<p>okay dartmouth gave me a brilliant aid package (45000 in grants, zero loans, 3000 dollars for travel etc.). now, i adore dartmouth, but i think i'm going to go to duke. The problem is that dukes offer, while still pretty good (40 000 in grants , 2000 in loans, and 3000 for total expenses outside of tuition and boarding) just doesnt come close to dartmouths. If i show duke dartmouths offer, would they give me a better offer (preferrably one with no loans at all)? Also if someones had experience with stuff like this, i'd like to know how to word a comparision(?) letter.</p>
<p>Your best bet is to first check Duke's financial aid section of the website to see if they have any no loan policies for low income students. </p>
<p>The only thing you can do is ask Duke for a financial review stating why you want the review and let the process play it self out. If they say no and you feel that Duke is the better schools for you, be a happy Bluedevil who is grateful for the generous package that you already have and keep it moving.</p>
<p>good luck</p>
<p>Huh, Duke offered me much more because they have merit $$ and Dartmouth doesn't. I'd certainly talk with Duke FA.</p>
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The problem is that dukes offer, while still pretty good (40 000 in grants , 2000 in loans, and 3000 for total expenses outside of tuition and boarding) just doesnt come close to dartmouths.
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<p>How so? It's worth a shot to ask Duke about it and present them with Dartmouth's offer, but the difference is actually very small and I would be pretty glad to have 40k in grants at least!</p>
<p>yeah, you would be if you were from texas. If, however, you went to a third world country where your parents earn a little more than 10000 dollars a year, a few thousand dollars amounts to a huge differencc</p>
<p>ah wow that is a good reason, though if 5000/yr. is really that huge of a difference I'd definitely consider Dartmouth. Your situation may be unique, but it just seems unlikely that a school would change offer you more FA at that point, though Dmouth is definitely a peer school so I'd give it a shot.</p>
<p>but can someone give me an idea of what i should write when comparing offers>?</p>