<p>Does anyone know if American is willing to renegotiate FA? I don’t know if AU’s a school that does this. But I am veryveryvery interested in attending (I just need to visit to make sure!), but I didn’t get enough aid to attend. :/</p>
<p>I don’t know any particulars about AU and financial negotiations, but I doubt you would be the first to call. </p>
<p>I’ve consulted multiple individuals about this for my sit. as well, and it seems that generally schools are willing to adjust your financial package if </p>
<p>1) your family’s financial situation has drastically changed since the filing of your FAFSA and will thus affect the yearly income - i.e. death of parent, loss of job, substantial medical expenses</p>
<p>or</p>
<p>2) you provide a copy of a financial aid statement from a peer institution (similar stats, types of applicants) which is giving you more aid than they are, politely indicating the fact and asking if perchance the university, as opposed to the other school, had overlooked something about your financial situation - thus requesting a professional review of your docs</p>
<p>The above apply to need-based grants, not merit aid. If you do decide to call, make sure to never refer to it as a “negotiation”; as my counselor noted, you don’t want to make the financial aid official feel “like they’re selling off a used car”. </p>
<p>Another thing to keep in mind (so I’ve been told) is to believe that the university is cooperative and wants to help you with your finances to its best ability. Sometimes it is not able to change anything because at the end of the day it needs solid proof to present to the federal government indicating why your package was increased.</p>
<p>This is what I’ve gotten from high school faculty, though. Good luck.</p>