Negotiating Scholarship Money

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I haven't done it personally, but it seems like most of the time when students negotiate scholarship money, it's to get a school to match other scholarship offers. And that seems to only work sometimes, depending on the school and how badly they want the applicant to matriculate.

In your case, in which you'd be asking for more money just because (and not because you have a more competitive scholarship offer), I'm not sure how effective an email would be. If it worked, then it seems like anyone could just email them asking for more money. But again, I don't know about any of this personally.
 
It's worth trying I guess. I tried it recently with one school by saying I had more financial assistance elsewhere, but they told me they couldn't help me further.
 
You already have 3/4 tuition, what more do you want? A luxury apartment with a private helicopter to take you to all of your rotations?

Be thankful you got any scholarship money at all. Most med students don't get merit aid.
 
jaksmith said:
Hi all,

How do you go about negotiating for more scholarship money. I've been lucky to be accepted to school which offered me basically 3/4 tuition "recruiting scholarship" back in December. While I am likely going here regardless, how do I negotiate for more $$$. I'm not sure what to say in an email.. I have been accepted to other schools but none with generous aid. Do I email the general admissions email, dean of admissions, or the person who sent me the scholarship information (seems like an administrative assistant of the scholarship committee).

Thanks for any help.
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You have no leverage.
 
penguinism said:
You already have 3/4 tuition, what more do you want? A luxury apartment with a private helicopter to take you to all of your rotations?

Be thankful you got any scholarship money at all. Most med students don't get merit aid.
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And on top of that, the scholarship is to an awesome top 15 school (assuming OP is referring to Vandy).
 
In my mind, it can't hurt. Go for it! Probably just write a letter to the financial aid office
 
You don't negotiate.

You must think you're pretty special.
 
jaksmith said:
Hi all,

How do you go about negotiating for more scholarship money. I've been lucky to be accepted to school which offered me basically 3/4 tuition "recruiting scholarship" back in December. While I am likely going here regardless, how do I negotiate for more $$$. I'm not sure what to say in an email.. I have been accepted to other schools but none with generous aid. Do I email the general admissions email, dean of admissions, or the person who sent me the scholarship information (seems like an administrative assistant of the scholarship committee).

Thanks for any help.
Click to expand...

OP, you tell them how much more you deserve the extra money than the legions of other students who have received nothing, preferably in personal statement format. (But seriously, I would hope you realize that a post like this would lead to serious flamage on SDN).
 
jaksmith said:
Hi all,

How do you go about negotiating for more scholarship money. I've been lucky to be accepted to school which offered me basically 3/4 tuition "recruiting scholarship" back in December. While I am likely going here regardless, how do I negotiate for more $$$. I'm not sure what to say in an email.. I have been accepted to other schools but none with generous aid. Do I email the general admissions email, dean of admissions, or the person who sent me the scholarship information (seems like an administrative assistant of the scholarship committee).

Thanks for any help.
Click to expand...
Pathetic.
 
#1 You have no leverage
#2 For everyone on here hating on this dude for getting a scholarship get a life. Congratulate him on his merit aid and move forward. Its his choice to seek more aid. Since he was recruited, he probably could get some more aid. Maybe some more Perkins loans instead of PLUS etc.
 
Espadaleader said:
#1 You have no leverage
#2 For everyone on here hating on this dude for getting a scholarship get a life. Congratulate him on his merit aid and move forward. Its his choice to seek more aid. Since he was recruited, he probably could get some more aid. Maybe some more Perkins loans instead of PLUS etc.
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I agree with this 100%. Why y'all gotta be hatin' on OP's success?? It's not like he was randomly chosen for a scholarship, the school in question wants OP to attend their institution and thought he deserved moneys! OP clearly did something right in his application and earned that money.

OP, unfortunately, I don't think there's anything more you can do to negotiate more aid because you have no more cards to play. If you'd been offered a full tuition scholarship elsewhere, then maybe, but it doesn't look like you have any leverage. Usually negotiation emails, go along the lines of "I'd love to go here, but this other school is offering me more money." Some schools even call and confirm that aid has been awarded by another school.
 
Yo, I didn't get
WillburCobb said:
Not hating on his/her success, hating on the entitelment and lack of humility in OP's humble brag.
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What are you talking about? How is a merit scholarship "entitlement"? SDN is full of people that can't tolerate success. Look, dude got a scholarship and he wants more money. Simple. Anybody in his situation would want more money. I don't know the OP but just because he wants more money doesn't mean he is not humble etc.
 
