<p>Hey guys
I'm planning to attend the Discovery Weekend being held at Smith College.
Smith is definently my top choice, but the only problem is that they are offering me $7,000 per year which is not enough. Do you think that it would be a good idea to set up an appointment with a Financial Aid officer and convince them that I really, really want to go to Smith in hopes that they'll help me out?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>oxcandyangel...absolutely call and set up a mtg. with a financial aid officer; it can't hurt! Let them know how badly you want to attend Smith and that you can't see yourself anywhere else. :)</p>
<p>Also be prepared to ask a for a review of your file and present hard numbers relating to your circumstances, e.g., tax returns, etc. You'll probably need more than just "I really wanna come," though it does help if you guarantee them that you will come if the numbers will work. If you have better FinAid offers from other schools, bring copies of those with you.</p>
<p>Ummm yeah...good point TD... I wanted to attend Harvard, but I didn't get in!" Very important to bring copies of any fin. aid offered from other schools, if any. And be prepared to share some reasons why you feel you deserve more, i.e. extenuating circumstances, et al. Good luck.</p>
<p>Thanks
Right now I already have a woman (currently VP of Vassar) who is a notable alumnus at Smith. She was treasurer of the alumnae association at Smith and she was also a member of the investment committee at Smith. She e-mailed the director of Financial Aid to explain my problem in order to help me (which I am SO grateful for) in hopes that it will help me a little bit.</p>
<p>The other colleges that I got accepted to offered me around the same amount of financial aid that Smith has offered, but they are nowhere near as expensive. I know that Marist offered me around $7,000 per year, but I would have to commute so that the expenses are not so high. I guess those will be one of things I'll mention to Smith. Also, another argument I was going to make was for the fact that I have two other brothers who my dad also needs to save money for. If I went to Smith, there wouldn't be enough for them.</p>
<p>In addition, when I go to see an officer, do you think it would be better to bring my father with me?</p>
<p>Thanks again for all your help.</p>
<p>Yes, bring your dad - he is likely in a better place to explain the family financial situation than you are. </p>
<p>Be aware that all colleges assume that the bill is not being paid out of current income, but either past savings or future ones (loans, discounted as they paid off through higher incomes, and inflation.) In other words, the argument that paying for your education out of "current" income will make it impossible to save for your brothers is not one that, by itself, is likely to cut it.</p>
<p>Oxcandyangel, can you give us an update? Was Smith responsive to your request?</p>
<p>well my father and i went to the financial aid office and the guy we met said that he could not do anything unless we had papers showing that our income was higher than usual in 2005 or if there were other things that were not noted.</p>
<p>i showed him my extra curriculars and my 6 letters of recommendations from my teachers, but he could not do anything about it and told me that the admission counselors are very strict about rewarding merit scholarships again.</p>
<p>i kind of felt bad for the guy because i ended up crying and running out of the room.</p>
<p>basically it didn't work out and smith is too much money to attend. goodbye to smith.</p>
<p>i hoped this help, why, were you interested in receiving more aid?</p>
<p>"well my father and i went to the financial aid office and the guy we met said that he could not do anything unless we had papers showing that our income was higher than usual in 2005 or if there were other things that were not noted."</p>
<p>Wouldn't he have tax returns from previous years? I'm confused.</p>
<p>"why, were you interested in receiving more aid?"</p>
<p>No, I didn't get anything. </p>
<p>I was hoping that Smith would come through for you since you said it was your top choice. </p>
<p>Good luck wherever you end up!</p>