Anonymous wrote:I was curious how the financial aid works at schools like Visitation and St. John's. Is it need based? Or based on grades/placement testing?

Here's how it works.

There is a pot of money each year called the Financial Aid budget.

The school distributes it to new students and tries to maximize it's impact.

The more large grants it gives, the less money it has for other students.

They look at how much money you can afford and decide whether it's worth it or not to offer you all the formula says you need or whether they will offer you less.

This isn't like a Government program where you get what the formula says you should have. Instead there's only so much money.

It's need based for FA, there are merit scholarships at SJC (not sure about Visi).

I was curious how the financial aid works at schools like Visitation and St. John's. Is it need based? Or based on grades/placement testing?