9Merit Aid and the Application

BEFORE YOU CAN get any aid, you do have to be admitted. This chapter outlines the basic steps you need to take for an efficient and low-stress application process, and how to tailor your applications to ensure that you’re an excellent candidate for any and all merit aid dollars available.

Now that you’ve narrowed it down to a list of schools at which you can get funded, either using our MAP in Chapter 6, our Cost-Conscious Search in Chapter 7, or both, you’re ready to send out applications.

You may be thinking that you’d like to visit before you apply; we recommend that you wait to visit until after you’ve applied and been accepted. As we’ve said before, visiting can mean falling in love … and you’re not ready to ...

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