| Parents and students often ask if it is | | | | seldom if ever be enough. |
| possible to negotiiate with a college to | | | | |
| improve the initial financial aid package | | | | Financial aid offered to you by the college |
| they have been offered. | | | | you attend is not necessarily subject to the |
| | | | same regulations as federal dollars. Colleges |
| The answer is "yes" for some, and "no" for | | | | and universities can and do offer all kinds |
| others, depending on a number of variables. | | | | of scholarships to students who have no |
| | | | financial need. The very most competitive |
| But, it is sometimes possible to meet with a | | | | colleges, however, award money almost |
| college admissions or financial aid counselor | | | | exclusively on the basis of need, and meet |
| and come away with an improved scholarship or | | | | 100% of every student's need as determined by |
| financial aid package. | | | | the FAFSA. |
| | | | |
| Virtually all colleges and universities | | | | Other colleges and universities, especially |
| require students seeking financial aid to | | | | second and third tier privates, often use |
| answer questions on a federal form (called a | | | | institutional scholarships to compete with |
| FAFSA) designed to provide an indication of a | | | | more selective and/or less expensive |
| student's need for financial aid. Some | | | | colleges. Such schools are generally very |
| private colleges also use a second form to | | | | comfortable using their own dollars to |
| obtain additional relevant financial | | | | sweeten the pot for high-achieving students. |
| information. | | | | |
| | | | Thus, a good student admitted by such a |
| The financial information on a student's | | | | college may be able to wind up with an |
| FAFSA is fed into a formula to determine | | | | improved financial aid package if he or she |
| whether or not he or she is eligible for | | | | can produce award letters from other colleges |
| federal grants and/or subsidized (low | | | | which offer better packages, or if he or she |
| interest) student loans. Understand that | | | | can convince an admissions counselor, |
| other kinds of aid, including many | | | | director, or dean that the original financial |
| scholarships and unsubsidized loans, do not | | | | aid package would make it difficult (or |
| require established need, but federal grants | | | | impossible) for the student to attend the |
| and subsidized loans do. You also need to | | | | college. |
| realize that federal dollars can not be used | | | | |
| to award more dollars than required to meet a | | | | Do not think of a request for more aid as a |
| student's full need. | | | | negotiation, and do not approach it as such. |
| | | | Instead, ask an admissions officer |
| Thus there is only one way to get an increase | | | | (counselor, director, or dean) for |
| in federal funds. If you can demonstrate to a | | | | help...help that will enable the student to |
| financial aid counselor that your financial | | | | attend the college without creating severe |
| status has changed significantly since | | | | hardship for his or her family. If you have a |
| submitting the FAFSA, or prove the existence | | | | good case to make...if you can demonstrate |
| of special circumstances, you may be eligible | | | | that the financial aid package offered to you |
| for additional dollars. If you have a case to | | | | puts a college or university out of reach, |
| make, be prepared to submit documentation and | | | | you may well get the additional aid you need. |
| you may be successful. Your word alone will | | | | |