Help Negotiating Financial Aid

Paying for College
1

Hi everyone,

I was wondering how I would go about negotiating a better financial aid package at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Madison is my top choice, and I really want to go there. Due to reciprocity, as a Minnesota resident, I would pay about $30,000 a year in total costs. I have received no merit-based scholarships or need-based aid at Madison. The University of Minnesota, however, has given me a full ride from merit-based scholarships. My expected cost of attendance is $0 there.

I got a 36 on my ACT, have a 4.37 GPA, am a National Merit Finalist, and play sports year-round, yet Madison has given me no aid whatsoever. How can I use the fact that Minnesota gave me such a good scholarship package to my benefit? I should add, I really want to go to Madison.

Any and all help is appreciated. Thank you.

2

You can ask…but fact is…you are a resident of Minnesota.

3

I would call UWM’s FA office and ask how you can start an appeal. They’ll probably say fill out xyz form and give us an explanation, which is where you can talk about UM’s offer.

4

States fund their taxpayers first. Your parents don’t pay Wisconsin taxes.
Public universities are obligated to their residents. They already gave you reciprocity rates.
It’s not a private college so they have to rely on income from the state.

5

Are you a U.S. citizen.

If these really are your stats…and you have some significant financial need…why didn’t you apply to some schools with guaranteed merit?

Or to schools that meet full need.

If you do not have financial need…can your parents help with college costs?

I believe University of Alabama is still offering its VERY generous merit scholarships for NM finalist.

@mom2collegekids

6

@thumper1 Yes, I am a U.S. citizen and yes those really are my stats. Regarding the financial need, my parents earn just enough to have me not qualify for significant need-based aid, but they also do not earn enough to pay for my college. We have a bit of money saved up to pay for a year+ of college, but not the whole thing.

The schools that offered me large scholarships have all either had not great programs for my prospective major or had campuses that I didn’t like. Minnesota is the best school at which I have a full ride. Madison is my top choice school. I was just hoping for some more money from Madison.

7

Find out what the process is from Madison, but if it doesn’t work out you have an amazing offer that many wish they had. Don’t lament what you didn’t get, be grateful for what you did earn. It’s the person far more than the place that’s most important. Congratulations!

8

Schools do not meet the needs of students the same way. Some schools give a lot of merit aid (Alabama, ASU, Pitt) others give out need based aid. You have to figure out the method your target schools use.

9

What is your major?

UWisc is already giving you a great deal…instate rates. UWisc has been moving away from merit based aid to Ned based aid.

What are your parents saying about the cost of UWisc without any add’l aid? How would they pay for the remaining three years>

10

WI is not as good as MN financially in the whole state. Even in state students are not getting much aids. You should take the full ride offer at UMN TC. It is a great school.

11

U Alabama attracts lots of OOS high stats and NMF students.

They just updated their NMF scholarship to pay for 5 years of tuition, and 4 years of housing I believe.

You could get a master’s degree there too for very little cost.

I think as an NMF you can still get that deal, but you would have to hurry to apply and name UA as first choice for NMF before May 1.

U Minnesota is a great choice as well of course.