@Tanbiko - you are absolutely right and I had just had this same thought! I will add that in because each and ever trip to school will be VERY costly.
Thank you to everyone for your insights.
I was at first hesitant to go to the school and even request additional aid - but DH comes from the school of there is no harm in asking. I have read enough now to see that yes, people do ask and sometimes it is increased. No harm no foul I guess.
Don’t say that. You are giving them information they don’t have. They may figure you’re willing to dig deeper in your pocket to send her to her to the top choice.
This is no mere speculation, either. Until a year or two ago, unbeknownst to most students, the gov’t sent the FAFSA form with all schools listed. Colleges figured out kids were listing the colleges in order of preference and used that info to make admission and FA decisions.
I see no reason to tip your hand on the likelihood of your D attending. Say they’re in the group of final choices and leave it at that.
Badgolf- how could they NOT tip their hand?There is nothing more obnoxious than someone negotiating hard, getting what they want, and then walking away- “sorry, thanks for the additional cash but we’re not interested”.
@blossom - They don’t need to say that college Z is the top choice.
Maybe the best approach would be to tell the college that the applicant is has narrowed it down to 2 choices, and finances are playing into the decision, with a more generous offer from peer college… So the question would be simply whether there is any possibility of an award adjustment.
The fact that you are calling is an indication that Z is in the running.
A college would resent being drawn into a bidding war, but they should be willing to communicate whatever is their best offer.
I think mentioning the overseas travel costs would be useful just because it does set this student apart from other applicants.
I agree Calmom. I think that is the best approach.
What about timing, however? Someone mentioned do this ASAP. I am thinking, depending on how the college’s April is going, it may be advantageous to wait until later in the month - particularly if they are running short of their targeted numbers for the freshman class.
I suppose that this could go either way, however. I am in a similar situation with D2 so am considering our options as well…
This needs to be done NOW. Otherwise the financial issues might not get resolved before the May 1 pick your college to matriculate to date.
It’s not like you send in a letter and poof…they immediately respond and make a correction. It takes TIME.
Sooner the better.
I think I will defer to experience here, @thumper1 - I call tomorrow!!
I’m assuming this “ask” is directed to a non “top 50” college, because that’s only likely school where this tactic of “asking for more” would work. If so, pick-up phone and call its admin rep who already knows (and wants) your kid. Be enthusiastic about the school, your kid’s eagerness to attend, the higher merit offers rec’d, your polite interest “to make it work” so that kid’s acceptance is truly complete. Ideally, you’ve met this rep too at prior admin events (on campus and/or college fair events). Hopefully your kid already demonstrated sincere strong interest in school too. It worked for us.
If it is true that this is the kid’s first choice, but it is hard to justify the difference in cost, that seems to be an important fact. If you are just shopping for more money (and perhaps plan to go back to other school for a further sweetening) or if she is not sure she would attend this school, then don’t mention it. It would seem to me that the school would have more incentive to sweeten the deal if she is willing to commit. Not sure why that wouldn’t be a positive (if true)?
Just basic Negotiations 101.
It’s valuable for the buyer (parent of college student) to communicate that they are very seriously truly interested, but the price is too high. The seller (college) will be motivated to reduce the cost if a reasonable adjustment can seal the deal, but will low ball its offer if the buyer appears overly eager. So a balance of expressing reasonable enthusiasm about the college along with significant concern about finances probably is the best.
The goal isn’t to get the college to offer something beyond what it is willing to offer – that’s not going to happen. But the goal is to get the college to present its best offer – and with merit money it is often the case the college’s initial offer is not necessarily the best.
It would seem to me the school might figure parents will pony up for the top choice and have less incentive than before to give any more money. Just like telling the car dealer down the block that you’ve shopped for lots of cars and that blue Prius on their lot is the one you really want isn’t a great way to get them to come down on price.
Back when the gov’t would send the entire FAFSA doc to each college, many colleges figured out that the order reflected preference and would use that to “adjust” aid. Why offer more to someone who was likely to enroll anyway?
So 3 sets of parents try tactic suggested above, the college offers none of them any more money, and 2 of the kids enroll anyway. Sounds like a winning plan for the college.
I see your point calmom, but with only a $5k difference the student does seem to be saying match or come close, or you will lose me. Seems like the college would put best and final on the table at this point in April. I did not see this as a haggle, but one shot at getting the merit money raised .
Result - after a “merit review process” no increase in merit aid. Not sure if I am glad we tried or not. On the one hand I guess it was worth a shot. On the other, I now have a slightly negative feeling towards the school that I did not have before. Oh well.
Thanks for reporting back. I think long term you will feel better that you tried – at least you asked. Keep in mind that colleges do have budgets and policies they need to adhere to --so don’t take the no answer too personally. It’s not just your daughter – its her and everyone else who would like more aid
If you hadn’t asked…you probably would have always wondered what if!
If the school is the right school otherwise…and is affordable…an increase would have been icing on the cake.
You tried.
I agree if you had never asked you would probably wonder. Best wishes for the coming years.
@CValle
Did she make a decision?