December 20, 2007

Harvard's new financial aid policy is the boldest move yet to mitigate the soaring costs of a college education. Most previous efforts to make higher education affordable have focused, as they should, on helping low-income students. Now Harvard will also provide generous aid to students whose annual family incomes reach as high as $180,000. It is a welcome move, but also a disturbing admission that the priciest colleges are now beyond the reach of even many upper-middle-class families.

The cost of attending college has been rising faster than inflation and faster than family incomes, prompting anguished outcries from consumers and calls in Congress for colleges to rein in their costs or disgorge more of their endowments. Some of the most expensive schools have responded with new aid programs. Princeton, in a move emulated by others, shifted to grants from loans, easing the debt burden on students, and removed home equity from financial aid calculations. Harvard's new policy also includes these provisions.

Harvard currently provides a free undergraduate education to students from families earning up to $60,000 a year. Under its new plan, families earning between $120,000 and $180,000 a year would pay only 10 percent of their incomes for tuition and fees on an education that is currently priced at more than $45,000 a year. More than 90 percent of American families would be eligible for aid, Harvard officials estimate.

The new standards will make the cost of a Harvard education comparable to the charges at the nation's leading public universities. The new approach should allow more students to engage in unpaid research, unpaid summer internships and study abroad. Students who graduate with little or no debt could more readily pursue low-paying careers in public service.

Although Harvard is often a trendsetter, it is not clear that many other schools can afford to follow. Its endowment of $35 billion is the largest of any university. Most other colleges rely heavily on tuition and fees and can't readily give up that income. There are more than 60 colleges that have endowments that exceed $1 billion that ought to move at least partially in the same direction.

Students attending public colleges have also faced steep cost increases, in part because state governments have become stingier in providing support. Governors and legislators ought to be ashamed if their flagship public universities charge more than a high-priced private school like Harvard.

http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071220/OPINION01/712200309/1021/OPINION01

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=735641&forum_id=1#9064871)

AMERICA'S TOP 20 FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS - 2008

MSN

Article provided by The Princeton Review

With the average cost of tuition at public and private colleges skyrocketing, today’s students are less concerned about getting into their top-choice college than they are about figuring out how to pay for it. The prospect of having to pay back thousands of dollars in loans is daunting for students thinking about college and can be the most determinate factor in their decision about which school to attend. Fortunately, there are schools out there that go the extra mile to help ease the financial burden of getting a quality education. The Princeton Review’s survey of 120,000 college students for the Best 366 Colleges: 2008 Edition revealed the top twenty schools where students are happy with their financial aid.

1. Princeton University (Princeton, New Jersey)

Princeton stands apart from the majority in matters of financing school. Thanks to “a generous financial-aid system,” students say, “Not everyone is a spoiled-rotten, BMW-driving, snooty rich kid.” The university admits undergraduate students without regard to their family financial circumstances and provides 100 percent of determined need. As a result, “we have students from very diverse backgrounds.” For the past five years, no Princeton student (American-born or international) who received financial aid has been required to take out a loan to pay for his or her education.

2. Stanford University (Stanford, California)

Stanford offers “a mix of incredible academics and a laid-back atmosphere” (not to mention incredible financial aid) that prompts many exceptional applicants to choose it over the likes of Harvard and Yale. Applicants whose parents’ total annual income is less than $45,000 will not be expected to pay for their educational costs at Stanford. Parents with incomes between $45,000 and $60,000 can expect a prorated reduction in their expected parent contribution. This policy reflects Stanford’s commitment to making its world-class education (which costs about $47,000 annually, all inclusive) available to talented and well-prepared students from lower-income families. Currently, about half of all students attending Stanford receive financial aid.

3. Thomas Aquinas College (Santa Paula, California)

Thomas Aquinas’ “integrated liberal-arts program,” which focuses on “books that have shaped the entire history of Western thought” doesn’t come cheap, especially considering that some types of financial aid available at other schools are not available here because the college receives no federal campus-based funds or contracts. To compensate, TAC offers a private-aid program funded through generous contributions from TAC’s benefactors. TAC also provides financial assistance through on-campus employment opportunities. Students awarded a full “service scholarship” put in 13 hours a week in areas such as food service, buildings or grounds maintenance, the library, or clerical work. In exchange, a $3,180 credit is given against room and board.

4. Pomona College (Claremont, California)

In the words of its students, Pomona offers “the best atmosphere available to college students in the United States.” Fortunately, cost is not the barrier at Pomona that it is at other institutions. Pomona prides itself on its need-blind admissions policy and its ability to meet 100 percent of its students’ needs. More than half of Pomona’s incoming students are awarded scholarships, and the administration is committed to honoring the equivalent award in students’ subsequent years of college.

5. Lake Forest College (Lake Forest, Illinois)

“A whole lot of personal attention,” “great financial aid,” and “professors who really care about students” make a Lake Forest College education a great value. Lake Forest maintains a strong commitment to providing generous financial aid to qualified applicants. Best of all, LFC doesn’t overdo the student-loan thing. While many colleges and universities award student loans first, Lake Forest awards up to $10,500 in grants first. Only after this rather significant chunk of free money is exhausted does LFC resort to loans. The average need-based student loan for a first-year student ends up being under $4,000. And once you are admitted, Lake Forest is committed to maintaining its grant aid for all four years.

