how to get more money?

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WashMe

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This is completely hypothetical in my case, but it is a real consideration for some people. How does one go about making a bid to get scholarship money? I know the chances are slim for me to get off another WL, but I want to try to get some merit money from Pittsburgh. I mean, I know they've been dishing it out so it isn't out of the question, but I haven't had a bargaining chip b/c I only have one acceptance. That place is expensive.

Advice?
 
The only thing I could think of is send a letter and/or phone call stating your case.
 
ChubbyChaser said:
The only thing I could think of is send a letter and/or phone call stating your case.
Click to expand...

thanks chubs

I see that many others have looked, but not posted, in this thread. I take it you're all thinking what I'm thinking and you don't want to help... lol
 
how to get more money---->get a job


lol
 
OnlyNeedOneYes said:
thanks chubs

I see that many others have looked, but not posted, in this thread. I take it you're all thinking what I'm thinking and you don't want to help... lol
Click to expand...

i was going to decide against posting something mean but you are basically inviting it with this comment....

schools typically won't dish out merit scholarships to students they were hesitant about accepting and who have no other acceptances. the school can see that you are only holding one acceptance so they have absolutely no reason to give you anything...they're better off using the money to recruit/convince a more desirable applicant with multiple acceptances who needs some extra persuasion to jump ship.
 
skinMD said:
i was going to decide against posting something mean but you are basically inviting it with this comment....

schools typically won't dish out merit scholarships to students they were hesitant about accepting and who have no other acceptances. the school can see that you are only holding one acceptance so they have absolutely no reason to give you anything...they're better off using the money to recruit/convince a more desirable applicant with multiple acceptances who needs some extra persuasion to jump ship.
Click to expand...

...hence the "what if I get off another WL" tone of my original post. thanks for pointing out the obvious.

I know at least one person who was offered a bunch of merit money at Pitt when they were taken off the WL with maybe only 1 other acceptance. It happens, so I was just wondering if I can haggle if I pull another acceptance.
 
Change your last name to 'Kennedy' and hope for a clerical error.

I don't think there's much you can do. It's there money to give away (or keep) for whatever reason they want. The most productive thing you could probably do on the free money front is to apply for outside scholarships. If you know enough Shriners, Masons, Jaycees, and American Legion members, you just might be able to get those books paid for.
 
RoadRunner17 said:
I thought you only needed one. :meanie:
Click to expand...

yeah, one merit scholarship lol

j/k, but it is expensive... I'll be happy to go at the current price, but I don't want to sit on my hands if there is any way I can make a move to procure more funds. If I get off a WL, I may have room to bargain. Check out what's going on at UMich; they're offering mad bucks to people who attempt/threaten to WD. I know Pitt has money because I've seen many people get offered a ton of merit money. Sadly, however, their success likely means there is none left for me.
 
short sell financial and energy stocks. market is turning down for at least a couple of weeks. 😀
 
why not send them a letter stating that you like to recieve more scholarship because you are young and have a wife to support?
 
skinMD said:
i was going to decide against posting something mean but you are basically inviting it with this comment....

schools typically won't dish out merit scholarships to students they were hesitant about accepting and who have no other acceptances. the school can see that you are only holding one acceptance so they have absolutely no reason to give you anything...they're better off using the money to recruit/convince a more desirable applicant with multiple acceptances who needs some extra persuasion to jump ship.
Click to expand...

qft.
 
Thanks for all the help guys. SkinMD was perhaps lacking in tact, but given starfishprime's (lol 40++ MCAT? I know you raked in the dough) confirmatory assertion I'm sure he is right. Looks like I'll just have to see if I get in somewhere, otherwise there is nothing to do. :xf: for next week 🙂
 
OnlyNeedOneYes said:
This is completely hypothetical in my case, but it is a real consideration for some people. How does one go about making a bid to get scholarship money? I know the chances are slim for me to get off another WL, but I want to try to get some merit money from Pittsburgh. I mean, I know they've been dishing it out so it isn't out of the question, but I haven't had a bargaining chip b/c I only have one acceptance. That place is expensive.

Advice?
Click to expand...