Espadaleader said:
Look, dude got a scholarship and he wants more money.
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This = entitled and lacking in humility in OPs context. That's how OP comes off which is why there has been negativity directed towards OP, not because of his/her success in multiple acceptances or receiving a merit scholarship.
 
What? Come on man. There is nothing wrong for asking for more money. He didn't say I received a 3/4 scholarship and I feel like I deserved a full ride. He said "I've been lucky to be accepted to school which offered me basically 3/4 tuition". How is that not humble???
 
Espadaleader said:
What? Come on man. There is nothing wrong for asking for more money. He didn't say I received a 3/4 scholarship and I feel like I deserved a full ride. He said "I've been lucky to be accepted to school which offered me basically 3/4 tuition". How is that not humble???
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Not hating on OP as I'm sure he/she would appreciate a 100% scholarship (and I'm sure they fully deserved the 3/4 scholarship they were offered), but seems pretty soft to turn around to the school that was the most generous to you and demand more on top of it, especially without leverage.

Anybody in any situation wants more aid, btw.
 
asebasp said:
Not hating on OP as I'm sure he/she would appreciate a 100% scholarship (and I'm sure they fully deserved the 3/4 scholarship they were offered), but seems pretty soft to turn around to the school that was the most generous to you and demand more on top of it, especially without leverage.

Anybody in any situation wants more aid, btw.
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Exactly.
 
I guess we can all agree on that. I don't think the OP is bragging or entitled etc. but I think it's pretty silly to ask a school for more money without a better OR equal offer from another school because they won't take you seriously.
 
Espadaleader said:
#1 You have no leverage
#2 For everyone on here hating on this dude for getting a scholarship get a life. Congratulate him on his merit aid and move forward. Its his choice to seek more aid. Since he was recruited, he probably could get some more aid. Maybe some more Perkins loans instead of PLUS etc.
Click to expand...
I think there is something absolutely wrong with asking for more money when the vast majority of us seem to be getting nothing. But this "hate" is not particularly geared towards the OP. I'm just commenting on the financial aid process as a whole.

I'll venture a guess that you were probably offered something from those top schools that you got into given your position.
 
midnight0il said:
I think there is something absolutely wrong with asking for more money when the vast majority of us seem to be getting nothing. But this "hate" is not particularly geared towards the OP. I'm just commenting on the financial aid process as a whole.

I'll venture a guess that you were probably offered something from those top schools that you got into given your position.
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If you were at a car dealership, wouldn't you negotiate to the last dollar possible? Even if you thought be impolite to the other folks standing around (because they aren't at liberty of walking away because they either need that car by Monday morning)?

OP's schools have a certain amount of tuition pre-budgeted that they're allowed to forgive (all financial aid is this). It's not as if it doesn't go to him it will go to waste, just some other applicant will get likely get it later or in future years. The school wants him, and he has every right to look out for himself rather than hoping that the money at the school he wants to go to ends up in a different applicant's pocket.
 
Long Way to Go said:
If you were at a car dealership, wouldn't you negotiate to the last dollar possible? Even if you thought be impolite to the other folks standing around (because they aren't at liberty of walking away because they either need that car by Monday morning)?

OP's schools have a certain amount of tuition pre-budgeted that they're allowed to forgive (all financial aid is this). It's not as if it doesn't go to him it will go to waste, just some other applicant will get likely get it later or in future years. The school wants him, and he has every right to look out for himself rather than hoping that the money at the school he wants to go to ends up in a different applicant's pocket.
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I think this is a moral argument, and like many moral arguments, what's right and what's wrong depends on your perspective. When resources are limited, I think it's natural for those who have been given the means to want even more, and I think it's also natural for those who have received nothing to be a little annoyed (okay, pissed) at those folks. It's a 1% vs. 99% argument, which has been beaten to death, so I'm going to stop derailing this thread.
 
Long Way to Go said:
If you were at a car dealership, wouldn't you negotiate to the last dollar possible? Even if you thought be impolite to the other folks standing around (because they aren't at liberty of walking away because they either need that car by Monday morning)?

OP's schools have a certain amount of tuition pre-budgeted that they're allowed to forgive (all financial aid is this). It's not as if it doesn't go to him it will go to waste, just some other applicant will get likely get it later or in future years. The school wants him, and he has every right to look out for himself rather than hoping that the money at the school he wants to go to ends up in a different applicant's pocket.
Click to expand...

