<p>I wasn't happy with my fa package. Is it possible to negotiate with the fa office for a better package, and are they generally cooperative?</p>
<p>I do not know the answer how cooperative they are, but you loose nothing by trying</p>
<p>If you have more competitive (non-merit based) offers, you might have somewhere to stand. If it’s just “I want more money”, well, good luck.</p>
<p>Caltech was willing to improve its financial aid offer significantly when we showed them MIT’s offer. So the answer is yes but obviously YMMV.</p>
<p>Also, if you do well at Caltech, you may get an Upper Class Merit Scholarship for your later years, which can be quite helpful as well.</p>
<p>Except Caltech eliminated the Upperclass Merit Scholarships, unfortunately. And all other merit based scholarships for that matter.</p>
<p>We just got our offer and had an unusual circumstance in the last year that pretty much negates the number they have for our parental contribution. I contacted the fin aid office to find out the appeal process, and they suggested a phone appt with Don Newell, the director. So there is someone to talk to if you have something unusual that would change your picture substantially.</p>
<p>Also look at the PDF document that explains your package. There were a lot of questions answered there for us about the various loans, federal work/study, etc.</p>
<p>@lizzardfire</p>
<p>That is a real shame. The Upper Class Merit Scholarship was a great program in my opinion. Was that part of the endless budget cuts?</p>
<p>Sort of. As far as I can tell the money didn’t run out (it might have been endowed) but it WAS rerouted to financial aid. It certainly annoyed me when they did this.</p>
<p>S was offered 40,000/year by USC. Will it help if we show USC offer to Caltech?</p>
<p>Again, was it merit aid, or need-based? If it’s merit aid, no, it won’t help. Caltech does not offer merit aid.</p>
<p>Just for the sake of closure, I wanted to share that after I did speak with the FA office and explained my situation as well as showed them Cornell’s offer, they GREATLY increased my aid. I definitely recommend speaking with the FA office either at Prefrosh weekend or by e-mail if money is a genuine problem.</p>