Negotiating Aid

[moustacheddragon]

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If a school only gives need-based and not merit-based aid, and also does not match other schools' offers, is there anything you can do after receiving an aid award to try to increase aid? I have been fortunate to gain acceptance to a few highly ranked schools that are known for giving generous aid. One gave a generous need-based scholarship while the other gave a much smaller need-based scholarship. Is there any respectful way to approach the one that gave less need-based aid in an effort to increase the aid, particularly if it is my top choice?

I realize that "we don't match offers" seems to suggest that the answer is no. But, more broadly, is there any strategy at all for trying to revisit aid calculation in this circumstance?

 

[KnightDoc]

If a school only gives need-based and not merit-based aid, and also does not match other schools' offers, is there anything you can do after receiving an aid award to try to increase aid? I have been fortunate to gain acceptance to a few highly ranked schools that are known for giving generous aid. One gave a generous need-based scholarship while the other gave a much smaller need-based scholarship. Is there any respectful way to approach the one that gave less need-based aid in an effort to increase the aid, particularly if it is my top choice?

I realize that "we don't match offers" seems to suggest that the answer is no. But, more broadly, is there any strategy at all for trying to revisit aid calculation in this circumstance?

Absolutely!!! If it's all need-based, why not tell one school about the other school's package? The worst that can happen is that they turn you down.

There is no magic strategy. Either the school with the worse package is looking at income or assets the other school isn't, or they just don't have the budget to be as generous as the other school, OR, they have a lower COA to begin with.

Just remember that the important number is your net cost after scholarships, not the amount of the scholarship (i.e., a $20K scholarship at a school with a $50K COA is a better deal than a $40K scholarship at a school with a $90K COA). If they want you and have the funds, they will get close to the other school's offer. If not, then you have to decide whether or not it is worth it to borrow the difference.

"We don't match offers" usually applies to merit money, which has nothing to do with a determination of ability to pay. Of course, schools that do not have budgets to award generous need-based scholarships also don't match offers, but that kind of goes without saying.

 

[moustacheddragon]

Absolutely!!! If it's all need-based, why not tell one school about the other school's package? The worst that can happen is that they turn you down.

There is no magic strategy. Either the school with the worse package is looking at income or assets the other school isn't, or they just don't have the budget to be as generous as the other school, OR, they have a lower COA to begin with.

Just remember that the important number is your net cost after scholarships, not the amount of the scholarship (i.e., a $20K scholarship at a school with a $50K COA is a better deal than a $40K scholarship at a school with a $90K COA). If they want you and have the funds, they will get close to the other school's offer. If not, then you have to decide whether or not it is worth it to borrow the difference.

"We don't match offers" usually applies to merit money, which has nothing to do with a determination of ability to pay. Of course, schools that do not have budgets to award generous need-based scholarships also don't match offers, but that kind of goes without saying.

Thank you! I'm trying to determine whether it's appropriate to approach a school that DOES have a generous endowment and is known for generous awards, but that ONLY gives need-based awards, and that specifically says it doesn't match. In this case, do you still think it's ok to approach them regarding the decision I am making wherein a school of similar "rank" (i.e. both within the same tier of the nebulous US News and PD ranks) extended a more generous need-based award?

 

[KnightDoc]

Thank you! I'm trying to determine whether it's appropriate to approach a school that DOES have a generous endowment and is known for generous awards, but that ONLY gives need-based awards, and that specifically says it doesn't match. In this case, do you still think it's ok to approach them regarding the decision I am making wherein a school of similar "rank" (i.e. both within the same tier of the nebulous US News and PD ranks) extended a more generous need-based award?

Absolutely. If they stick to their guns, it might not get you anywhere, but it won't hurt to try.

Instead of asking them to match, why not tell them they are your top choice, and you are struggling to reconcile how the peer school determined your need to be so much greater than they did? What did the other school consider that they might have missed? Would it be possible for them to take another look?

You don't want money to be a deciding factor, because you really love THEM, but it's hard to justify having to borrow so much more, so you'd appreciate it if they can take another look!!!! Maybe if this works I can get a percentage as a consulting fee? 😎

 

[moustacheddragon]

Absolutely. If they stick to their guns, it might not get you anywhere, but it won't hurt to try.

Instead of asking them to match, why not tell them they are your top choice, and you are struggling to reconcile how the peer school determined your need to be so much greater than they did? What did the other school consider that they might have missed? Would it be possible for them to take another look?

You don't want money to be a deciding factor, because you really love THEM, but it's hard to justify having to borrow so much more, so you'd appreciate it if they can take another look!!!! Maybe if this works I can get a percentage as a consulting fee? 😎

Haha thank you! 😎x2