from FCPS also

Our son got 4K last year. Graduated from a fairfax county public HS. Weighted GPA 4.3. Was also admitted to the honors college.

Our kid got $18/year as well (OOS). 3.8 GPA, no test scores.

Anonymous wrote:Kid just got into Mason.

UW - 3.6
Weighted - 4.1
8 AP/IB/DE classes
no test scores submitted
decent, but not outstanding essay
3 summers working
Varsity sport
out of state
legacy (but who isn't around here!)

Got $18k/year. I have no idea what it was based on.

It’s because you’re OOS.

Anonymous wrote:Kid just got into Mason.

UW - 3.6
Weighted - 4.1
8 AP/IB/DE classes
no test scores submitted
decent, but not outstanding essay
3 summers working
Varsity sport
out of state
legacy (but who isn't around here!)

Got $18k/year. I have no idea what it was based on.

They want your kid to attend and are giving enough money so the cost is the same as what an in-state kid would pay.

Kid just got into Mason.

UW - 3.6
Weighted - 4.1
8 AP/IB/DE classes
no test scores submitted
decent, but not outstanding essay
3 summers working
Varsity sport
out of state
legacy (but who isn't around here!)

Got $18k/year. I have no idea what it was based on.

Some TJ kids get full rides. I once had an employee (female, from one of the non-TJ FCPS schools) that got a full tuition scholarship to go to their business school.. probaly high stats, but this was a few years ago.

My DD went to GMU but did not get any merit aid. (not surprising since it is public). Here's what the website says. https://www.gmu.edu/financial-aid/types-aid/scholarships/mason-merit-scholarship-policy. I do know of an honors student who got a merit scholarship but it was linked to playing in the pep band

I know GMU isn't known for giving merit aid. But, if your kid was awarded any merit aid, was it based on GPA? SAT? Essays? What kind of $$ are we talking about?