Get in and do well. You might not get money at the start of school but that doesn't mean that you can earn some by a strong performance in your medical school coursework. Some of those "merit schorlarship" folks may not maintain the level of scholarship that they need and thus lose their money. Position yourself to pick up where they dropped the ball. Students who do well, get money from the schools that they attend.
 
Maybe can you threaten them to withdraw and apply for next year if they don't give you your $$?
 
yo dawg,

can't directly help you on the issue, as the schools I got into told people that they wouldn't be able to give them more money (ie told us not to call) than finaid, but here's an alternative that may or may not interest you:

https://www.pstp.pitt.edu/admission_process.asp

it's a 5 year (4 + research year) program that, I believe, takes internal applicants, and is free tuition all years + stipend for research year. i'm not sure whether you would be interested in a research year, but it would be a good break and it would help you compete for residency spots. I know you want to do rads, and PSTP is connected to carnegie mellon so you might be able to do direct clinical research or the engineering aspect of it. You may want to look into it and, if something doesn't work out, call them and be like, yo, I want an interview for this program.

GL
 
Be a URM, but clearly that's out of the question.
 
I was accepted this morning at WashU, so I want to make the bid for $ that I previously mentioned... I haven't gotten the WashU package yet, but I think it will be better than Pitt. If I want to ask if they will match the cost of WashU, should I contact them via email or phone call? I don't want to do a written letter because it would be slow...
 
OnlyNeedOneYes said:
I was accepted this morning at WashU, so I want to make the bid for $ that I previously mentioned... I haven't gotten the WashU package yet, but I think it will be better than Pitt. If I want to ask if they will match the cost of WashU, should I contact them via email or phone call? I don't want to do a written letter because it would be slow...
Click to expand...

I did that a few days ago... by email. They recieved it and are considering it so I'm assuming my method was fine.

I started off the email with:

Dear Dr. X,

Thanks for the offer of acceptance. As I am sure you can imagine with this bad economy, I have been trying to minimize the amount of my future student loans. As a result, I have been trying to compare financial aid awards and scholarships a bit more closely. To be completely honest with you, after looking at the financial aid package at your school, it would be much easier financially if I stay here in Ohio. However, I would be more than willing to accept your offer of admission if your school would offer me something comparable to what the ohio schools have given me...etc etc...

not sure if this was the "perfect" way to do it, but i think it went well (even if they don't end up giving me anything)...

They are letting me hold on to my multiple acceptances until they make a decision 🙂
 
atomi said:
Please tell me you are joking that you actually sent something this ridiculous!
Click to expand...

Not word for word. I think I used the word "debt" instead of "future student loans". But, as an answer to your question, no, I am not joking😀

Seriously, what do I care? What is the worse that can happen? They say no? I really can't care less if they do.
 
phospho said:
Not word for word. I think I used the word "debt" instead of "future student loans". But, as an answer to your question, no, I am not joking😀

Seriously, what do I care? What is the worse that can happen? They say no? I really can't care less if they do.
Click to expand...

So, did it work?
 
OnlyNeedOneYes said:
I was accepted this morning at WashU, so I want to make the bid for $ that I previously mentioned... I haven't gotten the WashU package yet, but I think it will be better than Pitt. If I want to ask if they will match the cost of WashU, should I contact them via email or phone call? I don't want to do a written letter because it would be slow...
Click to expand...

congrats. i knew washU wouldn't be able to resist your high MCAT score...i think i even predicted you'd get off their waitlist in your other thread.
 
skinMD said:
congrats. i knew washU wouldn't be able to resist your high MCAT score...i think i even predicted you'd get off their waitlist in your other thread.
Click to expand...

Thanks, and I think you did call it (as did a few others) 🙂 haha, lucky high MCAT ftw!


I think I'm going to try an approach similar to Phospho's to try to get some Pitt money if WashU aid is 👍 We'll see what happens when I see the numbers on paper.
 
To update you guys, I decided not to try to bargain with Pitt and I just withdrew yesterday. When I saw my WashU FinAid and it was ~$15k/yr cheaper than Pitt, I decided to withdraw my other applications.
 
OnlyNeedOneYes said:
To update you guys, I decided not to try to bargain with Pitt and I just withdrew yesterday. When I saw my WashU FinAid and it was ~$15k/yr cheaper than Pitt, I decided to withdraw my other applications.
Click to expand...

Congrats ONOY!
 
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