| Definitely request a review of the award. In doing so, you should point out two things:
1) Circumstances that might not have been reflected in the forms (job changes, etc.)
2) Better awards from peer schools. A selective LAC probably won't care about the big award from your state university, but if a comparable LAC coughed up a better award, they may try to recalculate in a way to get their offer competitive.
At many schools, there's a fair amount of latitude in the process and you don't want to alienate the aid person by sounding like you are trying to get the best deal on a used minivan. Understand that the financial aid officer may well be making less annually than you do, live in a less desirable home or apartment, and in general be unsympathetic to how difficult it is for you to make ends meet. (If you are truly destitute, of course, that's a good case to make!) By focusing on specifics that may have been overlooked and the possibility that the student may attend another school purely for cost reasons (even though he loves this college), you can keep things from getting judgmental and maximize the chance of an enhanced award. |