<p>My D got a better FA offer from Columbia and we are aware of the guarantee of matching ivy FA offers from Dartmouth. However, we can't seem to find direct instructions on how to go about sending Columbia's offer to Dartmouth's FA office. I'm assuming I could fax it with their "request for finacial aid award review," sheet but I'm not certain.</p>
<p>I'll call them tomorrow morning but I was wondering if their were any regulars on the CC site that might have an accurate idea of the procedure.</p>
<p>Yes, we went through this process at our house.</p>
<p>Fax the copy of the request for a financial review along with the financial aid award letter from Columbia. Their fax # is fax: (603) 646-1414. Give them a day or 2 as they are really responsive. I an not a believer in negotiating back and forth, I was straight forward in my request.l If it is your D’s first choice, let them know. I simply wrote that Dartmouth is D’s first choice and she wants to attend, however _____, is the more financially feasible option for our family.</p>
<p>They met the package and she attended. In our experience, there was no bait and switch as our package remained consistent (no major income fluctuations) for D’s following 3 years at Dartmouth.</p>
<p>I did just as described above! Yale gave me a better offer and in a few days, aka today, dartmouth replied matching that offer via a very nice email! </p>
<p>S had a better offer from Pomona, and D matched it with some restructuring that made sense. I wasn’t sure of the process, since H handled it, so I’m glad Sybbie weighed in!</p>
<p>thanks all. I knew I could count on you. One thing though, Our D honestly doesn’t know at this moment which school she’ll choose as they are both such different, but appealing choices to her. I do know that if Dartmouth matches Columbia’s offer it would definitely even things up allowing her to make her decision based on best fit and not least financial strain. So is explaining the above the right way to address the review request?</p>
<p>No, you don’t even have to go that far in your explanation. </p>
<p>If she can, she should definitely attend admitted student days at both places because they are as different as night and day as far as location, core curriculum vs. distribution requirement. Even though the University owns a ton of real estate and Barnard is directly across the street, to me there is no real cohesive campus feel. Since mass transit is literally at their door step, I do not think that it really contributes to forming bonds on campus, especially for kids that know the city.</p>
<p>See if you can reach out to or look up some of the post by Slipper1234 who started out at Columbia and transferred Dartmouth. We live in the city, and D just wasn’t feeling Columbia’s vibe and wasn’t interested in attending. In addition, she wanted a change of pace and did not want her entire educational experience to be solely on the island of Manhattan.</p>
<p>She had an amazing 4 years in Hanover. The kids are some of the nicest, most down to earth kids that you will meet. From Dimensions to the DOC trip to freshmen schmobs to homecoming to winter carnival to green key to class day to graduation.</p>
<p>Yes, we have visited each campus once already and are registered for both schools’ preview events for next week. As for which school is the better fit, our D is a “country mouse,” but I have ties to NYC so she has a small familiarity with the city and likes the idea of attending school there. She is not the “touchy-feely” type and therefore Dartmouth legendary “togetherness” is not the main draw but rather the D-plan’s study abroad flexabilty and undergraduate focus are. She’s drawn to both schools and would be a good fit at both so I don’t envy her decision. I suppose if her decision doesn’t pan out there is always the possibility of a transfer.</p>
<p>I also submitted a request for review, and when I called them, they said to just fax/scan the award letter from the other Ivy and send it with the form, just as sybbie described. </p>
<p>How long does it usually take to hear back?</p>
<p>We heard back via email in a day. Dartmouth matched Columbia’s offer. Should be getting snailmail version by Friday. Thanks all for the advice . . .</p>
<p>So now IT’S ON! Dartmouth vs. Columbia for our D’s decision. When we started our journey to investigate schools nearly 2 years ago we never imagined the choices that would be available to her, let alone a final, “preview week,” showdown between to very good, very different institutions. It’s all exciting and humbling, and an appropriate time to count our blessings :)</p>
<p>Yeah!!! I am glad that it all worked out. They are both amazing choices ans some where along the line there will be people on both wait list saying either yeah or boo (as she ever so softly whispers her come to Hanover ;))</p>
<p>Congrats DEDad, you should be very proud of her. They are so different so the choice should be pretty clear. You cannot go wrong with either college. So sit back and let her figure out where she wants to spend the next 4 years.</p>