<p>S got into RPI with a 15k merit scholarship. We don't qualify for an other FA other than the Stafford. Makes for a pretty steep price tag. Anecdotally, it seems students with roughly the same qualifications are getting more merit aid. When is the best time go at them to review his FA package?</p>
<p>Feel your pain…same here for most schools we applied to. From what weve read on CC, you need to have a better package from a PEER school to ask for more because YOU REALLY WANT this school. We may be doing the same thing, but do not hold out much hope as there are long waiting lists for the programs my D was accepted into. When schools can get full payers, why negotiate when they have waitlists? Not sure about your situation, but all they can say is no.</p>
<p>Have you heard back from his other colleges yet?</p>
<p>Yes, heard from:</p>
<p>RIT 44k - 15k (award) = 29k per year.
UConn 26k - 5k (award) = 21k per year.
WPI — waiting
RPI 62k - 15k (award) = 47k per year</p>
<p>S first choice is RPI, but that is a boat load of difference. I was thinking of trying to use RIT as leverage, but I am not sure how to go about that.</p>
<p>
How?
15K is the most of scholarships from RIT; and you’re getting 15K from RPI too.</p>
<p>18k net cheaper for year with RIT. Now granted RPI is generally more well thought of, but they attract must the same talent.</p>
<p>You’d have to approach it from a COA standpoint, but that may not fly if RIT isn’t a peer school to RPI.</p>
<p>No harm in trying though, at least you’ll know where you stand and be able to make a decision knowing you did everything possible.</p>
<p>You probably want to wait for WPI, you don’t want to approach a school twice to review.</p>
<p>What am I missing?..it looks like the award from RPI is the same as the award from RIT. The difference is that RPI costs $20,000 more annually than RIT from the onset? Am I missing something? How much grant money would you need RPI to give you to tell them you’ll accept and attend is the question that you would need to be prepared for and then perhaps go ahead and ask for a review if you have extenuating circumstances that aren’t reflected in your financial aid paperwork. Good luck!</p>