<p>As of May 1st, I planned to attend University A with a generous financial aid package where my entire need was met with a grant. Happily, I was accepted off the waitlist at College B and will be attending there. I notified A and thought my contact with them was over. However, today I got a letter from A saying that they have changed my financial aid award, taking ~$5,000 from the grant and turning it into a loan. None of my financial information changed and my need remained the same. This is a moot point because I am going elsewhere, and I plan on calling to confirm that I am not coming, but I was just wondering how often this happens? It seems like an extremely sneaky plan, esp. if someones decision was based largely on financial aid packages....</p>
<p>Your description of timing was not specific, so I'll speculate. If reasonable time (5-10 days, perhaps less) had elapsed after you contacting "A" notifying them you would be attending "B", I'd venture to say that "A" simple gave $5000 of your grant aid to a student on their waitlist, or redistributed amongst a number of students.</p>
<p>If the letter with the change came before or very soon after you notified "A", it might have been a bait-and-switch tactic. Possible, but my guess is unlikely.</p>
<p>I'd suggest the first scenario I decribed is the case.</p>