We appealed to S’s top choice, of course the most expensive, on Friday and had the decision on Monday. I think it was such a fast turn around because the financial aid office told us the committee was meeting Monday, so we got the appeal in right in time for that meeting. They offered him $3000 more in scholarship… not even close to enough. It is very hard indeed to decline a top choice admission because of money, especially knowing how much work your kid put into getting that acceptance. Although I must say S is taking it better than I am, so that’s a plus. We are doing an appeal for school #2, but don’t have much hope there either. However, school #3 gave S full tuition and some more toward housing so we are very fortunate to have that option.
@countertenor Was the additional $3000 over 4 years or was that $3000/yr.? Sometimes when I’m reading posts its hard to know if these scholarship amounts are yearly or the total over 4 years.
We are currently appealing a scholarship in hopes for an additional $2000-$3000 per year.
thanks for the scoop @countertenor. Sadly that is what I’m gearing up to expect. These appeals for the most part are so small that it doesn’t affect anything at all. We already declined D’s top choice for that very reason and didn’t even bother with the appeal. It wouldn’t have made a dent.
@apoole - we had oddly-measured packages, too. Such as so much for the first 2 years. So, we measured everything by total package cost - the 4 year cost. It was also easier to see - this place will cost $50k more than this other place.
@apoole - The additional aid given was $3,000/year.
So I have another question weighing on my mind with regard to the timing of all of this. We have had the appeal into school A for a little over a week now. 11 days ago to be exact. D will be attending an admitted students day there but not until later in April then will sit in on classes the day after that. I am very much hoping we hear on the appeal long before that but if we don’t I need to appeal to school B and I don’t know how to go about doing that or even when. Truthfully, D doesn’t know enough about school A to say with certainty that it’s her top choice. She knows everything possible about school B and it is right up there with school A for many things. They each have pros and cons.
How long should I wait before appealing to school B? I feel like waiting until April 23 would be WAY too late. I’m inclined to give school A until Monday the 16th (which will have been 2 weeks since the appeal was submitted) and if we haven’t heard anything to go ahead and appeal school B. I don’t know how to appeal a school without saying that it’s D’s top choice. Which we sort of did with school A but truthfully she is very much undecided between the two.
If anyone has any advice here I would greatly appreciate it. I am NOT trying to pit one school versus the other. I think that’s a really bad look for anyone. I’m just trying to make D’s 2 top choice schools affordable so she can make her choice without financials being a barrier. We have declined 5 of her 8 acceptances formally and are keeping choice #3 in play just in case 1 and 2 don’t work out financially.
Admissions officers are well-aware of what applicants are going through this month. A school that’s the top choice knows that they can’t be the only choice if there’s a financial reason for not committing. What they don’t want is a bidding war, so they want to know “what will it take?” and then have the confidence that you will commit if they meet it.
They also understand the time constraints you’re under. In the context of college acceptance deadlines, 2 weeks in appeal is a LONG time. I’m curious if you’ve heard of many others taking so long to get a response.
We didn’t appeal. We had one professor tell us, without us asking, that he could find more money if that would change anything (he knew they weren’t my son’s first choice.) We had a second school contact us after my son declined to ask if the financial package had an impact on his decision.
@SpartanDrew - I agree with the comment above.
I also would “pick up the phone” at some point and ask school A…whatup? As @ScreenName48105 indicates they really should understand that you need some answers. My D was told that she may not get an answer on her full request until the end of April…but they could guarantee a part of it immediately and seemed quite diligent and concerned to try to keep the school in consideration. When the letter came a few days later it was for the full request. So maybe getting on the phone and having a conversation with them could give you insight on how long the process can take and if they seem responsive to your questions/concerns.
I would even consider a contact to school B indicating high interest and how can you request more money…putting them on notice of high interest and the need for more money…so they don’t give all those dollars away!
And please note…every year, students commit and change their mind. It’s important to be respectful of the process BUT don’t let it trap you. Honestly the schools can take care of themselves. They all have plenty of money and students…you don’t…you’ve got one kid. Do what’s best for her.
LOVE this. Couldn’t agree more.
Appeal now. The schools don’t care if you “pitting them against each other”–they don’t see it that way. You cannot make a decision without all the information in front of you. If you wait it may be too late to appeal to the other school.
I enjoy the “small amounts” talk. I totally get it…it’s not enough to bring it to affordable level. However, as a parent of a college Sophomore making 10 equal monthly payments per year to D’s school, that $3000 is $300/mo back in my household budget and it suddenly sounds like a whole lot of money!
It felt almost like monopoly money during the pre-admission phase.
