<p>Does anyone have any knowledge about whether Yale will make a financial aid offer more attractive. The one we received from Yale just about killed us, while Harvard's is more in line. We would rather our son can compare the schools equally, but there is a serious gap here, and it makes it tough!</p>
<p>Call the financial aid office tomorrow. Tell them what Harvard gave you and that you need Yale to give equal aid if your son is going to consider it a viable option. Ask them to recalculate and be sure to emphasize any extenuating circumstances you have. There should not be a huge gap between what Yale and Harvard offer. The offer is not set in stone, especially when a peer institution has offered substantially better aid. Be polite, firm, and persistent.</p>
<p>I'm sure that Yale will match any offer of aid that Harvard (or any other Ivy) has offered you. Yale wants your son to go to Yale, especially not to Harvard, so they will probably be willing to up your aid offer.</p>
<p>I'd call the financial aid office and tell them about your situation, to see what they can do. It's only right that your son should be able to explore each school without any external factors altering his decision.</p>
<p>My daughter is in the class of 2010. We went back twice to financial aid. Both times the amount was adjusted. You need to ask for a review of the financial aid package. Someone will generally contact you within a day. Then you need to explain any situation which you want considered. They do want to work with you. My experience was very positive.</p>
<p>Thanks for the good first-person info.</p>
<p>By "went back twice" do you mean freshman year and sophomore year, or twice as a freshman and it stayed consistent in the second year?</p>
<p>Does your daughter like it there, and in what area is she concentrating?</p>
<p>My daughter is currently a freshman. We went back twice last April to financial aid. We wanted to make sure that all circumstances were included. They adjusted the aid twice last year. We corresponded by email the first time. My husband also stopped in during Bull Dog days after he had attended the financial aid session to make sure that an item was included in the calculation that was brought up during the information session. It needed a second look and aid was adjusted again. </p>
<p>My daughter is very, very happy there. I cannot imagine her anywhere else. The residential college experience is wonderful. The university is very responsive. We are very happy with her choice.</p>
<p>To finish your question, you must apply for financial aid each year, so the amount can change if your income varies. She is leaning toward a degree in sociology and is probably pre-law.</p>
<p>Good luck to her. </p>
<p>My son will try to evaluate Harvard and yale fairly, but if that gap stays sooo wide, it isn't a contest!</p>
<p>I would let Yale know of the difference. They do want to look at Harvard offers.</p>