How do I ask one college to ask another's merit aid? (Mount Holyoke and Bryn Mawr)

Paying for College
1

<p>Here's the situation. These colleges weren't my top choices, but they were where I received the best merit aid and are my only financially viable options. Although I like Bryn Mawr a little more than Mount Holyoke, I received slightly less scholarship money there. Is it possible to ask them to match MHC's scholarship? If so, how do I specifically do this?</p>

<p>BMC gave me $12,000 a year in merit money. Mount Holyoke gave me $15,000 per year in merit scholarships.</p>

<p>BMC gave me a $2,000/year need-based work study. MHC gave me a $7,000/year grant.</p>

<p>Because my parents are able to contribute $30,000/year, as it stands I would graduate from Bryn Mawr with $36,000/debt (I don't want to do that) and from Mount Holyoke with ~$10,000 (this is okay with me). However, if Bryn Mawr would match MHC's offer and raise their merit aid to $15,000, then I would graduate with $24,000, which seems considerably more doable. Is it at all possible to ask BMC to match MHC? I've heard anecdotally that this sometimes works, but I have no idea if that's actually true. BMC has offered to pay for me to travel to their Accepted Students Day, so I have the impression that they'd like me to attend.</p>

<p>If you think this would be possible, how should I go about asking? Should I call BMC's financial aid office? Email them? Talk to them in person on accepted students day? Thank you for the advice!</p>

2

<p>Call BMC and tell them that they’re your first choice, but you can not afford to attend and will be going to MH unless there could be a merit aid adjustment.</p>

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<p>Also, BMC didn’t give you a $2,000 work study. They gave you the potential to get an on campus job and earn that amount. ;)</p>

4

<p>I could be reading the websites incorrectly… but it looks like: </p>

<p>Tuition, Room, Board and Fees at MHC = $53596. So, MHC has given you $22000 in scholarship and grant. While you may not be eligible for Federal Work Study (FWS), there is nothing to keep you from finding a non-FWS position on-campus or a job off campus to earn the same amount of money that you have been offered in FWS from BMC. </p>

<p>Tuition, Room Board and Fees at BMC = $56266… BMC has given you $12000 in scholarship and $2000 in FWS… which means you have the opportunity to apply for FWS jobs on campus and as you work the hours you will earn the money. If you do not complete the hours or cannot find a FWS job on campus you will not earn the money.</p>

<p>So, closer to comparing apples to apples, when you look at the difference between what MHC and BMC have offered…</p>

<p>MHC: $53596 - $15000 Merit - $7000 Grant = $31506 left to contribute through family contribution, work, and loans. Your said that your family can offer you $30,000 per year, so that leaves approximately $1500 - $3000 (assuming that tuition and fees will rise each year, and you will need to cover books, spending money, etc…) that you will need to cover with money earned from work and loans each year.</p>

<p>BMC: $55926 - $12000 Merit = $43926 left to contribute through family contribution, work, and loans. Your said that your family can offer you $30,000 per year, so that leaves approximately $14000 - $15000 (assuming that tuition and fees will rise each year, and you will need to cover books, spending money, etc…) that you will need to cover with money earned from work and loans each year. Because you have been offered $2000 in FWS you will be able to apply for FWS jobs on campus.</p>

<p>You can only take out $5500 in a stafford loan in your name as a freshman, so that would mean $8500 - $9500 that would need to be covered by you at BMC after the stafford loan. If BMC would offer you an additional $3000 in merit it would be more doable, because then you would only need to come up with an additional $5500 after merit and stafford loans. BUT, since MHC has also offered you a grant, you may want to make clear that the difference in grant and scholarships between MHC and BMC is $10000. BMC likely cannot make up that full difference (although you never know!), but they may be able to come closer than the $3000 more in merit aid. You have nothing to loose by politely explaining your situation and asking. </p>

<p>Do you have someone who is able and willing to co-sign additional loans for you to cover the difference if need be?</p>

<p>GOOD LUCK!</p>