College Aid Distribution

A burning question of mine – Is it true that college merely ends up helping those who need help the least? I mean, are there biases in how scholarships or financial aid is distributed?

This is a complex issue, and there's no simple yes or no answer. Let's unpack it, though.

On one hand, it's true that, statistically, wealthier students often receive more merit-based scholarships. This is largely because these students often have more resources growing up, like access to quality education and extracurricular opportunities, which can make them more competitive candidates for these scholarships.

On the other hand, need-based financial aid is designed to provide more help to those who need it. This includes both federal aid (like Pell Grants) and school-specific aid. Most top tier schools have robust need-based financial aid programs. Some, like Princeton and Harvard, have need-blind admissions policy and pledge to meet 100% of demonstrated need. So, families earning below a certain income threshold often pay little to nothing in tuition.

It's also important to consider who is applying to which schools. Students from wealthier backgrounds tend to apply to more selective (and more expensive) institutions that offer larger merit scholarships. Lower-income students may be more likely to apply to less expensive schools, which might offer fewer or smaller merit scholarships.

So, while inequities do exist in the distribution of college aid, there are also many schools and programs working to address these discrepancies and ensure that aid is given to those who need it. Understandably, navigating this can be complex, and making sense of financial aid packages and scholarship opportunities may require additional research or seeking advice from a counselor or advisor.