<p>My D has narrowed her choices down to Harvey Mudd & U of Chicago. U of Chicago gave her $5,000 in merit aid (every year for 4 years) and a $7,000 need based grant for 2013-14. Chicago also gives a $2,000 NMF scholarship, but it doesn't change COA if you have a need based grant, they just knock it off that grant. But useful if she does not get need based aid in a future year. Also the option of a subsidized loan of $3,500.</p>
<p>Mudd gave her $1,000/year for NMF and loans ($3,500 subsidized, and unsubsidized & federal direct plus loans as well).</p>
<p>So the COA without taking any loans is about $10,750 between the two schools, Chicago being cheaper. Since they seem like comparable schools to me, I am planning to ask Mudd to re-evaluate D's FA award. Don't want to ask them to "compare", but just planning to let them know she is down to her final two choices, and the cost differential between them is making it difficult for her to choose Mudd. Thought I would say, "I know schools generally do not have a policy of matching other schools' offers, but thought I would ask you to please review her financial aid package in light of the cost differential between her top two choices to see if any additional aid is possible." Letting them know I would be happy to provide any additional financial information they need, and attaching the Chicago aid letter to my email. Maybe also apologizing for the late request, as D has really wrestled with narrowing down her list and I wasn't aware that Mudd was one of her top choices until a few days ago.</p>
<p>Thoughts? Pitfalls? It is hard for me to phone them, as I have the job from h*** right now with a boss who frowns on any personal activity during the day (don't get me started on her attitude toward attending accepted student days...). I thought I would try to get the email off today so they can have it Monday morning, since time is short.</p>
<p>COA of U of Chicago is $64,000
Your fin aid & scholarships are $17,500</p>
<p>COA of Harvey Mudd also is $64,000
Your fin aid & scholarships are $4,500</p>
<p>I don’t think Harvey Mudd would give your child $13,000 more fin aid.</p>
<p>I can obviously calculate that myself. They may do nothing, but they are pretty comparable schools (one could argue that U of Chicago is the better school). And they may not give any or all the same aid. Just asking those with experience in FA or in making these requests whether they have any additional thoughts on how to make the request. I did see a suggestion on another thread to talk to my D’s admissions officer as a starting point. But D never interviewed, so she doesn’t really have a relationship with that person beyond the officer reading her application.</p>
<p>If you look further down, you can see I have posted a thread on appeals as well. You have nothing to lose - there is really no cost to try it. Just understand that the odds are low. I would try to do it over the phone, because I think a personal appeal would be more effective.</p>
<p>I think that there are a couple of challenges and you need to approach both the admissions and financial aid departments.</p>
<p>UC gave 7k in need based aid (for this part you could ask for a financial review) this would come from the FA office</p>
<p>UC gave 2k as a NMF, where Mudd gave 1k (Mudd states their range is 1-2k)I think you will have to deal with admissions about this.</p>
<p>You could probably get some wiggle room here.</p>
<p>The challenge could be matching the 5k merit. Outside of NMF, Mudd has 4 specific scholarships, which she has already been considered for (you probably will also need to contact the regional admissions person for this also).</p>
<p>Yes, she has been considered on those merit awards already (and applied for those requiring application). Regarding the NMF, one part of this that stings is that because Chicago awarded need based aid this year, she will automatically get the $2K annual amount every year. So if she has years when she gets no need based aid, she still gets the $2K (I asked them). Hmm… maybe I should figure out a way to dodge the boss from h*** and call them. But I can see how it can turn into several phone calls, getting calls back, etc. Or… I could email and copy the admissions officer for our region as well, I guess.</p>
<p>talk to the regional admissions person about the merit $ and the NMF. Talk to financial aid about a financial review for the need based aid.</p>
<p>From Harvey Mudd College
Your income may be too high for them not to give you any need based grants.</p>
<p>I think you mean “Your income may be too high for them to GIVE you any need based grants”. Possibly. But U of Chicago is also a FAFSA & PROFILE school, is also need blind, and it gave her a need based grant. Now… U of C has a bigger endowment, so that could make the difference, and Mudd could refuse to budge.</p>
<p>Sybbie, the NMF and need based aid are tied together (so talking to admissions won’t necessarily be the thing to do on NMF). If you get need based aid, you get $2,000. If you don’t, you get $1,000. I am assuming it is like U of C, and you don’t really “get” any of it if you are already getting need based aid over $2,000. They just do internal bookkeeping and lower your grant amount by $2,000. But if there are future years when she does not get any need based aid, then she would get $2,000 (instead of $1,000). A drop in the bucket for Mudd costs, but every thousand helps…</p>
<p>Just send an email to the finaid office asking if they could please review your financial aid offer. In light of your offer from Chicago, “perhaps” Mudd has overlooked some aspect of your financial profile that allowed Chicago to determine that you had a need for $7K. I would let them know that your d is deciding between the two schools and while you can’t ask for them to “negotiate” or “match” Chicago’s offer, I do believe you could show it to them to “help” them see the light. Just send it as an attachment. You know they will look at it just because they’ll be curious.</p>
<p>I asked for reviews for 2 schools. One school took one day to email me back and gave S an extra $1. The other one has a LOT of additional forms and hasn’t finished the review but in the end, I’ve been assured that it can’t hurt. They can’t come back and tell me we have to pay more at this point so go for it and just email them!</p>
<p>I just read last night that we parents are SUPPOSED to ask for reviews! The article said that was a part of being a smart consumer-lol.</p>
<p>Wow… an extra $1? That is almost insulting. Although I am being careful not to take any of the FA offers/lack of them too personally. It is a business for them.</p>
<p>Although I could not help thinking this when a third school (also no need base aid offered) had a FAQ that said this:</p>
<p>“Don’t you want me to come to school X?”</p>
<p>Their answer was “of course…” blah, blah, blah. My immediate thought was: “Of course we want you to come so you can help cover the cost for everyone who is getting FA”. Sorry… that is just what I thought when I saw the question.</p>
<p>LOL! That was a typo! I meant an extra $1000. Not great but $1K is 1K when we are talking about 8500 EFC, right? </p>
<p>Yes, it is a business, first and foremost so do ask but don’t be insulted or take it personally if they don’t offer more. Most of the school my son applied to said they would “look” at other need based offers so why not ask? Email was the easiest and best in my opinion because each party had time to think before replying! Have all your paperwork at the ready, scan it and send it when and if they ask for it.</p>