<p>What is the best way to get Stanford to increase my financial aid offer based on competing need-based offers from other schools? In all likelihood my decision will come down to financial aid and I really don't want to rule Stanford out based on that alone. Thanks in advance! I would really appreciate responses from people who have negotiated with Stanford on this. </p>
<ol>
<li>Will Stanford match another university’s award if I receive a significantly better award from another school? </li>
</ol>
<p>Stanford does not match merit-based awards from other universities. However, if you receive a need-based award significantly better than Stanford’s, the other university may have new information about your circumstances. In this case, you may consider submitting a Request for Revision (PDF) to our office. </p>
<p><a href=“Financial Aid : Stanford University”>Financial Aid : Stanford University;
<p>@Parent1337 Yes, I am aware that is the official policy - understandably they don’t advertise the fact that they are willing to match offers in certain cases. </p>
<p>megalomaniac - they may be willing to match need-based offers, but they will not match merit-based offers.</p>
<p>@cba Yes, in my situation I have need-based offers from Stanford and another top school. Should I contact my admissions officer to inform him that I won’t be able to attend Stanford if they don’t increase my aid, or should I communicate only with the aid office? </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I don’t see any value in contacting your admissions officer. They did their job in terms of making a decision on your application. </p>
<p>I assume you got in SCEA, but remember there are another 500 or so that were deferred and apparently over 43,000 overall applications for the roughly 1700 slots, so saying “I can’t show up unless I get more money” is not going to have a big impact unless you are a recruited athlete. Remember also, that they go through this a lot - it is part of their job. If there is a way they can make it work by being fair to everyone else (e.g. following their rules), they will.</p>
<p>I would focus on whatever it was in your fin aid application that may be interpreted differently by the other school. Stanford is generous and willing to re-examine if they may not have considered your financial situation the way the other school did.</p>
<p>Only the aid office can help you. If you got a better aid offer from a peer school, I would recommend politely contacting the aid office with the information.</p>