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<p>I agree with every one of your points but this one. If you have a better school or equivalent school to Pitt offering you money, absolutely tell Pitt ALONG WITH point #6 (that is, "I really want to go to Pitt, but school X is offering me ABC amount more). It can make a difference. I used this scenario in the opposite way (talked to another school about what Pitt offered) and it worked (to an extent). Although I guess I also explained it as “since Pitt offered me ABC, it only costs Y to go there, instead of the Z it costs to go to your school”.</p>