This is not a car dealership, this is medical school. The car dealer wants your business because they have a ton of cars on the lot and wants them sold. Medical schools have a long waiting list of students willing to come to that school for full price, so they don't have to haggle with you.

OP can try, but without any leverage it seems pretty silly. OP has no other scholarships and it would be in the school's best interest to award money to sway an applicant with a scholarship from another school.

Maybe I'm cranky because I have Step 1 in a few days, but I think the OP is coming off as somewhat entitled (not saying "Is it appropriate for me to ask for more money?" but instead "How can I go about getting more $$$ from this school that has already been generous with their funds?"). *shrug*
 
I didn't get any merit aid from anywhere. Listen, you cannot hate on someone for asking for more. This is life. If that was the case I would no even have went to college. Maybe you should withdraw from your schools because most people only have one acceptance. See the logic? I didn't get any merit aid but if someone's does cool. That's one less doctor without debt.
 
Sure is a lot of butthurt in here.

How dare you all not drop to your knees and kiss your schools butt for allowing you to pay them 120k+?
 
Espadaleader said:
I didn't get any merit aid from anywhere. Listen, you cannot hate on someone for asking for more. This is life. If that was the case I would no even have went to college. Maybe you should withdraw from your schools because most people only have one acceptance. See the logic? I didn't get any merit aid but if someone's does cool. That's one less doctor without debt.
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One less doctor without debt = few medical students getting more debt

Every time I hear something like this, I feel like there is happening a big scam against the students that gotta pay full tuition
 
penguinism said:
This is not a car dealership, this is medical school. The car dealer wants your business because they have a ton of cars on the lot and wants them sold. Medical schools have a long waiting list of students willing to come to that school for full price, so they don't have to haggle with you.

OP can try, but without any leverage it seems pretty silly. OP has no other scholarships and it would be in the school's best interest to award money to sway an applicant with a scholarship from another school.

Maybe I'm cranky because I have Step 1 in a few days, but I think the OP is coming off as somewhat entitled (not saying "Is it appropriate for me to ask for more money?" but instead "How can I go about getting more $$$ from this school that has already been generous with their funds?"). *shrug*
Click to expand...

Not all applicants are created equal. The point is, some students are more heavily recruited than others. Med schools want to graduate doctors that will help solidify and enhance their reputation. They want high Step 1 scores, strong residency placements, and a powerful alumni base. It makes sense they would heavily recruit elite applicants. Yes, they don't HAVE to haggle with you, but a lot of the times they do anyway. There are plenty of people on here that have gotten generous scholarship offers after tactfully worded emails. Y'all need to watch some House of Cards.
 
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jaksmith said:
Hi all,

How do you go about negotiating for more scholarship money. I've been lucky to be accepted to school which offered me basically 3/4 tuition "recruiting scholarship" back in December. While I am likely going here regardless, how do I negotiate for more $$$. I'm not sure what to say in an email.. I have been accepted to other schools but none with generous aid. Do I email the general admissions email, dean of admissions, or the person who sent me the scholarship information (seems like an administrative assistant of the scholarship committee).

Thanks for any help.
Click to expand...

To answer your original question, OP, I'd email general admissions and CC all those other people, but I still don't think you have much to work with.
 
Espadaleader said:
I didn't get any merit aid from anywhere. Listen, you cannot hate on someone for asking for more. This is life. If that was the case I would no even have went to college. Maybe you should withdraw from your schools because most people only have one acceptance. See the logic? I didn't get any merit aid but if someone's does cool. That's one less doctor without debt.
Click to expand...

You're fighting an uphill battle called preallo. Maybe in school-specific threads, you'll have some luck (I hope.. it gets pretty intolerant there often +pity+)

jaksmith said:
Are you serious? I wrote "lucky to be accepted", is that not being thankful? I'm not bragging at all. Would you not want the least amount of loans possible after medical school?
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jaksmith said:
Thanks for your response. I did email and they said it was the highest offer they give out. Case closed, and I will likely be attending.

And thanks to everyone who responded like a normal person. I'm not bragging, I'm just trying to get more money if possible so I graduate with less loans. Would you really not want the same?
Click to expand...

