Do Schools Offer Scholarships?

[srock]

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I have found lots of information related to loans, scholarships from employers, and so forth, but I am interested in a students bargaining power with an institution. Here is a situation:

Wife is accepted to Palm Beach Atlantic. She likes it due to the location (West Palm Beach, FL right on the intracostal) and the concentration on teaching students vs. research. But, the cost is prohibitive ($23K a year and rising).

I will presume, if I may, that she is accepted with in state tuition to University of Maryland (interview Feb 4). Great school, poor location. I love the Orioles and all, but we too comfy with leaving the confines of Eutaw street on a daily basis.

Is it acceptable behavior to 'hold out' on PBA? Can we communicate, in so many words, to an admissions person at PBA:

We like PBA but it is hard to turn down Maryland because it is higher rated, cheaper (in state), and right by home. If you can make tuition cost competitive (suggest scholarship amount) we may consider making the move to South Florida?

Would they even consider offering a scholarship?

Would they be offended and rescind the acceptance?

Would they just so sorry, no dice, take the offer or leave it?

Thanks for any input.

 

[KARM12]

I have found lots of information related to loans, scholarships from employers, and so forth, but I am interested in a students bargaining power with an institution. Here is a situation:

Wife is accepted to Palm Beach Atlantic. She likes it due to the location (West Palm Beach, FL right on the intracostal) and the concentration on teaching students vs. research. But, the cost is prohibitive ($23K a year and rising).

I will presume, if I may, that she is accepted with in state tuition to University of Maryland (interview Feb 4). Great school, poor location. I love the Orioles and all, but we too comfy with leaving the confines of Eutaw street on a daily basis.

Is it acceptable behavior to 'hold out' on PBA? Can we communicate, in so many words, to an admissions person at PBA:

We like PBA but it is hard to turn down Maryland because it is higher rated, cheaper (in state), and right by home. If you can make tuition cost competitive (suggest scholarship amount) we may consider making the move to South Florida?

Would they even consider offering a scholarship?

Would they be offended and rescind the acceptance?

Would they just so sorry, no dice, take the offer or leave it?

Thanks for any input.

I don't think they'll offer your wife a scholarship for that reason alone. There are so many applicants wanting her spot that if she doesn't want it, there are plenty of people who do and are willing to pay the full amount. I don't think they would rescind the acceptance if you asked, but I just don't see them trying to cut any deals. Most schools are basically a take it or leave it.

Good luck with your decision. Just weigh your options and see what will work best in the long run. Both schools will offer an excellent education.

 

[kittycatblues]

We like PBA but it is hard to turn down Maryland because it is higher rated, cheaper (in state), and right by home. If you can make tuition cost competitive (suggest scholarship amount) we may consider making the move to South Florida?

 

[Farmercyst]

I don't think they'll offer your wife a scholarship for that reason alone. There are so many applicants wanting her spot that if she doesn't want it, there are plenty of people who do and are willing to pay the full amount. I don't think they would rescind the acceptance if you asked, but I just don't see them trying to cut any deals. Most schools are basically a take it or leave it.

Good luck with your decision. Just weigh your options and see what will work best in the long run. Both schools will offer an excellent education.

Sorry to say, but that's pretty much the nutshell version. I'd pay $23000 if I had to to go there, as would most people, especially those who haven't been accepted anywhere else and/or rejected. So expecting a scholarship for that reason wouldn't get you anywhere. Most schools DO have their own scholarships (in limited quantity), but like entry, they are competitve, just fewer applicants. Now if she has stellar stats and they have academic scholarships for P-1s you could apply and hopefully get one.

 

[acetyl]

Take the offer or leave it is what they'll probably say, these days at least.

 

[srock]

Thanks for the feedback.

I am a software engineer so in my mind this process is similar to looking for a new job. If i have two employers giving offers, I can get more out of the employer who wants me most if they know another, supposedly, "superior" employer is making an offer for my services.

I guess since spots for pharmacy are so limited, the supply of candidates far outnumbers the supply of the spots. But, if I am dean of admissions at a place like PBA, I know the reputation of my fledgling program is largely based on the quality of students. In order to build reputation would they not try hard to lure students away from the top ranked institutions? I know undergrad works like this. For example a friend got into MIT, but Maryland gave them a full scholarship because they wanted him as an engineering student.

Not saying my wife necessarily is good enough to pull such a maneuver, but hypothetically, do pharmacy schools ever behave like this?