<p>I've been accepted ED to Scripps College with a decent financial aid package. I think the total responsibility I'm after is about $8,000 per year including the money I would have to earn from federal work-study. This agreement had the conditional clause that I'm binded only if Scripps offers me "sufficient aid" with their acceptance. I've grown attached to the idea of going to Scripps and have enjoyed getting to know other girls accepted ED over Facebook. Nonetheless, my parents and I realize that I might get a full ride to a UC (my brother has one at UCI) or a lesser tier private college (like UOP), and the situation is throwing us a little. I have to reply, confirm my entry, and retract applications to other schools by Jan. 15.</p>
<p>I don't like the thought of reneging on my ED agreement, I really like Scripps, and I know they most likely wouldn't accept me back if I didn't get good offers from the other schools. Would it be obnoxious of me to ask for more aid, or is there something appropriate I can do here? What are my options and what do you think? If people could just assure me that I have it good and shouldn't worry about other colleges since I signed the ED, I might feel less antsy.</p>
<p>I don’t think it’s obnoxious at all to say something like “I really want to go to your school but the FA is not quite enough for me to come” I don’t know though.</p>
<p>Cocoyam, you should post in the Parent’s Forum to get advice from folks who have been through the finaid process.</p>
<p>Based on packages my 2 daughters rec’d, the Scripps package sounds about right. Even if your EFC is $0, most schools will start you with $5K in subsidized loans, $2K in work study and expect you to contrib $2-3K from summer earnings - - and then give the balance in grant money. </p>
<p>You have the right to back out of the Scripps ED for financial reasons, but if you are hoping for large merit awards form other, less competitive schools and want or need to compare awards before making a decision (whcih you CANNOT do with ED) - - why bother applying ED in the first place?</p>
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<p>You can ask for more $$, but since everyone would rather pay less than more, your chances of increasing your grant are unlikely unless you can point to some expenxe that the college failed to consider fully.</p>
<p>“the total responsibility I’m after is about $8,000 per year including the money I would have to earn from federal work-study”. Base on what you said here, Scripps has basically met your financial need. If you want to compare financial aid package from various schools, you shall not apply ED to begin with. If you back out at this point, you are breaking the ED contract that you signed.</p>
<p>Thanks, I thought it was something like this and just needed to be told it was so. I like Scripps very much and I’m glad it has met my need; I think expecting more would be greedy. I’m going to apply for some outside scholarships and hopefully I’ll be able to pay off the rest soon after graduating.</p>
<p>I agree with what Christian said except I will say that you can back out of your ED agreement. I don’t know where that puts you with Scripps, but you are not obliged to attend. </p>
<p>Also, it would not be obnoxious if you explain to them that attending Scripps will seriously stretch your family’s finances and request a reevaluation of your financial aid package. There’s no guarantee that you will get more money, but it’s worth a shot. After you talk to them, you can decide what you want to do with your family.</p>
<p>cocoyam, be aware that some outside scholarships will be one time only awards. You might not receive money from those scholarships every year. Make sure that you discuss this carefully with your parents, and calculate what your total debt load will be at the end of four years. A good rule of thumb is to borrow no more than what you expect to earn your first year of work after college.</p>