How do I negotiate more financial aid?

I’m deciding between two universities. BU is giving me $11,000 more per year than the one school, and their tuitions are about the same (70k+). How do I even start with writing an email to the other school to award more financial aid?

What is the other school, and how much and what kind of aid (merit or need-based) has each school offered?

Emory, and it’s need based.

Emory would not consider BU to be a peer school.

Lol okay but I still want to try.

Emory meets full need. BU does not. It’s odd that you got more aid from BU.

Did BU’s package include scholarships that reduce your cost below need? Take a good hard look at your packages, maybe run the NPCs for each school.

I certainly do believe that anyone who has a glimmer of doubt or hope of an appeal to go on ahead and contact financial aid. It won’t hurt and you will then know you have done everything you could have. You also will understand the packages and choices better. Sometimes mistakes are made. Sometimes an adjustment is done.

No, they weren’t scholarships. Just need based grants.

There was a letter here last week that i"m surprised didn’t get more attention…i can’t remember the college but the student only received $3000 a semester in need-based aid so she called the college and they said they couldn’t raise any offers but, grumbling, the woman went to her computer screen and then said, “oh, that’s a mistake…it should have been $20,000.” So, yeah, I’d at least confirm the amount and ask for more at the same time. What do you have to lose? It’s not like they’re going to pull the aid they already gave you.

Well…you can contact Emory and ask if they will review your financial aid award. You can tell them that Emory is your first choice, but Boston University gave you more substantial need based aid. Maybe they will review!

Nothing to lose by sending your BU award to Emory, along with a note that you’d really love to attend Emory if the financial aid made that possible. Better shot at getting an increase if you’re male, as that practically qualifies you as a URM there.

Agree with the above advice…and recommend you call and speak with a financial aid director/rep (not a student), rather than emailing.