fulfilling 100% of demonstrated need
The fact that some high school students don't know this is lamentable, but it doesn't change the fact.
It doesn't change the fact but it makes it somewhat irrelevant. It doesn't count if people don't know about it.
Placing books on college selection and application in school libraries, and touting these books in school newsletters is a quick and cost-effective means of ameliorating the dearth of knowledge on a widespread basis.
That's why colleges are ranked into categories regarding how sufficient their aid packages are for prospective students with financial needs. Many of the best colleges are in the "full need" category: they meet 100% of that need.
This has been debated on other threads, but is worth mentioning again: "meeting need" may consist of a collection of:
- merit scholarships
- grants
- work/study (jobs on campus)
- LOANS, on which interest begins accruing immediately
That means if you can get in, you can go.
Not necessarily. Scholarships and grants may be very helpful, work/study can provide a set of skills and a connection to the campus while earning a small wage, and LOANS may be unaffordable and/or work against a student and/or their family... they may come with huge opportunity cost and may add drastically to the cost of tuition. Follow the money... who benefits from the student loan principle and interest payments?
IMO, there is dignity is acknowledging one cannot afford something, even at a highly discounted price. Living within one's means is to be lauded, not to be scoffed at.
They do have a limit to those spots. They cannot give 100% of students a full ride, even if 100% of the most qualified applicants are unable to pay.
Actually they probably can, in the short run. To preserve and enhance both the institution's reputation and endowment health, Colleges/Universities may seek individuals who, based on demonstrated accomplishment/achievement/voluntary service and giving back to the community(ies) they have been a member of to-date, are likely to advance/promote the mission of the college/university as students and as alumni. For example, some may become prominent business people, politicians, artists, humanitarians, scientists, fundraisers, leaders, and even financial contributors (giving back or paying it forward as the case may be). As with other relationships in life, there may be "givers" and "takers". Colleges/universities may be wise in considering which students were high academic achievers as "takers" and possibly select instead a few more "givers" as being a better "fit" with their student body, mission, and campus life.
Once people are generous donors to a college/university, the other side of the coin which institutions may consider is educating donors' progeny; legacies develop. While some may dislike this, it indicates a sense of stability which may be considered a strong positive.
