<p>Can anyone provide insight into whether Financial Aid packages received from schools are final or is there opportunity to ask for more aid/assistance? Our efc number is too high to qualify for much aid however with D entering sophomore year of college, my wife and I have concerns about being able to afford years 3 and 4....not to mention our 3 other children coming up the pipeline....I've heard stories of parents of students negotiatating additional aid above the original award offered and being granted additional aid, does anyone have any experiences with this? Is it worth meeting with FA office or will they just tell me I should have planned better? Any advice is appreciated....</p>
<p>Some schools will out and out say that they are open to negotiation (CMU a notable example), but most say they will not. However, most schools will reopen the case if you have something to indicate that more money should be offered. A common opener is if a like or more selective school is offering you better aid, and if your student is a prize catch for the school. Yes, they just might cough up some more money. But after the fact, usually, no. Your student can grovel and beg. It’s always wise for the student to get to know the financial aid department and make sure she is first in line for anything. Even if not getting aid, if there is sibling coming up as a college student, discussing this with the fin aid officer gives the student face time with the person. A little easier to be more generous when you know the person.</p>
<p>however with D entering sophomore year of college, my wife and I have concerns about being able to afford years 3 and 4…</p>
<p>Hmmm…your D is already a student there. The time to negotiate may have been when she was still deciding to attend. The school may not be too motivated to negotiate unless a mistake was made or there are new circumstances. </p>
<p>You can try, but the school may just think that this all should have been considered about 15+ months ago.</p>
<p>It is always worth a try, but don’t be surprised if the answer is no. If it’s a public school, don’t expect anything at all. I had parents hounding me to adjust aid packages when I worked at a public … and that was simply not a possibility due to packaging philosophies.</p>
<p>There may be merit awards available after freshman year. I was speaking with someone at a financial aid office in a state directional university and they said students are asked to write an essay and that essay along with their grades are used in the evaluation process after the freshman year.</p>
<p>Merit just would replace existing need based aid. This family seems to need the school to adjust its “expected contribution.”</p>