Aid leverage

[arlie]

How do you go about asking a school to offer you more aid because you were awarded a Full Scholarship to another school?  What methods work best?

Comments

[arlie]

Alright. That's what I was wanting to know.

[grace_kelly1970]

Hmmm, that is a good question. Depending on the school, I would presume they would tell you to take the full scholarship, if its need based.

[crankyasanoldma]

They can't always do anything to change your package. BUT

[arlie]

This is for law school and the full ride is at a Tier 3 school, while I want my Tier 4 school to offer me more money.

[rocza]

My favourite story so far has been hearing from people complaining about getting offers into programs that are worlds apart from their undergraduate degree, but little to no funding because the department has little funding and the money went to students who do have the background.

Money has to be divided up somehow, and as much as it sucks, if you're changing fields, you should be prepared to have to prove yourself before you get free rides. (The idea that people should be entitled to a free education still irritates me. If you're not TAing or RAing, then you don't deserve a free ride, and get over yourself. Grrr...)

[arlie]

Well I was a poli sci major and did well on the LSAT. That's why they have all offered aid. I'm just trying to use it as leverage to get more from some others before making a decision. I don't want to have to make the decision on the cost.

[beyond_pale]

I did that!
(in undergrad)

Just draft a letter explaining that they are your absolute first choice school, but that because of financial concerns you may have to turn down their offer, and that you wish that money wasn't what it boiled down to with your education on the line, how well a fit you think it would be for you, and you for them, and enclose a photocopy of the better financial aid package, and ask if there is any way that they could possibly match it, or even come close.

My first-choice BEAT the higher figure by a couple thousand bucks!

[curieuse]

That sounds smart to me.

[idiotwind]

That is the best icon. Ever.

[fellmama]

For undergrad, I called my first-choice school and pretty much said: "I'm confused why I X money from Schools A and B but less money from you. Explain?" (More politely than that, of course!) Not only did I get an explanation, I got another loan on the spot.