So my daughter is starting to get acceptances – we also did FAFSA already. So will she start getting her aid information as well or will there be some time they all come out at once? We are of course trying to start comparing offers and considering negotiating aid based on what we see. She did get merit offers for some but I cannot tell if that is with FAFSA info or not.
They can come any tiime. Be sure to familiarize yourself with financial aid application requirements for various schools, as some schools have priority deadlines or their own forms that need to be submitted for need-based aid or speciic scholarships.
My daughter’s acceptance was in Oct, but we didn’t get any other information until February. Of course, that was when the FAFSA was submitted after Jan 1, but I’m not sure it is any different now. The merit aid is awarded by matrix, so they need to have a good idea of the gpa and scores of the incoming freshman class before they know if the cut off for the top award is a 30 or 31, for example.
I think the answer is…it depends.
My DD applied EA to two schools…and was accepted before December. She didn’t get even her merit offers until March.
Her rolling admission school also sent merit and financial aid in March…but she did hear about one scholarship in February. (2006)
DS applied early to three schools and had acceptance with merit aid to all three before Christmas. All three also increased their aid offers just about every month until April. (2003).
Many EA and rolling admissions schools don’t send their financial aid packages out until end of March or beginning of April. These students don’t have to commit until May 1.
ED acceptances come with an aid award.
Adding…in many cases, you won’t be able to “negotiate” merit offers. Every school has its own criteria for awarding merit aid. And every school has its own set of applicants. Most schools won’t budge on merit awards because they don’t really give two hoots about what another school’s award was.
@thumper1 then what CAN we negotiate on?
You can negotiate merit and need based aid in some cases.
I was able to successfully leverage one school’s offer to S12 by sending it to his first choice, and they matched it. Neither school was super- selective, however, and both were private. I approached his first choice very carefully, with a letter explaining he really wanted to go but second-choice had offered a package that we could definitely afford while first-choice was probably not going to work for us.
@OHMomof2 thanks! A written letter or email?
I used email. But the style was a formal letter. And I only did it to ONE school - his first choice. And I basically promised he’d attend if they matched.
I would NOT send out lots of letters trying to get various schools to compete.
And the first choice school was very clear that they’d only consider the better package if it came from a peer school. Not a public school, not a much lower ranked school.
Some merit awards are a set amount. If it is $10,000 and that’s what you got, there is nothing to negotiate. If a state grant is $3000, that’s what it is. You certainly can make sure that you get all the awards you are eligible for. I did not consider that negotiating but just following up on the bill.
Some schools, usually private schools with flexible need based awards, will match another offer but that’s never a sure thing. I don’t think that is the norm or that it can be relied upon, but certainly worth a shot.
The ONE thing you need to remember regarding 'Negotiating" merit aid-
First- you are not “negotiating”- you are asking for more aid. So dont use the word “negotiate” in any correspondence.
negotiations happen when 2 parties have equal standing-but in the case of asking for more $$ the colleges hold all the cards.
Second-Colleges will ONLY consider upping aid IF your child has a better offer from a PEER institution.
If you get a big award from a state school and expect a private college to meet or beat it- it wont happen.
All very helpful thanks! She got a very good merit offer from Waynesburg University - we are waiting to see what she gets with York College, Stevenson University, Neumann University, D’Youville College - I am pretty sure they are all similarly ranked and are all private. This is all really helpful.
I don’t agree. Some schools will consider you for more FA is you ask for it, if you show that you have a special circumstance (medical bills, special needs sibling, lost job) that don’t show up on FAFSA. Some want to know they are your first choice. I think it is always worth asking if their is any other money you qualify for.
Did you look at each school’s website to see their scholarship criteria.
If you got good merit at Waynesburgh and it is more than D’Youville’s largest scholarship of 13k. There is nothing to negotiate or ask for consideration.
You also can’t simply look at the amount of the scholarship. You need to look at the net cost of the school and the cost of your child traveling to and from that school.
I did not know where Waynesburg is, but once I found out, it is a 6 hour drive and 4 hours flying time. I would have to calculate approx $100 each way just to get to and from the airport along with the cost of the flight.
While they may be giving me more money, it way cost me more in the long run
If you live near Pittsburgh , it is going to be a really long drive to Buffalo to D’youville. Flying on average is $300 each way plus the cost of getting to and from the airport, foog, checking luggage, etc. It is all those little things that add up
@sybbie719 Oh I understand all of the travel costs and the like – I have had one kid in TX, one in WV, one in MO and another in OH! And yes we are looking at net cost as that is the bottom line.
What do the net price calculators say, any merit estimates given?
@mommdc Yes they do - and honestly we are looking for just 2 -3 thousand more to make the net affordable
Once your daughter has a FIRM top choice…you can inquire about additional aid. You need to make it very clear that she WILL matriculate to the college if the aid is forthcoming. Then if they give you the money…you need to mKe good on that and she needs to enroll at THAT school.
Really, you can’t do this at multiple colleges…well…you can try…but it’s very disenguous to do so. If she has a top choice, work on that college.
Also, remember, your kid will be applying for need based aid annually…so if the school gives you a need based award increase there is NO GUARANTEE that money will be there in subsequent years. None. You apply for need based aid annually.
If she gets a merit aid bump up…you need to be SURE…get it in writing…that the award is rewneable for ALL four years she is in the program…and what the GPA or other requirements are to keep the merit award at the same level.
For $2000 difference…can your daughter get a job? Can you pick up a part time job?
At least one U does (or did) make this guarantee (NEU). But this is generally true, I agree.
Yup. S12 did this, got it in (email) writing.
@thumper1 that is helpful - my daughter does work, and we will see how much she can continue to work while taking nursing - it is challenging. I already have two jobs – I work for one of the big accounting firms and run the books/office for my husbands business