<p>besides writing one's extenuating circumstances, and sending in W2s,</p>
<p>should you:</p>
<p>Mention better offers the child has gotten elsewhere and document these? (like send in the other schools' financial aid letter) or is this tacky</p>
<p>Bring out sources of financial aid the child has received in high school, specifically educational expenses and/or scholarships/need aid the child has received?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
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<p>It depends on whether or not the offer is from a peer school. The Ivies will not care what was received at Podunk U.</p>
<p>If a highly ranked school does not see the other schools as peer schools (admissions, selectivity, ranking, cross admits), they will not care what a lower tier, regional or directional U gave you.</p>
<p>Whether you are comparing apples to apples. A school that only gives need based financial aid, will not care what another school gave you in merit $$.</p>
<p>A school that may have a very specific criteria for awarding their merit money (major, community service, val, athletics, arts, minority recruitment) may not care what you received from a school that awards general merit money,.</p>
<p>A school with specific cutoffs may not care what another school gave you especially if you do not meet the cut off for the next level.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that most schools do not meet 100% demonstrated need. If you have received their highest offer, it may not be enough to close the gap.</p>
<p>The only thing you can do is ask. The worse that can happen is that the school says no.</p>
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<p>My guess is that most colleges will not care much about aid extended to your child in high school.</p>