<p>My niece was accepted to all of her college choices with nice merit packages of 12K to 20K per year with the exception of her top pick. Her top choice said that they've already committed all of their merit money.
She fell in love with her top pick when she recently visited and they're the only school that has a good 'club' dance program for her (her passion but not her major).
My sister-in-law will contact that school's rep to find out if there is any way they can give any merit money at all. She is going to select one of the other schools if she isn't successful.</p>
<p>Has anyone had any success with sending in copies of other merit awards and prompting a school that has offered no aid to at least match the lowest offer?
Suggestions?</p>
<p>It is worth a try. Let admissions know that the school is her first choice and what she needs to go there. If they cannot or will not give her any funds, then she needs to be prepared to go to one of the other schools.</p>
<p>That’s what I figured, might as well give it a try. I don’t think she has her heart set on any one college even tho’ the one that didn’t offer any aid is “the best fit” for her. She’s the type that will be happy wherever she ends up.</p>
<p>Are the other schools “similarly ranked”? If so, her chances may be better. If not, the school may not care that she got merit from other schools.</p>
<p>And, some schools really don’t have much merit to give. </p>
<p>But, as others have said, it won’t hurt to ask!</p>
<p>BTW…has your niece asked those other schools if any of them have any plans of beginning a club dance team?</p>
<p>I believe that all of the schools are similarly ranked except the one that she likes is a state school and most of the others that have offered merit money are private. </p>
<p>She will look into starting a club if she ends up at one of the other schools, dance is important to her.</p>
<p>State schools are the least likely to match. I work at a state school, and we flat out do not have any interest in what any other school does or does not give a student. We give aid for need only, and the aid is based on set policies. There ARE some state schools that practice “enrollment management,” though, and might <em>find</em> some money for a student they want. I would actually suggest contacting admissions as a starting point, if the student is a strong candidate compared to the typical student attending that school.</p>
<p>*I consider sending late applications to schools that were NOT considered before to represent a rash decision for a family that is overwhelmed. </p>
<p>*</p>
<p>If this is an instate school, then isn’t it already less expensive than the privates?</p>
<p>If it’s an OOS public, AND it gives merit to OOS students AND your niece’s stats are high for the school, then they might be able to do something…but there’s no guarantees, as you already know. </p>
<p>Which school is this and what are her stats?</p>