<p>My daughter was awarded merit aid from a number of schools, but the amounts varied quite significantly. What are the chances of getting a school to match the offer made by another school -- espcially if they are both LAC's in the same general geographic region?</p>
<p>It can’t hurt to ask. they will not reduce your package… Avoid the terminology of “Appealling” and “matching”. Instead request a “review” of your aid package, and mention you reeived such and such from school Y.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that merit aid in particular is very subjective. They use it to lure the type of student they want.</p>
<p>Being in the same geographical area isn’t enough. Are these schools all similarly ranked? </p>
<p>And, do all of these schools have the ability to give more merit? Do some of these schools concentrate more on need-based aid? </p>
<p>Are your D’s stats very high for all of these schools?</p>
<p>The schools in question are similarly ranked, and my D’s stats (especially test scores) are well above the 75% threshold for both.</p>
<p>On another thread you mention Pacific Lutheran University, University of Puget Sound, Linfield College & Lewis & Clark College.</p>
<p>I don’t think their acceptance rates are comparable enough to assume that the schools will offer similar merit aid.</p>
<p>Sorry I wasn’t clearer – I’m specifically concerned here with Pacific Lutheran vs. Linfield.</p>
<p>Well, in that case you are right- both PLU & Linfield have acceptance rates of about 77%.
Whether their financial resources are similar- IDK.</p>
<p>OK…which is the school that gave the bigger merit? I recall that San Diego mom saying that Linfield gave good merit, but I know that her son was a desired goalie or something.</p>
<p>PLU’s was higher by $4200, but she prefers Linfield.</p>
<p>Linfield
tuition/fees 33,000
r&B 9,000</p>
<p>PLU
tuition/fees 31,000
R&B 9,000</p>
<p>Hmm…and PLU’s tuition/fees is lower. :/</p>
<p>Looks like their upper quartiles are similar. How much did Linfield give?</p>
<p>Linfield $15,800
PLU $20,000</p>
<p>You can try this…</p>
<p>Send a very polite email to the director of scholarships. Mention your D’s stats and her strong interest in attending L. Mention that you want to send her but you’re concerned about cost and therefore are having to consider PLU which will be cheaper because of lower tuition and higher merit. mention that your D will surely commit to attending L if her merit could be reviewed and adjusted. Attach a copy of the other offer.</p>
<p>I’m writing short-hand, so of course you’d make the above sound much nicer and less blunt.</p>
<p>You say director of scholarships…do you mean the head of financial aid?</p>
<p>Not necessarily. Not all schools run scholarships through the aid office - sometimes there is a scholarship office, and sometimes admissions administers scholarships.</p>
<p>We may do this, still waiting on some packages to see the entire set of options. </p>
<p>S’ current first choice school didn’t meet need as closely as some of his other schools. It may still be doable with help from extended family, but I wonder if the way to approach this is to say “he has received X (better) offer from ___” - which is certainly true, or if it’s to say “You are S’ first choice school but we just can’t swing the cost and wonder if you would take another look”, or something. EFC is known and not disputed, but first choice school gapped him. Lots of merit aid, very little institutional need based aid.</p>
<p>Any thoughts on the best approach, if it comes to this?</p>
<p>It depends on the school. I was at a public U, and I had a parent hounding me about matching offers … that just isn’t an option in a public school. Had she bothered the scholarship person in the honors college, they might have found some money … but her kid wasn’t really scholarship-worthy. So for a public, I suggest finding the honors college or scholarship person. When we successfully appealed D’s scholarship years ago for a school, we contacted the admissions director, explaining that D was interested in the school but the bottom line was other schools were less expensive. She got an increase (she was a top-notch admit). We did not name the other schools, though.</p>
<p>“You are S’ first choice school but we just can’t swing the cost and wonder if you would take another look”</p>
<p>That is the MUCH better way. always err on the side of being very polite.</p>
<p>Thanks mom2, that was my sense too. </p>
<p>kels, these are privates. Both (the 2 we have FA from so far) have offered a mix of merit and need grants, along with fed loans and pell. #2 just offered a lot more need based grant $.</p>
<p>I won’t talk to #1 school until all offers are in, we still have about 5 out there. Just thinking ahead now to the best way to handle this once they are, if he still considers #1 to be #1.</p>
<p>Should the request for a “re-look” come from me or my D? I’ve see conflicting on this site ans elsewhere?</p>
<p>Good question lib, I’d like to know too.</p>