If you turn down admission due to financial aid, would you tell?

Paying for College
1

<p>We had a lot of trouble dealing with the FA office. And in the end, while trying to deal with them, my son really warmed up to the closer by college. If it were not for the one issue, with the FA office, my son definitely wanted to go to the other college. Basically, in the end, not only were they rude every time we spoke to them, but, my son had an outside scholarship/grant and they were rude to the administrator from the outside scholarship when she tried to do paperwork with them. She had done paperwork with the closer by college and had no issues. And it is one where she has done a lot of paperwork with a lot of colleges and says she has never had troubles dealing with a school before this. In the midst of dealing with the rude people in the FA office, my son did a spend the night here, at the closer by college. Loved it. And when the local office called and said the further away college was still giving them trouble, he told the local office to forget it then. The decision needed to be made so he would just go with the closer by college. This money is not money that comes from the college (obviously) but the college gave us (meaning not just us, but the administrator where the outside money was coming from) so much trouble on trying to arrange to send them the money that we gave up. We are not walking away from that money and replacing it with unguaranteed student loans and PLUS loans. And yes, WE is the proper word because I am not taking out a PLUS loan on top of paying the EFC, which is all we ever agreed to pay for college. </p>

<p>At this point, my son says he won't change his mind. He loved everything about the school, in almost every sense, it was perfect. His mind was completely made up, until the FA office gave everyone here such a hard time.</p>

<p>Since we know he won't change his mind anyway, should we let the admissions counselor know why he is turning down the admission? He got an email from the admissions counselor the other day saying he would love to talk to him again and go over his financial aid package and answer any questions he has. I am afraid if he tells the guy why he is not going there, that the guy will try to work to fix it, and this is not something we want fixed. My son has completely changed his mind. So I am thinking he should just politely decline and move on. But I also feel bad for the guy working as hard as he does, and not realizing that he is being undermined by other people working there.</p>

2

<p>I would tell them. Make it quite clear that the decision is made and your son will not be attending. But tell them why. I would imagine the school would want to know of a particular department is turning students off to that extent.</p>

3

<p>I would send a letter to the VP who oversees the FA office, not the FA staff. Also, many colleges send out surveys to find out why students did not accept an offer of admission. I’d answer that survey fully and truthfully - colleges pay attention to those results.</p>

4

<p>Yes I would let them know. Just imagine if the FA office is giving everyone ( your son, outside scholie people, you) involved this hard of a time while this is still in the “wooing” phase of his possible attendance, how will the FA office be AFTER he has already agreed to attend!!!</p>

<p>My kiddos and I always used this as a barometer of how the FA would be later on. And every time it worked out better than we had hoped.</p>

<p>Kat</p>

5

<p>I would let them know, BUT I would not make a big song and dance about it. A simple short note is fine.</p>

6

<p>Absolutely, let them know. And CC your letter to appropriate folks in the hierarchy. Chances are that the Admission Office already knows that there is such a problem, and may need evidence other than hearsay, and you would help out that way with something in writing</p>

7

<p>It’s Cornell College with the awful FA department, yes? Sounds like your son will be going to Austin College instead?</p>

8

<p>P.S. in my opinion the letter should come from your son. He is the one who is turning down the offer of acceptance.</p>

<p>Keep it simple…you don’t want to “burn your bridges” so to speak. You never know what the future will hold.</p>

<p>Dear Admission,
Thank you for your offer of admission. I have made the decision to attend college elsewhere. The primary reason for my decision was the difficulty my family, an outside scholarship agency and I had in dealing with your financial aid department. </p>

<p>Sincerely,
Son</p>

9

<p>should we let the admissions counselor know why he is turning down the admission?</p>

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<p>Absolutely!!! Your son is comfortable with his decision, which is great. But the college lost a student as a result of very poor customer service. They need to know this. And other students will benefit if the school makes positive changes as a result of the feedback.</p>