Then Fall comes and #@*% gets real! Ha ha
I’m anxiously awaiting word on some additional scholarships my D applied for. I know she got at least one of them, but no word on how much yet. All this appeals talk has me wishing we would have given it a shot. So, good for you all for trying - even if it doesn’t turn out how you’d hoped. At least you won’t be wondering later down the line.
We asked the Asst. Dean of the College of Music for more money and he said no, but that the oboe professor could ask for more after other students decline. Then we got an email from the oboe professor saying he would get D a little more money. I figure even if it’s $1,000 more per year that will cover the cost of cane to make reeds so I’ll take it. Their first offer was large enough to make it affordable but still more than the “in state” option.
Last night on the Middle, Sue was competing for a scholarship. Everyone was making a big deal about it, she did a ton of work and worrying, and she got it! $200! But it was something.
@oboemom65 your new profile pic looks like we have a decision!! So envious and huge congrats!
Thanks everyone. I really appreciate all of the great advice. I went ahead and sent the appeal to school B yesterday. I’ll wait until Monday and if I still haven’t heard from school A I will contact them. I’ve seen several comments on picking up the phone. I haven’t done that yet. Would that be a better route than sending an email do you think?
@SpartanDrew - I mention picking up the phone bc I think you MAY get more of a “read” on the situation. Are they essentially giving you a scripted response? I think an email is more likely to do that. Do you feel like they care when you call? Is it personal in anyway? I also think it is harder for them to “ignore” a question like…any idea of when I will know…in a phone call…particularly if you push past the first scripted response…and hold them on the line while explaining your situation yet again (honestly to wear them down to tell you something!). In an email, they could do a scripted response that doesn’t address all your questions (forcing you to sit around and wonder when to ask again). That is harder to do in a phone call.
It may just be my personality but if I were sending my money and more importantly my kid to a school for 4 years…I would like to get a “read” on how administration work…so I could clue my kid into the culture and need to be persistent. Most administrations at schools are VERY different from the faculty so you need to keep that in mind. IU had a big administration where the right hand didn’t always know what the left hand was doing…typical. But that is another reason to call and keep checking to be sure nothing has been “lost” in the shuffle.
Update on our appeal: I had D write an email to the head of the dept. to which he replied that scholarship appeals were out of his hands but that he had forwarded D’s email to the admissions coordinator and the scholarship office. D followed up with the admissions coordinator because that is someone she had already been in communication with. Admissions coordinator replied immediately and said that they had received daughter’s request and they very much wanted her to join the music program. She said all scholarship offers for her particular voice part were still out and once they began to get rejections they could then reallocate funds. She said just because she couldn’t do something today didn’t mean she wouldn’t be able to do anything at all and to be patient for a couple more weeks.
To me, this sounds hopeful. Of course every day that passes by at this point feels like an eternity! But we are getting really good at waiting. 
I don’t want to high-jack this post, but I have a related question and this post is very current. Background — DS has narrowed it to two: #1 choice (private) offered $24K and his #2 choice (public) offered $15K both in renewable scholarships. #1 has a COA $26K/yr more to begin with, so the nice scholarship still leaves it $17K/yr more. I already talked to FinAid office at #1, and no chance of need-based aid, even when DD starts college 2 years later. We have a fixed $ limit for all education for each kid, so DS knows that every $ difference in undergrad is a $ less debt for him if/when he goes to law school. He LOVES #1 and LIKES #2. So I told him to call his admissions counselor at #1 and ask if more merit aid was possible. He got a ‘I will do what I can’ response. FYI – both schools have almost the exact same admission rate and Freshman ACT/GPA according to collegedata site, and are both top 10 regional schools on usnews site. So despite the private/public distinction, they are on par in most respects.
Now the questions — does money ever free up AFTER May 1st, possibly when others withdraw? Would it make sense to make the $250 non-refundable tuition deposit to both schools, hoping more comes in after the May 1 deadline? Or should DS make his FINAL choice before the May 1 date and just live with it?
Be patient for a couple more weeks? Its April 12th These schools are cruel!
@JerseyParents - the process is cruel some times.
I think @apoole 's situation is fair. I’ve had people ask me for discounts in business. I can give them or I can’t. It’s all up to the numbers…and yes when those numbers attach to your kid, it feels cruel. But universities are businesses to a degree so it is what it is. The school is being transparent and responsive so I feel like they are being fair. My concern is with little communication. I would give any school the benefit of the doubt. I don’t necessarily believe they are trying to be jerks…but some administrations (in my experience) aren’t that great with communication…putting the ball in your court to bug them.
@2KansasKids - I have no idea if money would be available after May 1 (from that original pool of dollars). I kind of doubt it but I would say to call (or email) and ask. They won’t hold a simple question against you. And then you can let us know!