<p>Yesterday I was fortunate enough to be accepted into Harvard, Yale and Princeton! I am beyond shock and still basically in awe!</p>
<p>Anyways, my question is on the financial aid side of acceptances. I was wondering if there was any way I could negotiate for aid from these universities. I've heard that oftentimes one matches the need of the others. BUT here's my issue: I didn't apply for financial aid in the first place because my family thought I wouldn't qualify. Is there any way I can get financial aid at this point? </p>
<p>First off, never use the word negotiate when talking to financial aid officers. You ask them to re-evaluate your aid based upon an offer from a peer school. Your problem is that since you did not apply for aid to another school you don’t have an offer you can fax them. So, you are basically out of luck. If you didn’t apply for aid to any school, you can always apply now or next year. Pick the school you like the most then apply for aid there. Congratulations!</p>
<p>You can get financial aid by applying for it. At this point, your award will be quite late, but they will ultimately provide an award of aid.</p>
<p>As I understand it, one doesn’t “negotiate” with these schools for financial aid. However, I’ve heard that HYP will match each others’ awards for students accepted to two or more of the three. </p>
<p>As well, if you believe that your aid is low according to the schools’ own guidelines (my son’s initial award was several thousand dollars more than the net price calculator suggested), you may present your circumstances to the financial aid office. You’ll need to provide a rational, coherent, financial set of reasons why you need more aid. I did this when my son was accepted to Harvard last year. The financial aid office considered my request from the information I presented to them in person in the morning. By the afternoon, I received a favorable reply upping my son’s grant by almost precisely the amount for which I asked. </p>
<p>It probably helped that my request was relatively modest, that I showed that it was closer to the results of their own net price calculator, and that I could show financial reasons why some of their assumptions about my financial circumstances weren’t quite right.</p>
<p>I found the financial aid officer at Harvard to be pleasant, considerate, professional, understanding and helpful, and the financial aid office to be reasonable in their actions regarding my son.</p>
<p>Since you did not apply for financial aid because you thought you would not qualify, it is unlikely you will receive anything at this late date. You can try, but if you do not have real need, your chances are slim to none.</p>
<p>Dear SATACT2013, it is not too late to apply for aid, but get your application in as soon as possible. We had a student from our area last year who hadn’t applied for FA, and wasn’t going to attend Harvard because of money. Our local Schools and Scholarship Chair talked to her dad in mid-April 2012; they completed the paperwork; and they were very pleased with their FA package. She is now a first-year student living in Canaday, from all reports loving her experience. Hope it works out for you!</p>
<p>Harvard’s financial aid should be better than Columbia’s, but if it’s not, ask Harvard to reevaluate your aid based upon Columbia’s offer. You will have to FAX Columbia’s offer to Harvard.</p>
<p>Thanks Gibby, so I will wait to see what Harvard’s financial aid offer is and if it is less than Columbia’s I’ll give the office a call and ask for a re-evaluation.</p>
<p>I’ll also post the result here for the OP and future parents/students with a similar question.</p>