The reason that Harvard aid is more helpful to some than others is that it does not consider home equity in it’s calculations where most others do.
And not to be to technical but they are doing just what you are saying they are taking another look at your aid or recalculating not matching.
1 Like
Brown also does not include home equity anymore. That change happened two years ago I think.
1 Like
It is never out out of line to ask for more aid. Just speak their language. Ask for a re evaluation. Based on aid packages you have received from other need only institutions. Re look at the numbers you supplied to them are any extremely high or low for your usual finances if so this could be a reason for the lower than expected aid. If it is a one time variance let them know that as well.
Sure, I don’t own a home so you are right the issue of home equity does not make a difference for my family. In any case, Harvard’s initial aid package (for my children) was notably more expensive than some other colleges. I am not saying that is true for all families, just for mine, but I imagine it impacts other families given some colleges have eliminated their student contribution altogether (they do not expect any employment (either summer time or academic year) while Harvard does include term-time employment as part of their financial aid package. Brown also expects student employment.
Yes, I agree, but I think it is a faint line. The fact that all of these colleges want to see the other colleges’ offers may not mean that they want to “match,” but it also seems a little disingenuous to for them to ask “in case we have overlooked a factor or miscalculated their original offer.” At least in my family’s case, our finances are so boringly simple, there is nothing to miscalculate. There is $0 on almost every single line of my daughters’ CSS profile 
I think it more a matter of the financial aid office changing their mind in light of other colleges being more generous than a real re-crunching of a handful of numbers.
You have very valid points. There is some wiggle room if you really meet a need for their incoming class. For us Harvard was double the amount of aid we got from their peer and we used it for my kid to go to his dream school. I am just cautioning parents to not think that matches to a non ivy are automatic or evn commonplace. Also to get the word match out of their vocabulary when they speak to the fin aid office
1 Like
Is there a waitlist thread for Brown? couldn’t find it
Are you waitlisted there too? My son is. Not holding our breath but he did send a LOCI but is getting ready to pay deposit at Lehigh.
yes and wondering if there is a thread for that conversation
I don’t think there is. We might be the only 2 on CC on Brown’s WL because I haven’t seen anyone else mention it.
that would be good news and both our kids will get off the waitlist if only 2 kids are on it! Keep me posted on this thread please if anything happens…
Ok will do. Same for you too.
I was wondering as well why there wasn’t a Brown waitlist thread, but to my knowledge Brown waitlists less students compared to other ivies, so that may be a factor as to why.
Son is on waitlist, just haven’t been invested as I know it’s so unlikely.
there is a reddit thread
Link?
I know it’s helpful for people that come back to read next year, S24 was admitted off waitlist on 5/14 around 3:30pm.
There was no email asking if he’s still interested prior, it was just an email saying congrats you’re accepted. The next morning he had an email/call from AO.
12 Likes
Congratulations and welcome to the Bruno community if he accepts the offer. Proof again that waitlists are not rejections. In reality they are deferred final decisions.
Once again congratulations!!
2 Likes
Did anyone get off BRDD waitlist
what is BRDD?
Brown RISD Dual Degree