<p>So basically I was accepted at UMD with a full ride but to 4 other colleges (Georgetown, Swarthmore, GW, and American) that I might prefer to go to because they have stronger IR programs, except that they're expecting me to pay $40k/year. If I did that, I would be coming out of college $20k in debt, so they're really not options right now. But I figured that I have nothing to lose, so I might as well ask them if they can give me more aid, because if they can give me $5-10k more a year (which I do know if a long shot), then I can consider going there. So I was wondering, is there a good way to bring this up or to ask? Swarthmore and Georgetown gave me all need-based aid whereas GW and American gave me all merit aid, so is there a difference in how I should go about this at each school? Do you think it's even worth it to ask?
Thanks for any advice you have! :)</p>
<p>It can be worth it to ask. I’ve known people who gave it a go and got more. Usually not a lot more unless there was a mistake in financial aid numbers from a full need school. For your two such school, scrutinize the app forms and see if there is anything that is off or if there are any other considerations you can ask them to make. You are getting money based on formula there, so you need to get things included in the formula to get more from them.</p>
<p>The two merit award school, you can ask if there are higher levels, and ask if there is anything else available. These things you have to swing with how the converstaion goes. Would need net you more than the merit at GW and American? If so, you can use examples from Georgetown and Swarthmore and maybe get more that way. </p>
<p>Congrats on your UMD ride. That is quite an achievement.</p>
<p>$20K is lower than the average college debt. It wouldn’t be ridiculous to borrow 5K per year or so in Staffords.</p>
<p>Thanks cptofthehouse, our EFC changed after our taxes were filed so do you think that’ll help at my need based schools?</p>
<p>And waverly, I agree with you but I don’t think I can justify to myself the decision to take out debt when I could be going to a perfectly good college for free.</p>
<p>It could. It depends on the numbers. But, really, I don’t think you are going to come close to the deal that UMD has for you. Unless there is a huge difference in need, it’s not going to do it, and as for merit, getting that much more is difficult. It does not hurt to ask, and if you have a favorite, let that school know you would go there if the cost were $X.</p>