Can you pit similar colleges against each other for more merit?

[Anonymous]

You have nothing to lose by trying. The student should make this phone call or send the email, not the parent.

Don't count on it working though, as a previous poster mentioned, there are thousand kids who would be happy to take that spot at full pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This depends on the school. Where my DC attends, they specifically say that merit awards from other schools will not be considered in the reevaluation process. DC asked to be considered based on a change in financial status (fewer work hours resulting in less income) and was denied.

They can say whatever they want to, but if it’s the difference between attending and not attending, there is no reason not to ask

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good topic. Should this be discussed between student and school or can parents initiate? We are writing the checks. Thanks.

This is one of the few areas parents should take the lead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes it's fine. For 5K though you're being kind-of a pr*ck.

This is Op. It was a hypothetical at this point since DC hasn’t heard from all schools yet, but $20k total is not minor, IMO. If you’re looking for the prick here, you might check your mirror.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes it's fine. For 5K though you're being kind-of a pr*ck.

This is Op. It was a hypothetical at this point since DC hasn’t heard from all schools yet, but $20k total is not minor, IMO. If you’re looking for the prick here, you might check your mirror.

LOL. OP...

I looked in the mirror and see you

- np

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes it's fine. For 5K though you're being kind-of a pr*ck.

This is Op. It was a hypothetical at this point since DC hasn’t heard from all schools yet, but $20k total is not minor, IMO. If you’re looking for the prick here, you might check your mirror.

LOL. OP...

I looked in the mirror and see you

- np

Thanks PP. I think this is my final time posting or reading DCUM. Too many d-cks on here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you’re respectful about it then yes

How do you do it respectfully?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good topic. Should this be discussed between student and school or can parents initiate? We are writing the checks. Thanks.

This is one of the few areas parents should take the lead.

This is bad advice. It's college, and they do not want to hear from you - they want to hear from their (prospective) student

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This depends on the school. Where my DC attends, they specifically say that merit awards from other schools will not be considered in the reevaluation process. DC asked to be considered based on a change in financial status (fewer work hours resulting in less income) and was denied.

Why should that affect merit aid?

[Anonymous]

It varies by school. It doesn't hurt to ask, but please don't push back and demand a scholarship (or to speak to someone else) if the school says that there is no possibility for negotiation.

-Financial aid employee who has to field these requests for the next three months

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This depends on the school. Where my DC attends, they specifically say that merit awards from other schools will not be considered in the reevaluation process. DC asked to be considered based on a change in financial status (fewer work hours resulting in less income) and was denied.

Why should that affect merit aid?

All I know is that it was one of the options they offered when requesting reevaluation. Since it did apply and they wouldn’t consider competing offers (yes DC double checked on that), that’s the box on the form my kid checked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes it's fine. For 5K though you're being kind-of a pr*ck.

This is Op. It was a hypothetical at this point since DC hasn’t heard from all schools yet, but $20k total is not minor, IMO. If you’re looking for the prick here, you might check your mirror.

LOL. OP...

I looked in the mirror and see you

- np

Thanks PP. I think this is my final time posting or reading DCUM. Too many d-cks on here.

Nothing wrong with your post, OP. Don't leave! this particular forum just has more obnoxious people on it than some of the others. Just roll your eyes and know that they are stressed out and worked up about their own kids' opportunities. No reflection on you.

[Anonymous]

I know someone who did & negotiated a matched offer. That said, it was a parent who did the talking, a sport was involved, & the college would never be on DC's aspirational list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good topic. Should this be discussed between student and school or can parents initiate? We are writing the checks. Thanks.

Don't make your kid do it. It's not financial aid and likely not truly merit either. It's a discount. Parents should do the bargaining.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good topic. Should this be discussed between student and school or can parents initiate? We are writing the checks. Thanks.

This is one of the few areas parents should take the lead.

Nonsense. The single most compelling approach here is for the student to call and say, hey, I really want to come, but XXX just offered me YYY in merit aid, bringing down the total cost of attendance to ZZZ, which is AAA lower than yours, and so now my parents say I have to go to XXX. Is there anything you can do to help me?