6. Claremont McKenna College (Claremont, California)

At CMC, “the Admissions Office does a good job of making sure that students are a good match for the college” and accepts students on a need-blind basis. All students attending CMC are awarded up to 100 percent of the financial aid they need, which averages close to $30,000. Although CMC's financial-aid program is primarily need-based, the school also offers academic scholarships. Institutional employment is available and off-campus job opportunities are excellent. Approximately 47 percent of the current freshman class received aid.

7. Wabash College (Crawfordsville, Indiana)

Students say “Wabash has a lot of money,” so it’s no wonder that the school can afford to distribute aid generously. In fact, Wabash ranks among the top 25 colleges and universities in the country in terms of endowment per student, and is one of the few schools that still guarantee that it will meet 100 percent of students’ demonstrated financial need. The school also famously offers $3 million worth of competitive academic scholarships on its Honor Scholarship Weekend, during which students travel to the school to take competitive exams (students outside a 300-mile radius of the school may be reimbursed for travel to and from the competition

8. Beloit College (Beloit, Wisconsin)

At Beloit, “There are lots of rich kids, but the school does a good job recruiting (and financing) students from lower socioeconomic classes.” Last year, Beloit forked out more than $17 million in scholarships and grants. Nearly 80 percent of freshmen and 77 percent of undergraduates receive need-based financial aid, with the average need-based financial aid package totaling $15,676. Beloit also awards more than $13 million annually in merit-based scholarships to underrepresented minorities and other students for stellar academic performance, leadership potential, and music or theater talent.

9. Cornell College (Mount Vernon, Iowa)

Many students cited their financial-aid package as being the factor that brought them to Cornell, a school where “Everyone is more than willing to help you out or point you in the right direction.” Competitive academic and fine-arts scholarships draw students, as does the school’s generous financial-aid policy. When a student receives an outside scholarship, Cornell College does not typically reduce gift aid, though the amount of and the ability to renew the outside scholarship are reviewed in relation to the college's need-based gift award. Seventy-three percent of freshmen receive need-based scholarship or grant aid.

10. College of the Atlantic (Bar Harbor, Maine)

At College of the Atlantic, students “have the opportunity to shape their own educations. Students who are self-motivated and enthusiastic can have an awesome experience here.” About 92 percent of COA students receive at least some form of financial aid. The school offers both need- and merit-based awards to a large number of students.

11 New College of Florida

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12 Williams College

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13 California Institute of Technology

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14 Truman State University

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15 Knox College

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16 Grinnell College

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17 Rice University

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18 University of North Carolina at Asheville

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19 Randolph College

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20 Amherst College

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=735641&forum_id=1#9064892)

Because they're also saying Stanford students are much more content than harvard students. And I'm sure you don't want anybody hearing that!

Top 10 Schools with the Happiest Students"

MSN (2007)

While the factors that go into creating a college campus full of "happy" students may vary, one thing is for certain: some schools do a better job of it than others. Observing the attitudes of the students on campus will tell you more about a school than all the brochures you've read, virtual tours you've taken, and conversations you've had with eager admissions officers. While you'll still need a campus visit to seal your impressions, The Princeton Review's survey of 120,000 college students for the Best 366 Colleges: 2008 Edition, revealed the top ten schools with the happiest students.

1. Whitman College (Walla Walla, Washington)

At Whitman College, the sheer variety of opportunities to have fun keeps students happy. One student reports, "There is always a ridiculous amount of things going on around campus. Sometimes the trouble is choosing what you are going to do or having time to do all of the things you are interested in. There are tons of clubs (and some really odd ones, like the Ender's Game Alliance and the Flight Club) to get involved in and lots of musical performances, plays, parties, speakers, etc."

Students who considered Whitman College also looked at Pomona College, Carleton College, University of Puget Sound, and Colorado College.

2. Brown University (Providence, Rhode Island)

"The social scene is a lot like the academic scene" at Brown "in that there is a huge variety of options, and people tend to experience most of them. From hanging out to cocktail parties, from hippies partying in their co-ops to kids studying in the library, from fraternity parties to watching a movie, everything you can imagine doing for fun happens." Students agree that "Brown is a school that definitely parties, and Wednesday night through Sunday students here are partying," but not until they get their schoolwork done.

Students who considered Brown University also looked at Amherst College, Williams College, Smith College, and Yale University.

3. Clemson University (Clemson, South Carolina)

"Clemson football and tailgating are the most amazing experiences of college," most Clemson undergrads agree, noting that "Saturdays in the fall there is no question where everyone is." Aside from their intensity for football, "Clemson students approach life 'Southern style': We're pretty laid-back, we like to have a good time, we work hard, and we have pride." The surrounding area offers plenty in the way of outdoor activity, as "Lake Hartwell borders the campus. We're about a half hour from great hiking and mountain biking, and the weather is great most of the time, so we spend a lot of time outdoors."

