$20,000 difference in financial aid!?!?

xmobile · 03-31-2008, 06:07 PM

Ok, so according to my financial aid award, I have to pay $20,000 MORE at Brown than at any other Ivy League school I applied to...WHAT IS GOING ON!? I really wanted to go, but now there is absolutely no chance. Is this normal or should I contact them?

jerzgrlmom · 03-31-2008, 06:34 PM

Definitely contact them if you want to attend Brown. My son had about the same FA pkg at Duke, but a better one from Yale. We met with Brown and discussed some special circumstances (High med bills, etc) and showed them Yale's offer. Brown improved his FA to make it possible to go.

sly_vt · 03-31-2008, 07:25 PM

I'll second that. However, since Harvard and Yale now have very different financial aid policies than Brown, it's unclear whether Brown will match their packages. But it is definitely worth a try -- in past years, Brown would definitely increase financial aid to match other Ivies and other competitor schools.

wolfmanjack · 03-31-2008, 07:54 PM

how are they different?

Kristina · 03-31-2008, 11:36 PM

Brown gave me a pretty crappy financial aid package. I have to pay about $10000 more than I would at Dartmouth and Northwestern. I'm pretty disappointed.

guitars101 · 04-01-2008, 01:40 AM

How did you all get your finaid stuff already? Did you receive it in the mail?

modestmelody · 04-01-2008, 01:45 AM

You guys should talk with the Financial Aid office before freaking out-- it's been a long standing policy that we'll match peer institutions or at least try.

Our formulas are different and favor some versus others and may not give out as much initially sometimes. However, quite often we're going to do what we can to keep you-- if we admitted you it means we want you to be here.

Kristina · 04-01-2008, 04:28 AM

I'm definitely planning on contacting the financial aid office. What means of communication is recommended? Email?

sly_vt · 04-01-2008, 07:31 AM

"How are they different": Well, Harvard and Yale announced new financial aid philosophies this year, that families with an income up to $180,000 (Harvard) and $200,000 (Yale) with average assets would pay only 10% of their income. Brown improved its financial aid, too, but not for upper middle class/affluent families.

But for other schools, like Dartmouth, UPenn, Northwestern, Duke, etc., I would imagine Brown would match their aid. Unless the package includes merit awards.

There should be information on the financial aid letter that gives contact information. If it were me, I'd call.

Also, last year during ADOCH there were sessions on financial aid for parents, and the financial aid office was open to answer questions.

I agree with Modest Melody -- if Brown accepts you, it wants you, so definitely contact financial aid.

Kristina · 04-01-2008, 10:42 AM

No merit awards for me.

Also, when contacting the financial aid office, is it bad form to mention how much aid another Ivy League institution is offering?

modestmelody · 04-01-2008, 12:31 PM

Kristina-- that's exactly what you should do. Just say you're a recently admitted student and you'd like to talk to a counselor about the financial aid package you received.

You should then straight up say-- I cannot afford Brown at this amount and X peer institution is willing to give me Y. Is there anything that can be done?

I got no aid my first year and almost freaked-- turns out my aid was "backloaded" due to two factors-- a fair amount of money saved for college in my name that would be spent up year one and a sister who was going to enter college.

Those years my sister is at school and after all of my savings were spent, I've received a significant package. I was able to find this all out by sitting down with someone at FinAid during ADOCH.