<p>How do I ask my son's top choice for some more money? We're close but we really could use a little more. What's the best way to ask? What's the procedure?</p>
<p>Thanks!!!!</p>
<p>Does he have better offers from other schools that Top Choice U would consider a direct competitor? When I say better, I mean in terms of actual cost of attendance. You can’t compare a $20,000 scholarship from a school that charges $50,000 a year with a $5,000 scholarship from a school that charges $30,000 per year and expect the latter to increase their offer, because overall they are still less expensive. When I say direct competitor, I mean that both schools pull from the same pool of applicants. If one gets most of its students from the west coast and the other from the east cost, this is not going to work. If one is much better known than the other, you are not likely to get much consideration from the one with the better reputation.</p>
<p>If you are in the position that you have an overall better deal from Second Choice U, which is a direct rival of Top Choice U, then you could have some traction. The usual way to go about it is to come up with something that you feel Top Choice may have overlooked when determining the amount of aid offered and request a review of their aid package on that basis. When documenting your reasons, you should tell the school that it really is his top choice and let them know about the other offer, including sending them a copy of the actual letter from the other school. Let them know that money is a concern and ask if they can remove cost from the decision process by coming closer to the lower actual cost of Second Choice.</p>
<p>When calculating actual cost, consider all expenses - tuition, fees, health insurance, travel, books, room & board - and any type of financial aid offered that you do not have to pay back, e.g. scholarships and outright grants.</p>
<p>Ask them what their appeals process is, for starters. If you are “close” but “could use a little more” then you are pretty much like everyone else. Don’t hold your breath-- but it never hurts to ask.</p>
<p>Schools are tending to increase $$ for freshman and cutting aid in subsequent years. Make sure that you ask if the awards are good for multiple years.</p>
<p>Thank you everyone. I’ll give it a try. There are offers from others.</p>
<p>My D has been accepted in a number of Masters programs and ironically each of them stated in the acceptance letter that if she has received a better offer from any one else to please let them know and they will try to match or better the offer. All she has done is notify them what the other schools offered and surprisingly one has already come back with a better offer. This could be fun.:)</p>