<p>I’m disagreeing with Awesome’s post: (sorry, I’ve forgotten how to do the quote thing) " If you applied to Pitt as a safety, then you were assuming you could get in and pay (I don’t know of people who apply assuming they will get money)." MD Mom - I think both our families did just that. It wasn’t on our radar until we read about potential merit - and when we got it, well that list of top choices went out the window. I just don’t think the OP is being greedy - it might make it top choice, or decrease what loans need to be taken out. I agree that $15K is probably as good as it’s going to get but I don’t see the harm in asking.</p>