Hello,
So, today I was accepted to Brown RD. Here’s the catch: they gave me almost no financial aid. There’s a $40,000 difference between my need-based award at Brown and my need-based awards at other schools I’ve gotten into. Does anyone have experience with appealing financial aid awards at Brown?
Thanks so much! I’d love to be at Brown next year. I just hope the finances can work out
Yes, you definitely can appeal. Contact the Financial Aid office and send them what your other awards were. I’ve heard good results from other students in this situation.
Yes we did last year. It will depend, I think, on which other colleges you are talking about, but they will want to see the financial aid offers at the other colleges. It takes about a week for them to make a decision, and it doesn’t help to go there in person, we found out (thought we could pop into the office during a campus visit and straighten it all out, but not so). They will tell you what to send and when to expect an answer. Would love to hear how successful you are - but we were, so I think there is a very good chance. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that Brown is a “no loans” college below a certain income. What this meant for us is, yes, there are no loans, but our EFC was higher compared to other colleges, where the EFC came out lower, but the package included loans. Even though your offer may contain no loans, it doesn’t mean you can’t get loans, however.
Hardly ever post here anymore, but did want to post our experiences with Brown FA. They were wonderful! Brown matched the FA that my daughter was offered at Columbia, and kept us at that same level or a bit higher all four years. Brown doubled their FA offer to match Columbia’s offer. Daughter is graduating this year, and is so happy that she chose Brown over many other great options.
Good luck!
@camathmom I am in that exact situation. Columbia gave me much more than Brown, but Brown is really where I would like to go. Thank you so so much for posting and easing a little bit of the nerves!
Would Brown just match aid from the ivies? I Would love if they could match my aid from Swarthmore or Washington and Lee which would make it about 4k cheaper for us.
Why not ask? You have nothing to lose. I would guess they will match Swarthmore. Brown will not match merit awards, only packages based on financial need.
For us they pretty much matched Wesleyan and Middlebury. My feeling was that once they admit you, they do their best to make it possible for you to attend.
That’s so reassuring, how did @watchingthemsoar go about asking?
@belgiumapp- we called the financial aid office and they told us to write them a letter requesting the financial aid offer be reevaluated, and attach copies of the financial aid offers from the other colleges. In our letter we expressed how much our son really wanted to attend Brown, but the difference in cost would make it difficult for him to do so. They told us that after receiving our letter it would take about a week to receive a reply. I think I remember something about them only meeting once a week regarding financial aid reevaluations, on a particular day or something (I think they told us what day) so you get your letter to them before that day, and wait a week after that. Good Luck. Let me know what happens!
@13inches13 that is a very large difference I wouldn’t expect. Was the other award containing any merit aid? I can’t think of anything else that could make an award difference that vast. One thing would be is there 2 in college? Maybe they didn’t calculate for that. I wonder how your award compares to the Net Price Calculator on the website? If there is a large difference there, then it indicates some error. Ask for them to review calculations.
@watchingthemsoar thank you! I c allied yesterday and the person I spoke to was extremely helpful. I think they are currently reviewing my award because they asked me to resend my awards for other schools. Hopefully it will work out!
@belgiumapp. Good to hear - keep me posted!
They didn’t match my aid which sucks. They only offered an unsubsidized loan in addition which doesn’t help at all.
@belgiumapp that’s really disappointing. Are you international? I don’t know if that makes a difference. If it helps, I eo think Brown is worth the extra cost. They do guarantee one paid internship for every student on financial aid. Here is the link about it: https://news.brown.edu/articles/2014/01/internships. Best of luck!
I know, it was a couple thousand but those add up over four years. And no, I’m from the US but I think I’ll still be attending. I can’t turn this down. Thank you! I didn’t know about the paid internship, that’s a great thing!
Hello all!
I figured I’d get to everyone. Brown got back to me today with financial aid. They gave me enough aid so that I can actually attend. It looks like I’m going to Brown!
Thanks for all your help. And, for those of you who are also appealing Brown financial aid: it can work out. You just have to ask.
I honestly became teary-eyed while reading this. I’m waiting for Brown to notify me whether or not they’re appealing their financial offer and this just gave me so much hope haha thank you!!!