Students who considered Clemson University also looked at Georgia Institute of Technology, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Auburn University, and Furman University.

4. Princeton University (Princeton, New Jersey)

Princeton University students love that they are in good company. One student writes, "I have friends who are Presidential Scholars, stayed with the UN Secretary General in Paris over fall break, produced hip-hop CDs, or represented different countries at the Olympics. Back home, I would have thought it amazing if I could meet just one of these people. If I stopped thinking of my friends as friends and thought of what they have accomplished, it's mind-boggling and a little humbling."

Students who considered Princeton University also looked at Harvard College, Yale University, Stanford University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

5. Stanford University (Stanford, California)

It's true that Stanford students "work hard" but they "play hard, too." At Stanford, playing hard comes in various forms. One prominent form, of course, is partying. On any given Friday (or Saturday) night, "You can find most students heading out to one of the many parties that are held around campus." Others choose to hit "local bars/clubs, and, on occasion, [ride] into San Francisco" for the city's nightlife. Given the "perfect" weather, it's hardly surprising that undergrads also like to take it outdoors for a good time. "Running, swimming, and sunbathing are some of the more common outdoor activities."

Students who considered Stanford University also looked at University of California-Berkeley, Princeton University, California Institute of Technology, and Yale University.

6. University of Tulsa (Tulsa, Oklahoma)

All students here complete the cross-disciplinary Tulsa curriculum that one student says "has been incredible in helping me learn to think in a variety of ways, and connect thoughts across curricula." One undergrad explains, "TU is pretty laid-back in my opinion because they trust us to be adults, and we haven't abused their confidence so far." A freshman from California says she had a bit of "culture shock. The fried food and the popularity of football freaked me out at first. But the Oakies take you in." Nearly everyone is "very serious and passionate about what we are studying."

Students who considered the University of Tulsa also looked at University of Oklahoma, Southern Methodist University, Saint Louis University, and Baylor University.

7. The College of New Jersey (Ewing, New Jersey)

The TCNJ campus "is gorgeous, with tree-lined paths and brick buildings in the Georgian Colonial style," though some students wonder whether construction will ever end." Extracurricular options are varied here. Those involved in the Greek scene say it's "always available and fun." We're told the Greeks and the sports houses are the location of many off-campus parties. Tuesday, a.k.a. "Tuesday Booze Day," is one of the big party nights here. That's because "the school doesn't offer a lot of classes on Wednesday."

Students who considered The College of New Jersey also looked at Villanova University, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey-New Brunswick, Rowan University, and Montclair State University.

8. Bowdoin College (Brunswick, Maine)

Students love how Bowdoin "embraces the intellectual experience in a balanced, healthy way, so that its students are generally very happy. There is an awareness that in college, learning comes from everywhere, so there is a real effort by the Bowdoin administration as well as Bowdoin students to bring speakers, events, and entertainment to the campus so that students can learn in every way possible." Extracurriculars are part of the constant learning; students here "are always doing at least one if not ten things at a time."

Students who considered Bowdoin College also looked at Middlebury College, Bates College, Colby College, and Brown University.

9. Yale University (New Haven, Connecticut)

Yale is extremely demanding academically, but students here still find time for plenty of extracurricular enrichment and fun. One student reports, "People generally study Monday through Thursday, and oftentimes have extracurriculars in the evenings. On the weekends, people tend to study during the day and go out at night." Undergrads tell us that "art, music, theater, and sports are huge, loved, and well funded, as are organizations such as the Yale Daily News, the Slavic Chorus (a cappella is huge here), Just Add Water (a comedy troupe), and the fire-juggling club (best Halloween show in the world!)."

Students who considered Yale University also looked at Harvard College, Princeton University, Stanford University, and Brown University.

10. Thomas Aquinas College (Santa Paula, California)

What do students at TAC think about in their free time? Well, they ponder the usual questions, like, "What is life? Why are we here? What makes the heavens move? Can you prove that God exists?" In general, writes a senior, "Life at Thomas Aquinas College is focused around the academic program," which means that the questions spurred in class regularly carry into Friday and Saturday nights. Official campus parties, such as formal dances and banquet dinners, are also in line with this focus. Off-campus activities "whether it be drinking in the woods or going to the opera, also complement the program."

Students who considered Thomas Aquinas College also looked at Benedictine College, the Catholic University of America, University of Dallas, and Christendom College.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=735641&forum_id=1#9064952)

After a fitful effort a few years back, they have abandoned any serious attempt to compare schools, and have settled for headline-grabbing and statistically-dubious assertions that this school or that is the best "drinking school" or the home of the most "sandal-wearers".

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=735641&forum_id=1#9064962)

LOL. It doesn't stop you from citing them when to your advantage! The proof is in the pudding LIAR.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=735641&forum_id=1#9064982)

http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=519439

Bottom Line: YOU LIED AGAIN

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=735641&forum_id=1#9065013)

"The proof of the pudding is the eating."

You are an embarrassment to the Andover faculty.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=735641&forum_id=1#9065000)