<p>I have been accepted to 4 out of 6 colleges so far, but only one college has given me enough financial aid for me to attend. That college is F&M, but I would rather attend St. Lawrence University if I could afford it. The difference in the 2 offers is 15k a year and I would need at least 10 k more from St. Lawrence to afford it.</p>
<p>I have heard some ask the college they want to attend if they could match another college's offer. If this is true even for international students, what would be the best way to approach them? Should I contact them right away? What should I say?</p>
<p>You are very fortunate that you have received a large aid offer as an international student. For many programs, F&M would be a great college, with a beautiful campus and great facilities. What is your intended major?</p>
<p>You can certainly ask other colleges to try to come closer to F&M’s offer, but most colleges as a matter of policy do not offer much aid to international students.</p>
<p>You can talk to St Lawrence and tell them what you were offered at F&M and that you would so prefer to go to St L if only the numbers could work out and see what they can do. Talk to admissions first, find out who your admissions counselor is there and thank him/her and then explain the situation, and get advice from that person as to who to contact and what to say if the Financial AId Office has to be involved. </p>
<p>Nothing to lose, and by the way, IMO and by most people, F&M is a terrific school. You aren’t losing anything going there. It’ is one of the top LACs, IMO. My SIL’s brother is an alum, and it seems like that is a high achieving group, and frankly, F&M is far better known around here ( NYC) than St Lawrence.</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies. That is what I am afraid of; limited financial aid for international students. I know f and m is ranked better (except on Forbes list) but I think I would fit in better at st. Lawrence. Maybe it is silly. But I would absolutely love to be able to hike in the adirondacks. It seems like an amazing environment should I mention the outing club or just that I would prefer to go there over f and m in general?</p>
<p>Go on ahead and ask. Can’t hurt. My son did get an increase in merit money when he asked and let the college know what his other choices were. They did ask for a Fax for verification, and they did come up with more merit money. Some schools will do this,and some will not., but you have nothing to lose to ask.</p>
<p>Probably best just to say you like St. Lawrence better “for several reasons.” And if they ask, absolutely mention the outing club, but throw in something academic as well! :)</p>
<p>Go right on ahead. You did get into a very good school with a very nice offer. St Lawrence would very much consider F&M a peer school or better in terms of competing for students, so do let them know what you got from them, and why you like St L better.</p>
<p>Update: Their financial aid appeal committee will go over all financial aid appeals in the beginning of next week, so I will tell you guys in a week how things went!</p>
<p>@mom2collegekids, sorry about the confusion. I said that as a joke when captain said “They did ask for a Fax for verification”. When out of context I understand it is easily misinterpreted.</p>
<p>@SLUMOM, thanks! I guess you would recommend SLU? Or does it stand for St. Luis University? haha</p>
<p>SLUMOM, stands for St Lawrence University.
We have appealed for more FA there for the entering freshman year and we got it, but we had special circumstances, very high out of pocket medical expenses (documented) and a job loss. Later we had another job loss with two in college and we received more aid. </p>
<p>Usually when you appeal for more aid like you are doing, schools don’t offer that much, maybe a few thousand or so. Worst thing they can do is say no.</p>
<p>Thanks SLUMOM for the input. I shall probably not expect gold and glory then, but I can always hope!</p>
<p>UPDATE: St. Lawrence were supposed to revise all the financial aid appeals in the beginning of last week, but I have not heard from them yet. When shall i contact them and ask about their decision? I don’t want to seem rude.</p>
<p>I guess you guys have figured this out by now, but I did never get any more financial aid, not even an email telling me this. I have committed to F&M and am pretty excited about that!</p>
should I mention the outing club or just that I would prefer to go there over f and m in general?</p>