<p>My son received a couple of merit scholarships (Dean's Honor Scholarship from Tulane, Presidental Scholarship from USC,etc.). We are waiting for offers from other colleges to arrive in February-March.</p>
<p>Although it is very reassuring to have a full-tuition offer, Tulane University was not high on my son's list. </p>
<p>Should we let other colleges know about these scholarships? My logic is that colleges can take other merit offers into consideration while making decisions about their own offers. </p>
<p>Is it better to notify other colleges before they send their offers or after we have offers in hand? </p>
<p>This is a very trying time and any input would be highly appreciated.</p>
<p>My D has been accepted into a couple schools thus far. Merit aid a all so far from as low as 3500/yr to 12K/yr. I hadn't thought of the negotiation angle before this. Could people post some history if this has been successful?</p>
<p>Read my above thread entitled "Tuition Discounting Study" --- there is a link there that explains how and why colleges offer the amounts of merit they do. It should help answer your question.</p>
<p>In my experience, some colleges will negotiate on merit scholarships, but many won't. Schools with higher yields (percentages of accepted students who agree to attend) are the ones least likely to negotiate, but it never hurts to ask politely if they can do a little better. I am sure people like TheDad and LaMom, both of whom were able to negotiate a little bit with their children's schools (if I recall correctly - sorry guys if I don't) will offer some suggestions.</p>
<h2>Wouldn't you LOVE to send waitlist letters to a couple of the schools:</h2>
<p>As you know, this has been an unprecedented year for scholarship offers. We have received far more qualified offers than we could possibly accomodate. While your offer was certainly impressive, I'm afraid that we are not able to offer you an enrollment depost at this time. However, we do anticipate some movement in May and are prepared to offer you a position on our waitlist. Please feel free to send us any additional materials indicating your continued interest...</p>
<p>What you have to do is pit equivalent schools against each other. Baylor v. SMU v. Tulane. Be really nice about it. </p>
<p>Cap-in-hand: "I really would prefer to go to Baylor, but my parents are really focused on the merit aid Tulane is offerring. Isn't there anything you could do to make my dream to attend Baylor possible?" This makes the FA office at Baylor think they must have missed something or have their parameters out of calibration.</p>
<p>Redlands told my husband during interview that they were willing to negotiate if necessary. We had a full OOS tuition offer available if we did negotiate. Redlands likes to talk with the parents after the interview (I was at work and did not attend-didn't know I was invited). My husband is in sales and "everything in life is negotiable". We felt the offer was fair, it was something we could afford, we all felt comfortable sending our only child to them, making Redlands part of the family. We never took them up on their offer. I do sometimes wonder what if? when I write the checks each semester. We did not do FAFSA and I believe that true negoitiating should require a financial need.</p>
<p>"We did not do FAFSA and I believe that true negoitiating should require a financial need."</p>
<p>We do not know anyone that was able to "negotiate" merit aid without qualifying for at least some need based aid. I think even those on cc who talk about negotiating merit aid did infact qualify for some need based aid.</p>
<p>Remember to not use the word "negotiate" when trying to get a better offer. "Negotiate" ticks financial aid and admissions officers off.</p>
<p>The approach, "I'd love to go to your school, but X college (which needs to be equivalent or better) is offering me $xxx (which needs to make X college cost less than the one your child is negotiate with), and my parents say that I'll have to go there. Is there anything that you can do?"</p>
<p>Using Tulane's full tuition offer probably won't help much, however, as most colleges know that Tulane is going to have a very tough time attracting students for their next freshman class.</p>
<p>nsm's point is well taken. It's human nature that college x doesn't want to lost kids to a competitor (however they define it). Thus, a Hopkins or Chicago is not likely to be moved when shown a competing offer of a full ride from podunk U.</p>
<p>Whether you are negotiating merit aid or requesting a financial review for merit aid, if a school ups its offer, you need to ask how will it impact you in subsequent years. Yes, read the fine print.</p>
<p>What would it cost you in the long run to give up an automatic $20,000 over the course of 4 years to get $7000 yr on the condition that you maintain a 3.75 GPA? </p>
<p>It does you no good to get a great deal in the first year only to learn that it is only for the first year.</p>
<p>In addition, you need to find out what are the conditions for the merit. </p>
<p>If your student needs to maintain a 3.7 GPA and is taking courses to be a rocket scientist, he is going to have more stress than the student who needs to maintain a 3.7 in basket weaving.</p>
<p>If student changes majors, does it affect the scholarship?</p>
<p>Does it allow student to gradually get into the GPA requirement.</p>
<p>What happens if the student does not meet the GPA requirement, do the lose the scholarship immediately, or is there a grace period (one additional term) to bring things up to speed.</p>