<p>I have searched lots of past threads concerning merit aid and have found conflicting statements. Can anyone tell me definitively if a merit aid offer can be negotiated or if they are even increased when more information is presented to the school that made the original offer? (ie not negotiating per se, just informing them of other options that the applicant might be considering <vbg>)</vbg></p>
<p>To make a long story short- D has a couple of very nice offers for ~16-20k per year from a couple of good schools, one of which is Clemson, which in some respects would be her first choice (climate, honors college, size). But she has also been accepted to 2 very top tier schools. I know that choosing a school is more than just rankings, prestige, or strength of department in her major, so let's not get into a discussion about any of that :)</p>
<p>My simple question is whether or not the two schools might consider "sweetening the pot" if they are told that D is leaning toward the two higher ranked in-state schools, mainly because of the cost still being similar to our IS choices, despite the generous scholarship.</p>
<p>Probably not. Schools tend to only budge for offers from schools they see as direct competitors. Williams for Amherst or Swat. Need based or merit.</p>
<p>Look at it from the top tier schools perspective. They know that all of their students can grab big merit at mid-tier schools (like Clemson). They know that many of their students have such offers in hand. They’re not likely going to offer more because they would have to do this for everyone. However, if your child has some special hook that they want, then maybe. </p>
<p>Others have posted that when they’ve tried this with top schools, the schools have said, “go to the cheaper school and come here for grad school.”</p>
<p>If I’m reading TV4caster’s original post correctly, I think he is asking whether it would be possible to negotiate with the two schools where merit has been offered (rather than asking the higher-ranked schools to throw money).</p>
<p>You can ask…but most schools have a specific criteria for awarding merit aid. </p>
<p>Could you clarify your question? Are you hoping for aid from schools which didn’t give it…or are you hoping to increase the aid at the schools where it was received?</p>
<p>We recently tried to negotiate a higher merit award with a university my son was accepted to. To their credit, they did consider it, but in the end came back and said money was tight and they couldn’t do any more. They did send him an application for an additional scholarship, which also helped. My view is - it doesn’t hurt to ask if your student has already been accepted. The worst that can happen is they say no.</p>
<p>I was able to appeal and then increase a merit scholarship for my D at a local university - not top tier, mind you, just a private local university.</p>
<p>They were very accommodating - it was pretty clear with her stats that some kind of error had been made if you read their own scholarship descriptions on the web site - and increased it to their highest merit level, which was 16K. Again, this is not a top school, more like a B+ student school, but they were wonderful about it.</p>
<p>This university also sets money aside for a few full scholarships to local students from our town, but that is a separate application process involving our high school. She has applied for one of those “full rides” but since we don’t know about them yet, wanted to make sure she had the appropriate level of university scholarship in case she wants to attend this school.</p>
<p>^^i think that Clemson is one of the schools where tippy top OOS kids can get the equivalent of in-state tuition; if you have already gotten that, I would imagine that would be it…(not sure if $12,000 off is =to instate South Carolina tuition)…</p>
<p>IMO, can’t hurt to ask…what has she got to lose?</p>
<p>Yes, go ahead and ask Clemson is they’ll give more money. Clemson does give instate tuition rates to top students, but their instate rate is high. :(</p>
<p>How much has Clemson given so far? Does the merit reduce to instate rate?</p>
<p>m2ck- they gave IS rate to D. Because of a prepaid tuition plan, that would still make it about 5k more per year than the tier 1 schools. We are not eligible for FA but with 3 in college at the same time in a few years we were hoping for more.</p>
<p>OK…if you are instate for WM and UVA, it is not likely that Clemson will reduce the costs to what you would be paying as an instate resident in VA. BUT go ahead and ask. You never know.</p>
<p>If your daughter had received a significant merit award from UVA or WM, that might have gotten Clemson’s attention…but just having an instate tuition cost to compare to the costs of attending Clemson as an OOS student…I don’t think that will be the basis for “negotiation”.</p>
<p>Gotta ask…except for wanting to leave VA (the grass is always greener)…why wouldn’t she go to UVA or WM?</p>
<p>Thumper- warmer climate is the biggest thing. She HATES snow and cold. Also, smaller classs sizes (plus one of her best friends is going there, although she has a couple of good friends going to UVA too)</p>
<p>My opinion remains the same…if the basis for “negotiation” is your instate residency status, I don’t think THAT will be a reason for Clemson to increase your daughter’s aid…but ask…nothing ventured, nothing gained.</p>
<p>Re: class size…friends at WM say their class sizes are not very big…does she think they will be SMALLER at Clemson?</p>
<p>I totally understand about the weather (my kid had a warm weather criteria also)…but from where we come from VA weather is mighty nice!!</p>
<p>I’m wondering if Clemson will up their package to compete with UofSC.</p>
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<p>You could ask. But I think Clemson is ranked a lot higher than UofSC, so they may not consider it a peer school. Are your D’s stats really high for Clemson? If so, they might offer more. </p>
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But I think Clemson is ranked a lot higher than UofSC, so they may not consider it a peer school. Are your D’s stats really high for Clemson? If so, they might offer more.