<p>My DD got into Smith, Macalester, and Oberlin. She is not sure what she wants to major in. She will probably follow some sort of liberal arts study.</p>
<p>We make too much money to qualify for need-based financial aid. My DD has a very high GPA and an ACT of 31 (about 2100 SAT comparison). So we were hoping to receive merit-based scholarships.</p>
<p>Oberlin offered her a merit scholarship of $13k/year for a total of $52K for the 4 years. Smith and Macalester offered her nothing, much to our total dismay.</p>
<p>We are hoping to appeal to Smith and Macalester, but we don't think we have much leverage. (or do we, with the Oberlin scholarship???) Our older DD is finishing her sophomore year at UC Davis. It will be a real financial stretch for us to afford 2 kids in college (one in a private) without any aid for the younger DD. Even though UC Davis is a very good school, our younger DD doesn't really want to go there. She prefers a smaller environment, which is why the private liberal arts colleges appealed to her. </p>
<p>What is the best way to approach Smith and Macalester? Are there any sample appeal letters (templates) that anyone can recommend? What should we say (or NOT say) in the letters? Do we have any chance of getting anything -- even a work-study program to help offset the cost???</p>
<p>Thank you,
Nervous Mom in Northern California</p>
<p>Did you apply for need based aid?</p>
1 Like
<p>All you can do is ask - looks like most aid at Macalester and Smith is tied to need - words like “several” in the Macalester statement and “some” in the Smith statement tell you merit based aid without financial need is not abundant. I agree with Thumper, with 2 in college did you fill out financial aid paperwork for both kids?</p>
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<p>Yes, of course we did all of the financial paperwork. We do not qualify based on need. We are too poor to be rich, and too rich to be poor.</p>
<p>Please, can someone please give me some advice about writing an appeal letter to Smith and Macalester?</p>
<p>We do not qualify for need-based aid, according to their standards (which are very unrealistic, IMO). We are hoping for a merit scholarship. </p>
<p>Hmm, does she not want to attend Oberlin? I admit, I believe it’s unrealistic to think an appeal would bump her aid from 0 to 13K+ at the other two schools. You aren’t just asking for a grand or two increase to match another offer. Unless there is a change in financial situation, I’m not sure the effort at those schools will do you any good. I’m not saying not to try but your efforts might be better off focusing on Oberlin. Since they did offer her merit right off the bat, maybe they would be open to increasing it a bit? Often work-study is attached to federal-aid but wouldn’t hurt to ask about that either. Good luck. It’s a scary idea to have 2 kids in college at once. Hope you find an answer.</p>
<p>You won’t get anything unless you ask, but what if Mac or Smith gives you a small couple thousand…is it for one year is it for 4 years? What are you asking Mac and Smith for? Are you asking them for a couple thousand each year or are you asking them to discount their costs $13,000 a year to match Oberlin? Figure that out - the amount you need to confirm enrollment and ask for it, but I can’t disagree with turtletime…you have the proverbial bird in hand with Oberlin who already discounted your costs $13,000 a year. Good luck. I’ve already done the two in school two times and it’s painful. </p>