| Parents and students often ask if it is possible to | | | | is not necessarily subject to the same regulations as |
| negotiiate with a college to improve the initial financial | | | | federal dollars. Colleges and universities can and do |
| aid package they have been offered. | | | | offer all kinds of scholarships to students who have |
| The answer is "yes" for some, and "no" for others, | | | | no financial need. The very most competitive |
| depending on a number of variables. | | | | colleges, however, award money almost exclusively |
| It is accurate to say, however, that in some | | | | on the basis of need, and meet 100% of every |
| instances, meeting with a financial aid or admissions | | | | student's need as determined by the FAFSA. |
| counselor can lead to a better financial aid package | | | | Many colleges employ their own scholarship monies as |
| than the one offered initially. | | | | a tool to compete with more prestigious or less |
| Virtually all colleges and universities require students | | | | expensive institutions...institutions to which they might |
| seeking financial aid to answer questions on a federal | | | | otherwise be likely to lose students. These colleges |
| form (called a FAFSA) designed to provide an | | | | are more than willing to put scholarship dollars on the |
| indication of a student's need for financial aid. Some | | | | table to attract top students. |
| private colleges also use a second form to obtain | | | | As a result, students bound for colleges in this |
| additional relevant financial information. | | | | category may have some luck in upping their financial |
| It is the information therein collected that enables | | | | aid package if they can point to other institutions |
| colleges to get a picture of a student's financial need. | | | | which have offered them better packages or make |
| While not all aid requires financial need, federal grants | | | | a convincing case that the initial financial aid package |
| and subsidized loans do. And, federal funds may not | | | | presents a difficult financial challenge. These kinds of |
| be used to award students dollars in excess of their | | | | appeals should be made to an admissions counselor |
| demonstrated need. | | | | or to the Dean of Admissions. |
| Therefore, the only way to get an increase in the | | | | When requesting more aid...need based or |
| amount of federal aid offered to you in your initial | | | | otherwise...remember that you are not buying a car. |
| financial aid award letter is to convince a financial aid | | | | Ultimatums, rudeness, and aggressive behavior will |
| officer that there has been a significant change in | | | | surely be counter productive. And, you must |
| your financial standing since the submission of your | | | | remember that admissions and financial aid offers do |
| FAFSA or that there are special circumstances not | | | | not enjoy unlimited discretion. While I would not |
| reflected in your FAFSA answers. If you can prove | | | | encourage anyone to try to save the last dollar on |
| what you say, you will have a chance. | | | | educational costs, there is no harm in requesting |
| Financial aid offered to you by the college you attend | | | | necessary help. |