<p>What is the best way to go about negotiating need-based financial aid?</p>
<p>Well, I have particulallryintersting situation. My parents taxes are quite high but there are extigent circumstances that are draining all thie rfinances so they cant really help to pay for college. pomona told me to send a monthly balance sheet, as well as the bills for their legal woes. They said they would consider those more than the taxes and that the dean of financial aid would make the final desision on how much aid I would get. I would figure thats the way to go about it.</p>
<p>so my 1st choices are pomona and haverford, but both gave me less than another good LAC. the advice that i've received is to figure out which school is really my 1st choice (??) and to then write the financial aid office a letter expressing "top choice" but then to also include a copy of the more generous aid package from the other school to see if either haverford/pomona can meet it... i think it works best when the more generous college is considered a rival in terms of reputation and academics as it is in my case.</p>
<p>I think you can show Pomona your other offers of financial aid and see if they are able to match them. They cannot take away your acceptance for trying! Several other schools apparently do amend their offerings based upon what other schools are offering the accepted candidate.</p>