My child will be applying to schools come the beginning of October. Seeking merit scholarships will be part of the strategy. I am thinking that since schools now have to stay away from previous anti-competitive practices this may change how we apply to schools. We are likely looking at a max driving distance for the chosen school relative to where we live but wouldn’t it behoove us to apply to any school where it looks like greater merit money may be awarded? The idea would be leveraging awards to try to get a better package at another school, hopefully closer to home. And once a school has made an offer, if yield rate is important, doesn’t that also potentially benefit the student trying to get a better package? Are there any other strategies we should think about?
I really don’t think that it should change your strategy. Just because schools can recruit post decision, doesn’t mean that they will. To do want you are proposing would likely require you to reject the offer from your preferred school with the hope that they counteroffer. That is a very high risk strategy. Also don’t forget Merit Budget >> Yield Rate.