October 28, 2010
Financial Aid | Financial Aid – Merit Based Aid Overtaking Pure Need Based Support
Financial aid is probably one of the best things that could happen to students who cannot afford to attend the college simply because they do not have the financial means to do so. However, a recent study showed that colleges are deviating from their pattern of offering financial aid from students who really need the financial aid to those who do not.
The main aim of the financial aid is to help the students that need the money to continue with their studies. But nowadays, the number of need based financial aid has significantly dropped due to the merit based financial aid.
Students who have a perfect SAT score and a strong academic background are usually given the financial aid regardless of whether they can afford it or not. And many times the students who get financial aid based on merit can afford it, and are still preferred over the needy students. Merit based aid is normally used to draw remarkable students that would prove to be an asset for the institution.
This behavior is not only applied by the top notch private institutions but also by the public colleges as well. The entire point of providing access to education to students who cannot afford it is being defied by this rule. To offer financial aid to a student just because he might bring fame to the college even if he can afford the tuition, over a student who was did not have the perfect SAT score, could not afford a college degree and was never given a chance, is unethical, immoral and insensitive.
Most of the financial aid given by universities is based on merit. In a research done by Hossler and Zipskin of Indiana University, it was claimed that “institutional financial aid may be going disproportionately to students who are more likely to persist overall.”
Also, the students that really need financial aid are said to perform better in their academics than those who did not need financial aid. This is because they have to keep up with a brilliant grade point average because otherwise they might not be further considered for financial aid. So they work more and harder because they know if the financial aid is not offered they might not be able to continue their studies. Further, we must be careful or government grants for needy families may follow the same suit and are currently running the risk of shifting purely to merit based awards rather than taking student needs into account.
The purpose of financial aid is to help the disadvantaged, and we have to keep this purpose in mind before giving away the aid.
If you’re stuck and need some help finding good information online try using Financial-Aid-Directory.com for finding the latest information on financial aid to help you when you need it most.
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11 Comments on Financial Aid | Financial Aid – Merit Based Aid Overtaking Pure Need Based Support »
May 16, 2011
MarketWatch.com - MarketPulse @ 10:03 pm:
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June 13, 2011
Katy Killjoy @ 9:14 pm:
I think it would be better to send it to the board of directors of the college. They are the ones who have the final say on policies regarding awarding of financial aid.
June 23, 2011
Richard M @ 3:11 pm:
Your letter won't do anything nor get anywhere with USC. They just see it as a scorned student who's in a spiteful state of mind and feels cheated. You have a valid point but writing a letter won't do any good. It's just a known that out of state tuition is higher and many students can't afford it. You did the right thing by just choosing to go to a school in your home state.
June 29, 2011
Anonymous Conservative @ 12:20 am:
Yes its all about the oil. Cutting federal student loans is just a way of getting young'uns to enlist. Next we'll be forbidding banks to loan money to students. Personally I disagree with the cuts in student financial aid. I believe the grant package should be expanded, perhaps tethered to public service (eg teaching). Nonetheless, to allege some grand conspiracy to increase recruiting is just plain silly. Next thing we know the Navy will create a boy band and use subliminal messages to induce teenagers to 'take the King's shilling.'
July 1, 2011
Twitter @ 7:23 am:
July 28, 2011
Chiemi Yamaoka @ 3:22 am:
I have an Afro-Asian child who is eligible for APP at Seattle Public School. However, she is not able to get into the program because it's full. I am exploring the private school option for 2010-2011 school year for her. Is there any private schools that would give 100% financial aid/scholarship to families in need? When I checked school websites, they don't usually say what percentage financial aid covers for needy families. I appreciate your input.
August 4, 2011
Debbie Wilson @ 7:40 pm:
Colleges taking another look at value of merit-based aid – USATODAY.com
August 22, 2011
Find Free Articles - ArticlesBase @ 3:44 pm:
All three university presidents say DeConcini’s motion could affect merit-based aid. Shelton says need-based as well.
August 28, 2011
Find Free Articles - ArticlesBase @ 5:06 am:
RT rel=”nofollow” It’s time to pass a scholarship bill that includes needs- and-merit based aid for Alaska’s college students. Grow…
September 19, 2011
Tristyn Gordon @ 6:08 am:
Unfortunately, financially, things are going to be hard for you. Apply for all the scholarships you can, because getting grants/loans are going to be hard if you decide to cut all ties with your mom. When applying for financial aid, unless you're considered independent under their list of determining dependency, you'll need your mother's info&signature until you're 24. Living on your own doesn't qualify you as independent in financial aid's eyes. You don't have to get an apartment in order to move out. You can get a room at a rooming house or, usually even cheaper, find places people are looking for roommates. A lot of times, students or other young adults get together and rent a house, splitting the cost by 3 or more, depending on how many rooms and how many there are of them. Search ads for this type of thing or ask your fellow peers if they heard anything. Or, take the initiative, and put out ads yourself asking if anyone wants to be roomies. It really does sound like you need to get away from your mom, simply for your own state-of-mind. I don't know of any benefits you could apply for because welfare is for those with kids, and unless you're disabled in some way, you can't get disability benefits, either. You can, once you turn 18, apply for foodstamps, which helps, and I also suggest medicaid. Once you move out, if your mother refuses to help you with financial aid, and you don't receive enough scholarship money, you'll just have to wait until you're 24 to continue you education unless you can pay out-of-pocket using deferred payments. Or, try looking for jobs that are willing to hire you and pay for you to finish school. Do a little research, there are companies out there who do that. You say your grades are good so that is a definite plus. I've been in a similar situation to yours, so I know hard it can be, but you'll just have to be harder. As for your mom taking your refund check, it's yours, in your name, right? Get to the check before she does. Ask your school can you just pick it up, or if they have to send it by mail, and you're worried she'll get to it first, change your mailing address, either to a p.o. box or a trusted friend. You're turning 18, and you need to take action and get in control of your life, because, it IS your LIFE, your LIVLIHOOD, we're talking about, and you only get the one. Best of luck!
October 27, 2011
JaneBuck @ 7:05 am:
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