<p>So recently, I got accepted to Rice, but with 0 financial aid or scholarship. However, I got into USC as a Presidential Scholar and Carnegie Mellon University, where I'd only have to pay close to $30,000. Is it possible to negotiate with Rice to match or closely match this offer? If so, how would I go about this? Do I have to contact the Dean of Admissions or the financial office or what...?</p>
<p>you should contact the financial aid office. is all of your paperwork in (FAFSA, CSS, IDOC)? what is your EFC per FAFSA? perhaps you forgot to check the box that you wanted financial aid or some other glitch in the system.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I have already been thru this with them. My EFC from Rice (a huge number = zero aid) was almost twice the EFC I received from Princeton. Even their own online EFC estimater was significantly lower than their acceptance EFC. I pointed this out to them and they basically blew me off. I wouldn’t hold out any hope for any revision.</p>
<p>If you have an extenuating circumstances that have affected your financial situation, then you should speak with the financial aid office. If you don’t really have a reason for Rice to give you financial aid, they probably won’t give you any. It never hurts to ask, though.</p>
<p>I’m in the exact same situation as the original poster - I’d have to pay $30,000/yr to go to USC or CMU but full tuition for Rice. </p>
<p>I don’t have any “extenuating circumstances” except that Rice’s tuition is practically my family’s annual income…? Neither of my parents got laid off or anything, that’s just what they normally make.</p>
<p>So how would I go about negotiating with the financial aid office? “Hi if I accept my financial aid package as is I will be in debt for the rest of my life so please reconsider it”???</p>
<p>It is very difficult to get a relief on appeal, unless there are extenuating circumstances. Have you tried of showing them the offer from CMU/USC and ask if they can match it?</p>