Ignore the haters. Congrats on your success and best of luck.
 
penguinism said:
Maybe I'm cranky because I have Step 1 in a few days, but I think the OP is coming off as somewhat entitled (not saying "Is it appropriate for me to ask for more money?" but instead "How can I go about getting more $$$ from this school that has already been generous with their funds?"). *shrug*
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.....
 
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jaksmith said:
Are you serious? I wrote "lucky to be accepted", is that not being thankful? I'm not bragging at all. Would you not want the least amount of loans possible after medical school?
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It was more so addressed at the 3/4th tuition scholarship and asking how to go about asking for more without leverage. Realize it's a small percentage of med students who receive scholarships, let alone substantial ones like that. You're not a special snowflake - you shouldn't expect med schools to reduce your tuition more just so you can grace them with your presence. With no leverage, no matter how you phrase it, that's how this comes off. Sorry if it's blunt that's why this thread received so many more negative responses. I'm not denying that anyone would want more money, but at some point it's best to just gratefully accept what's been offered and not be greedy.

I'm not trying to be an ass. Your accomplishments are impressive and I congratulate you. I just think your perspective on this is skewed.
 
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I didn't get merit money from any schools. I guess this means it'd be appropriate to go asking all of them to re-consider giving me more money (can't get much worse than $0!) because I want less loans.
 
WillburCobb said:
It was more so addressed at the 3/4th tuition scholarship and asking how to go about asking for more without leverage. Realize it's a small percentage of med students who receive scholarships, let alone substantial ones like that. You're not a special snowflake - you shouldn't expect med schools to reduce your tuition more just so you can grace them with your presence. With no leverage, no matter how you phrase it, that's how this comes off. Sorry if it's blunt that's why this thread received so many more negative responses. I'm not denying that anyone would want more money, but at some point it's best to just gratefully accept what's been offered and not be greedy.

I'm not trying to be an ass. Your accomplishments are impressive and I congratulate you. I just think your perspective on this is skewed.
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I.....
 
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jaksmith said:
I understand your perspective. I personally don't think like that. I'm not saying I am a special snowflake, but I believe that thinking med schools have all the power is wrong. Yeah, they have their "choice" of students because of the number of applicants vs number of seats, but that doesn't mean prospective students hold leverage. If med schools really want to come to their school, they offer you a scholarship right? In some form or fashion, they want you to pick them over peer institutions so you do hold some amount of leverage. There's nothing wrong with asking for more compensation for the right of you attending. That's not being a special snowflake, that's recognizing that you hold value to medical schools.

I know in a later reply you said you don't think this is similar to job offer negotiation. I disagree. Let's say you are looking for a job for a while...can't find one and all of a sudden you get 2 offers. These two companies could pick any number of other applicants yet they both picked you. Yeah you should be thankful you received it, but do you automatically pick one (based on salary or whatever)? No, you would negotiate terms because you realize they see value in you. Each company wants you to pick them over another competitor, even if they don't know there's another true competitor. They sometimes say no to negotiation but sometimes you gain something.

I understand your reasoning, I just happen to disagree with you.

TL;DR - Just because there's 2 people vying for everyone 1 spot in med school doesn't mean you don't hold value nor have any leverage with a medical school.
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It more so has to do with the amount being offered and then asking for more without a competing offer. But yeah this disagreement definitely stems from a 99% v. 1% scenario and is skewed from our perspectives (I'll be attending a school that offers VERY little in terms of scholarships and most scholarships go to 3rd and 4th years anyway). I still disagree about the analogy but whateves, the horse is dead and I think we're both tired of beating it. Again congrats (truly not sarcastic, you're very lucky. I would take anything that would reduce the $250k debt I'll be in, in 4 years - albeit, tactfully 😉).
 
Dwan said:
I didn't get merit money from any schools. I guess this means it'd be appropriate to go asking all of them to re-consider giving me more money (can't get much worse than $0!) because I want less loans.
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Dwan: "I really liked Mayo Medical a lot, thanks so much for accepting me. The debt burden is pretty huge though, and I got into Wayne State, my state school in my hometown. It's $15k less per year. You guys think you can match that differential?"
Mayo Medical: "We'll get back to you."

<Mayo Internal Discussion> might lead to either:
"We like this Dwan kid enough that we'll be willing to toss some money at him." or
"We don't like him enough, there are plenty of other applicants who would be happy to pay full freight."
Let's say that this is the course that happens:

Mayo Medical: "Hey Dwan, we found an extra $10k/year in our December BBQ budget that we're willing to repurpose for financial aid. That's all we can
offer."
Dwan says either:
"Cool, see you guys in August." or
"Sorry, I'm sticking with Wayne State."

