<p>I am planning to ask a college to review my son's profile to possibly increase his offer for merit aid. Do I need to 100% commit acceptance to this college if they increase his scholarship? </p>
<p>No. You don’t. But, it is possible in the course of the conversation that to make that kind of a commitment would make it more likely for an increase. It all depends on how the discussion goes. Most schools are not interested in entering a bidding contest for a student. So, if things look that way, it is possible you get nowhere. The official positions of many schools is that they do NOT negotiate these things. </p>
<p>So, it is possible, that if a kid says he so wants to go to a school, it’s his first choice and he is 100% committing to go there if the finances just would work out, it might help getting some more money into the picture. It worked for my son. He was serious about it, and it is likely that the experienced admissions personnel could hear it in his voice. I don’t think he would have made the same appeal to a number of schools to up the antes. His college was not one that ordinarily gives a lot of merit money, and to have increased it was surprising to me, though I supported his asking them. I doubt I could have done that.</p>
<p>When you do commit and then renege–well, yes, you can do that. Depends on your integrity, what’s important, what you are trying to teach your kid. How you want your kid and how you negotiate. </p>
<p>I agree with cpt. Be prepared to answer the question “how much do you need” and be prepared to commit going in because if not willing to commit to this college there’s no reason to ask for more aid…right?</p>
<p>Schools often do not want to increase merit if they don’t think you’ll be attending because:
they don’t want to go thru the signature processes for nothing.
They don’t want you using the increase to get more money elsewhere.</p>
<p>What is driving the OP’s question?
Is it financial need (you couldn’t afford to attend without the additional money)?
Is it a belief that he’s “worth” more?
Is it a desire to bid multiple offers down to the lowest net price (just because you don’t want to pay a cent more than you have to)?</p>
<h1>1 is a legitimate motivation. It would be in the school’s interest (as well as yours) to make them aware of the need. Be prepared to point out circumstances that make your need compelling (medical expenses, another kid about to enter college, closeness to retirement age, etc.)</h1>
<p>If #2 is your motivation, then it’s not in the school’s interest to yield, unless they want him for a specific role (like playing bassoon in the orchestra).</p>
<p>If #3 is your motivation, then it won’t be in the school’s interest to yield, period. </p>
<p>If you need to make the #1 case with more than one college, then I think you’d be justified in accepting the best offer. You’d do the same if the money were characterized as need-based aid.</p>
<p>Of course you can ask. And you don’t need to commit to attending. BUT most colleges have criteria for the awarding of merit awards. Do you have something additional to add to your son’s information that would make him a more attractive candidate for higher merit aid!</p>
<p>I am giving the college information that would make my son a more attractive candidate for increased merit aid. He was admitted EA to WPI with a merit aid of $8,000 per year and Stevens Institute of Technology admitted RD with merit aid of $32,000 per year. His GPA has increased since the EA decision and we also have other documentation to submit to WPI with the appeal. He would really like to attend WPI. He will 100% commit to admission if they could increase the merit aid. I do not expect WPI to come close to the offer from Stevens but any increase would make it more affordable. I have heard that colleges will sometimes look at another offer if it is a peer school. Is WPI and Stevens considered peer schools? </p>
<p>An added question - is it better to send a letter or try and have the discussion on the phone or
make an appt and do it in person? also, should all of the above be initiated by the student or parent?</p>
<p>Depends upon the student. I was pained when my son made his choice of schools, and told him that he was going to have to somehow make up the gap in cost unless the school came up with $X, and that the school I liked best had no gap. He got on the phone with admissions and got his merit award doubled which more than made up the gap. It was that easy in that case. When I asked about some merit awards that I’d heard were in the picure, he got a big $100. I know parents, who have done well in getting some more money, and some who are usually top dog type negotiators get zip. Sometimes there simply is nothing more to get and squeezing water out of a stone isn’t going to happen. Some kids are on point and can do it, other are so dragging their feet and choke on the words and can’t. </p>
<p>IMO, all things equal, if I were an admissions officer, a well stated case from someone asking for some more merit and saying it would make the difference and that this is the first choice school, I would be more inclined to give a tip to the student rather than the parent. </p>
<p>My son did it on the phone with admissions. But it’s an anecdote and as said earlier, I know parents who have gotten more.</p>
<p>I would only present the appeal based on your son’s increased GPA and other accomplishments made since the initial offer. Also your son should be the one doing the presenting. I wouldn’t mention SIT at all. It’s passive aggressive, and could backfire. Also, maybe SIT has more aid to offer? It is the bigger school. It’s also in NJ, where as WPI is in MA. I’m sure that make s a difference too. </p>
<p>I would think getting more merit aid after asking for more would depend on timing. If some students decided to not attend the school, that would free up any merit aid offered. Your son going to SIT would free up 8K for another student who wants to go to WPI who would appreciate it. </p>
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would think getting more merit aid after asking for more would depend on timing. If some students decided to not attend the school, that would free up any merit aid offered. Your son going to SIT would free up 8K for another student who wants to go to WPI who would appreciate it.
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<p>Not usually.</p>
<p>Colleges that routinely give out X dollar awards for certain stats (WPI 8k), have used models to know that if they offer 200 with acceptances, that 140 (or whatever) will enroll. The fact that the other 60 went elsewhere does NOT free up that money to be reawarded. Reawards generally happen when the school has X endowed awards, then awards 10 and then less than 10 enroll.</p>
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<p>Besides semantics, there is no difference between what you just said here and what I said about a student who was offered merit aid, and deciding not to enroll, freeing up funds to be awarded again. </p>