what qualifies as "significant resources"? Forum

[michiganlady222]

schools say anyone except people with significant resources should apply for a mix of merit and need-based aid. what counts as significant? they said everyone underestimates what is meant by significant, and often people would get more money if they applied for need-based as well, but I still think that's kinda vague...

[arklaw13]

schools say anyone except people with significant resources should apply for a mix of merit and need-based aid. what counts as significant? they said everyone underestimates what is meant by significant, and often people would get more money if they applied for need-based as well, but I still think that's kinda vague...

Unless your parents are millionaires and it would be ridiculous for you to be awarded need-based aid, go ahead and apply for it. No reason to possibly leave money on the table.

[grungy89]

based on what you quoted the school as saying it sounds like "significant resources" means you wouldn't have any need and probably wouldn't even think to look for aid.. Also, need based aid usually requires documentation of need, and you had best believe that they will let you know if you don't qualify.

[Tiago Splitter]

Many schools require you to apply for need based aid to be eligible for merit aid. Just apply for whatever you can get and see what happens.

[cway]

schools say anyone except people with significant resources should apply for a mix of merit and need-based aid. what counts as significant? they said everyone underestimates what is meant by significant, and often people would get more money if they applied for need-based as well, but I still think that's kinda vague...

Harvard's cut-off is around $180k cumulative income - both parents, you, household assets. That doesn't seem anywhere near millionaire status to me, and that's a ton of paperwork that could be avoided...

http://www.law.harvard.edu/current/sfs/ ... ytype.html