Yeah, I would be cool with you doing that. If you have any leverage at all, you should use it. Schools look out for their bottom line, you should too.
 
Espadaleader said:
What? Come on man. There is nothing wrong for asking for more money. He didn't say I received a 3/4 scholarship and I feel like I deserved a full ride. He said "I've been lucky to be accepted to school which offered me basically 3/4 tuition". How is that not humble???
Click to expand...

Completely agree. There is no harm in asking as long as you're tactful about it. They're not going to hate you or rescind your acceptance. It's at least worth the time to write an email and send it. In a worst case scenario absolutely nothing happens. In a best case scenario you make the fastest money you likely ever will.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Who do you email exactly? Financial aid dept? Dean of admissions?
 
midnight0il said:
SDN is also full of people who reek of entitlement.
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Right of course. Preallo is heading in the direction where it's a taboo to mention a scholarship at a med school (or getting >2 acceptances) since it runs the risks of offending less fortunate premeds. It's sad that OP was forced to defend himself to satisfy the easily irritable masses for no reason. Ah well, what's done is done.
 
Agent B said:
Right of course. Preallo is heading in the direction where it's a taboo to mention a scholarship at a med school (or getting >2 acceptances) since it runs the risks of offending less fortunate premeds. It's sad that OP was forced to defend himself to satisfy the easily irritable masses for no reason. Ah well, what's done is done.
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I think you're oversimplifying it. This thread did not begin simply with OP mentioning receiving a scholarship. Plenty of people mention receiving scholarships in the school specific threads, but you don't see this kind of reaction on there, do you? I challenge you to spot the difference.
 
midnight0il said:
I think you're oversimplifying it. This thread did not begin simply as OP mentioning receiving a scholarship. Plenty of people mention receiving scholarships in the school specific threads, but you don't see this kind of reaction on there, do you? I challenge you spot the difference.
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Yeah no I'm not going to bother because it's off-topic. Nothing wrong with OP stated (although it's hard to bargain for more scholarship if there isn't any leverage, so this is key). It's good this issue got sorted out early on before it turned off-course.
 
midnight0il said:
SDN is also full of people who reek of entitlement.
Click to expand...

No, you are a hater pure and simple. This is life. Listen, your job as a medical school applicant is to sell yourself to potential investors and take the highest bidder. It is analogous to a trying to get seed capital for a start-up, presidential election etc. Its this entrepreneurial spirit that makes are country great. Free market. I am coming to the admissions committee and offering this product to you. In turn, I want you to fund me. Whats your offer ? If the school isn't putting out than I am not going to that school. Simple. Put your money where your mouth is. With all due respect, the OP probably isn't getting any more money because he doesn't have any more investors vying to fund him. In principle, what the OP is doing isn't entitlement or welfare its the exact opposite. Its the purest form of business. Medical admissions is not one sided. He is selling his product (potential to be great medical student) to investors (ADCOMS) in hopes that the ADCOMS will fund him. He got initial seed money and he is looking to see if an investor can match that offer. Its beautiful!

midnight0il said:
OP, you tell them how much more you deserve the extra money than the legions of other students who have received nothing, preferably in personal statement format. (But seriously, I would hope you realize that a post like this would lead to serious flamage on SDN).
Click to expand...

You live in another dimension bro. Guess what? EVERY MEDICAL SCHOOL REQUIRES YOU TO DO THIS. Its called AMCAS. Come on, haven't you ever been on an interview. The last question is always "We have 6,000 applicants, why should we accept you". In every interview you have to explain to ADCOMS why you deserve to be admitted and receive aid over the others. Free market buddy. Not every business will get that seed money.


midnight0il said:
OP, you tell them how much more you deserve the extra money than the legions of other students who have received nothing, preferably in personal statement format. (But seriously, I would hope you realize that a post like this would lead to serious flamage on SDN).
Click to expand...

Guess what. YOU REEK OF ENTITLEMENT. Listen, some people don't get merit. Some people get full rides. NO ONE IS ENTITLED TO MERIT AID. If you cannot sell yourself too bad. Your product was not good enough. Everyone can't get great financial aid. That would be communism. Duh.
 
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