<p>If you show Columbia the financial package from Princeton they will match it. Write a letter that Columbia is your top school and you would really want to attend but the difference in FA offers is an impediment. Add the offer from UChicago and state how surprised you were since the other 2 schools both offered a similar level of aid. BTW, Columbia does not match merit aid, but you do not have anything to loose. Even H matches aid from the other ivies.</p>