<p>mom2collegekids: My D has been accepted to her top choice school with a university merit scholarship that is much less than we expected.</p>
<p>What was the basis of expecting larger merit? Had someone in the dept or univ said something about a larger award?</p>
<p>No, no one has said anything about a specific award other than the merit award that came in her acceptance letter. Our expectations are purely based upon comparison of stats and demographics of others accepted and their corresponding awards. When we first looked at this school (before D fell in love with it) we did so because her stats are a high match and we hoped she would have a shot at a very good merit award. We understand it may not be a perfect apples to apples comparison.</p>
<p>That said, my D did submit a well-worded letter with a sample of her writing to her designated admissions counselor. She did so knowing full well that the response might simply be āwe donāt consider additional informationā, but instead she received an email from him last night that he had submitted it to the English department and was awaiting their feedback. It may be a dead end, and if so, the school will unfortunately have to come off the table.</p>
<p>momb2k, I did call but I donāt think I handled it properly perhaps. I talked to the person who answered the phone in FA, I indicated that the aid received was not close to the net price calculator (even the high end). All she could say was they had reviewed his file and we wanted to file an appeal we could but it wouldnāt be reviewed until mid April if there was money leftā¦ Not very encouragingā¦</p>
<p>Maui- If you honestly think that your son could be happy at any of the three schools, please tell him. Iām saddened to hear that the financials are one more worry to add on top of your health situation. It is a very stressful time. Also, just a suggestion, if you truly think that taking a gap year might be a good alternative for your sonā¦perhaps, guiding your son on how to make the most of a gap year could be well received. Likeā¦ can he spend some time on whatever he may be passionate about, or do an internship to help define his career interests for the future, or somehow spend some time to visit relatives etc. IDK just a thought. I know that these seniors are both scared and excited for what lies ahead.</p>
<p>*My D has been accepted to her top choice school with a university merit scholarship that is much less than we expected.</p>
<p>Q. What was the basis of expecting larger merit? Had someone in the dept or univ said something about a larger award?</p>
<p>No, no one has said anything about a specific award other than the merit award that came in her acceptance letter. Our expectations are purely based upon comparison of stats and demographics of others accepted and their corresponding awards. When we first looked at this school (before D fell in love with it) we did so because her stats are a high match and we hoped she would have a shot at a very good merit award. We understand it may not be a perfect apples to apples comparison.</p>
<p>That said, my D did submit a well-worded letter with a sample of her writing to her designated admissions counselor. She did so knowing full well that the response might simply be āwe donāt consider additional informationā, but instead she received an email from him last night that he had submitted it to the English department and was awaiting their feedback. It may be a dead end, and if so, the school will unfortunately have to come off the table.*</p>
<p>Youāre right, itās hard to compareā¦sometimes awards are diversity basedā¦regional or ethnic. Sometimes even gender basedā¦if a school needs more males or more females. It sounds like awards at your Dās school may be ādepartment based.ā Did the other studentsā with the bigger merit have different majors? </p>
<p>Good luck with the merit review. Let us know how it goes.</p>
<p>I was recently admitted to the Miami Dade College School of Honors program, they pay for books, tuition and all cost of attendance (except room/board) which is up to $5,000. I really would like to attend Florida State however, but they did not offer me anything in financial aid nor merit based. </p>
<p>Do you think I can ask them to reconsider?
I have a lot of community service stuff and Iām one of my schools Silver Knight Nominees with a 5.075 weighted GPA.</p>
<p>We are contemplating asking for a review from a school and would have a package we could send for comparisonā¦the schools are in different geographic regions, same size, basically same general opportunities, on paper they are very, very similar. </p>
<p>If the school will give us a review, and will look at a peer school FA offer, how closely is āpeer schoolā typically defined? The significantly better offer is a school roughly 20 lines down from the other in the Natāl LAC on the USNWR. Ironically, I think the better offer also presents better opportunities in the desired major, OTOH the other school is preferred by my kid for reasons of fit and general happiness (nothing to do with ranking and prestige.) Both schools are outside the top 40 on the USNWR. </p>
<p>thoughts? this is our first time through this processā¦</p>
<p>What is a peer school depends on the circumstances. If you name the schools, we can give you our advice. USNews isnāt the final word. Oberlin and Reed are peer schools because they compete for some of the same applicants, and Reed doesnāt cooperate with USNews.</p>
<p>mom2collegekids: āGood luck with the merit review. Let us know how it goes.ā</p>
<p>Thought I would report back that my D received a letter from admissions last night that her merit award was increased by 25%. We have not received a financial aid package yet so for all we know other aid could be reduced by a corresponding amount, but it certainly is not a bad thing. It is still pretty far below what we would need to make the school work, so the school may in fact come off the table when we receive the aid package. It was worth a try.</p>