<p>Have any of you ever been successful asking a college for more merit aid? We do not qualify for need-based aid, but my daughter definitely has the stats to qualify for her top choice school's most generous merit awards, though she was offered about half of the top award. She has written a letter to them detailing some more recent accomplishments/awards. She also mentioned that she had been offered a full-ride to another college, though it is a Tier 3 and her top choice is a Tier 1. Anyway, anyone ever had success asking (politely) for more merit money?</p>
<p>It’s worth a shot, but don’t get your hopes up. The fact that she got a full ride at a tier 3 school will do nothing to help your case at a tier 1.</p>
<p>*but my daughter definitely has the stats to qualify for her top choice school’s most generous merit awards, though she was offered about half of the top award…</p>
<p>She also mentioned that she had been offered a full-ride to another college, though it is a Tier 3 and her top choice is a Tier 1. *</p>
<p>I don’t know what Tier 1 school this is, but the Tier 1 schools that give some big scholarships usually only offer them to a few targetted kids. In other words, they have many kids whose stats would qualify, but they only can offer them to a small number. </p>
<p>I have known students to get increased merit after showing merit from other “equal” schools. The Tier 3’s merit is probably not going to influence the Tier I school since many/most of the Tier I school’s students probably would have similar offers.</p>
<p>What is the school, what are your D’s stats, and what state are you from? These can all make a difference.</p>
<p>Many times kids with the stats to get the top merit awards at Tier 1 schools get passed over for those awards. That’s because even if you have the stats your one of MANY applying who do. And as mom2collegekids says, they only offer them to a very few, very targeted students, and what exactly they are targeting is pretty murky. Also, you have to at least consider that while your D probably has outstanding stats, there are also probably applicants to the same school with even better stats. </p>
<p>Writing a letter never hurts. Calling the financial aid or admissions office is even better. If you plan to do a follow up visit, it might be worth it to sit down with a financial aid officer and discuss your situation. You as a parent should also feel free to get involved and call. But understand that these awards are given fully at the school’s discretion and not garaunteed just because a student has the stats for them. You can and certainly should ask, but they don’t have to give. Their answer may very well be, “this is what we can offer, but if you have a full ride scholarship from another school, by all means you should take that.”</p>
<p>It can’t hurt to try to negotiate. But remember- Tier 1, Tier 2, etc., is an imaginary line that separates the worth of colleges. It is created by companies who are in the business of selling college rankings.</p>