<p>OK, my DS got accepted to UCSD (Engineering) and Cal (L&S,undecided). We got 10K in UG Scholarship to UCSD and 18K UG Berkeley Scholarship from Cal. We’re going to Admit Day at UCSD this weekend. We’d like UCSD to match Cal, in case he goes that way. He’s really torn. </p>
<p>What do you think a good strategy is?</p>
<li><p>Son send a letter attaching Cal offer. Explain UCSD first choice because of Engineering. Parents pushing him toward Cal only because of money. Can you match.? Please please.</p></li>
<li><p>Parent send same letter. Kid loves UCSD, went to admit day. But we have no money, etc etc. [Father is disabled].</p></li>
<li><p>Do above by FAX</p></li>
<li><p>Parent approach a FAO during Admit Day and plead my case in person face to face. Or merely ask for suggestions what should be the next step</p></li>
<li><p>Make appointment for face to face at another time. </p></li>
<li><p>Do it by phone.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Help!</p>
<p>James</p>
<p>I don’t think uc’s match offers. My d had 5 uc offers 3 years ago,and they were all different, especially since ucsd cost of attendance is lower than ucla or berk–berkeley was the best fin aid offer, and ucla didn’t give a hoot…UCLA fin aid was very precise, and there was no bending for anything it seemed like when we met with fin aid counselor on college admit day…ucsd offerred nothing as the efc was near the COA. she got merit awards at 3 UCs from Alumni, and that didn’t matter, ucla took subsidized loan away for the merit award form ucla alumni…the ucs all do different calculations, that is for sure.</p>
<p>At least I have never heard of any offer matching at ucs.</p>
<p>As for what to do, here would be my list:
- Check merit award apps that frosh can apply for (is this done already?)
- Apply for special circumstances on your efc, ucsd fin aid has a form
Document everything. If speaking to them personally, I would bring documentation to submit to them.<br>
- Call them and ask for advice or go there and ask…they really do want to help, they just have business processes they have to follow…</p>
<p>Same experience as theocmom: UCs not only don’t match, they seem to become annoyed when you even bring up offers from other UCs.</p>
<p>@ala @the Thanks so much for the feedback.
I was afraid that I might annoy them if I showed them the Cal offer. </p>
<p>I need to regroup and check out “Special Circumstances”.</p>
<p>James</p>