Is it possible to "haggle" with the financial aid office?

[maslow12]

---

Members do not see this ad.

For example, if you have been accepted to two schools, can you take the less costly of the two offers, go to the other school, and say something like "I really want to go here but cost is an issue, can you match or beat this package I'm getting from this other university?"

Does this happen, do people do this, how successful are they?

 

[MilkmanAl]

Does this happen, do people do this, how successful are they?

Yes, yes, and it depends. If you're really competitive, you'll probably have quite a lot of luck. If you barely squeezed into the class, they might not be so thrilled pony up cash for you. Either way, it's not going to hurt to try.

 

[boaz]

Yea, but I'd stop right there. If you're lucky to get back an offer don't reply with a souqesqe (I love making up new adjectives) "can't you do better than that?" 😉

 

[starl3tte]

I remember the fin aid director at a UC saying that an accepted student called in w/ a dilemma - really wanted to go to that California school, but a different school had put together a more appealing fin aid package for her. Unfortunately, the fin aid director had to tell her that they could not match the offer from the other school. Didn't hurt for her to try asking, though. My guess is that it all depends on what kind of available funding the school has, as well as the competitiveness of the applicant, as mentioned above.