<p>My offer amounts to $19,900 with about $5,500 coming from student loans. </p>
<p>I REALLY REALLY REALLY want to go here, but cannot possibly see how my family can afford it. I have full scholarships at University of Pittsburgh and Ohio State University. I also have $25,000 scholarship at Case Western University and these figures have not even taken into account Financial Aid.</p>
<p>Should I try to talk to WUSTL about increasing my offer? How effective will that be? and should I even bother trying or should I just go to one of these other schools?</p>
<p>Of course you should try! Worst case scenario you end up right where you are now. I can’t guarantee it’s effectiveness, but if you tell them you would love to go there, but simply can’t afford it, and as it stands you’ll have to attend school X where you’ll only have to pay Y dollars, they might surprise you and increase their offer.</p>
<p>call you financial advisor. They should have given you a contact person on your award letter. Anyway, what is your EFC? Did they meet your financial need? When you ask for an increase make sure you give them a reason. Financial situation, current loans, etc.</p>
<p>University billed cost of attendance - aid = 37,000. Not quite, I would need them to cover about another 7k and then I could graduate with under 25k debt. Do you think Wustl is worth graduating with so much debt? I like the school a lot but I feel like I’m just an infatuated teenager in love with Wustl…</p>
<p>Just a word of caution about financial aid and merit scholarship: At some schools, like CWRU, the merit part does reduce the need part. And what do you mean by full scholarship? Is it full tuition? That could reduce your need based aid as well. Better to check the whole package from each school, in writing, and make no assumption. In the meantime, talk to WashU. You have nothing to lose. Good luck.</p>
<p>I believe Wash U will respond to a gap in need that is demonstrated by financial reports. I don’t think they will respond to merit scholarships you have been offered from other colleges.</p>