<p>I was admitted to SCS and CIT (ECE) RD and I was just notified of my financial aid award yesterday. My EFC is ~$41k and the CMU cost of attendance is ~$57k. I've spoken to my parents and they say I'll need, at the lowest, $17k in financial aid from CMU if I were to attend. However, my financial aid package doesn't even come close to covering the $17k--I was offered ~$600 (six hundred) as a Carnegie Mellon Undergraduate Grant. </p>
<p>Is there any way to negotiate for more financial aid? I know CMU considers offers from other private, peer institutions, but all the schools I have applied to, other than CMU, are public universities. I have not qualified for any need-based aid at any school. Though, I've been offered $12k/yr merit money from the University of Illinois--Urbana-Champaign (out-of-state), $5k/yr merit money form the University of Maryland--College Park (in-state), and I am still waiting on my decision from the University of Michigan--Ann Arbor. I really want to attend CMU next year, but at this point it seems impossible that I could.</p>