<p>New to this forum need advice soon! Daughter is trying to choose between two schools. One has offered significantly more than the other. I need advice before calling Fin Aid of the school with the smaller offer. Any tips appreciated.</p>
<p>You probably should give more specifics, so that people who have been through this can offer you more help....</p>
<p>THey will want to see offers from the other school if they are compatable in ranking. Many schools will meet the offer and many will not. It depends on policy and how desirable your student is to their mix. You can check on the specific school's site or just ask. We had great luck with my son at Pomona but for my D at Pepperdine it was no way, no how and she was a good students. You have nothing to loose. If you want specifics feel free to PM me. Good luck!</p>
<p>It may sound hard, but I think of it in purely business terms. Look at it like 2 parties in a negotiation, each has a product the other wants. Think how valuable student would be to school. Average ACT for the school? Average extracurricular participation? In that example they might feel student would be average. No one willl really stretch for an average student. As a parent "market" your student. Be prepared to give examples why your student is particularly marketable. More likely to be a successful student? A successful grad? Every college does it. They show campus pics, success stories, etc, all in an effort to convince you to buy their product. Think it through, though. I read the other day that Harvard, while usually thought of as the most prestigious school in U.S., has more of its grads in prison than any other school.</p>
<p>I just want to give an update on our situation with info that might help others. I went back through the website of the school with the lower award offer and found info specific to "Financial Award Review". Then I called the school to find out they actually have a form which they fax to you. You fax back the award offer from the competing school! Then, they will match it, if they can. It sounds like this school has a list of schools they try to match. Very organized and matter of fact... I hope this helps others who are wondering if it's correct to appeal. I think it's actually expected if you have a competing offer.</p>
<p>yup just be honest. Show them the offer and let them decide. It does work. No hostility necessary. </p>
<p>Actually the best line is "My D would really like to go here but school A has offered $40,000 more and 80,000 is an awful lot of money to overlook. What can you do?"</p>
<p>We did this and within two hours got the answer.</p>
<p>Opie and all --</p>
<p>I just don't get it re: strategy, when discussing large disparities in offers.</p>
<p>We need to talk to a private college (with an outstanding program) which was tight on finaid, about our state university with much lower costs (highly selective program, undesirable location for the industry). Both places have a 5% admit rate for their undergrad applicants. It's an artsy thing, bah.</p>
<p>If we do as Opie says, and show them he could go elsewhere for less, wouldn't they just say, "So, go elsewhere, we've got a long list of people clamoring to get in here..."</p>
<p>The other psychology is to barely refer to competing offers, but say that he really loves the school and wants to say "yes" to them but needs the differential to be able to say "yes." Instead of pretending that he'd equally rather go to both places. He really wants the more expensive place because it absolutely IS better. </p>
<p>Thoughts on overall strategy? Do you love the college or play hard-to-get...</p>
<p>and I'm respectful that this is someone else's thread. I think this overall advice might help us both.</p>
<p>I used a fusion approach, p3T: "Gee, you're D's #1 choice and we want to make it work but your FinAid offer is worse than her second choice...can you do anything?" (Didn't hurt that choice #2 is natural rival, think Red Sox vs. Yankees or Dodgers vs. Giants or Cubs vs. Cardinals.)</p>
<p>We just asked for a review of the financial aid at the 3 highest ranked schools. All were comparable, private and need-based only. I don't think it's unfair to ask the FA office to simply take another look, and see how other schools are evaluating the FA situation. I do think it's important to be objective, fact based, and non-confrontational. When they give you an answer, then you can make your choice.</p>