My D was accepted at H&WS but the net cost will be 5-11k more per year than every other school where she was accepted. I spoke with the FA office and they suggested I send an email with some details about how much I was looking for and why.
Many people have suggested I include the packages she received from a few other schools, so it’s not as if I’m just making this up. Which schools do you think might be best?
Agnes Scott
Allegheny
Elon
Franklin & Marshall
Goucher
Mount Holyoke
Ohio Wesleyan
UMass Amherst
Wells
I think Franklin & Marshall may be closest personality-wise, but I’m not sure what else to send. Right now H&WS is pretty high up in her list of preferences, but in my opinion it’s not worth an extra $50k over four years. Many thanks.
Well…your email should say that HWS is your kid’s FIRST choice but right now the finances are not working. What is your net cost at FM? I think that is the closest one.
We went back and asked for more for both D and S. In both cases, we sent one offer from the other school we were seriously considering. We did get a few thousand more a year for each. I would say F&M is probably your best bet - if their FA package is substantially better than HWS. Mount Holyoke would be my second suggest. I do think you need to give a why as well. Will there be more than one kid in college at the same time? Have there been some unexpected expenses (i.e. medical) or a loss of income? agree with @thumper1 that you should make it clear that it’s her first choice and if given a bit more FA she would definitely attend.
HWS was on our D’s list and she did get one of their $25K a year scholarships - it didn’t ultimately make her final 3, but she liked the school when she visited.
The schools do not have similar financial aid policies. You should not expect the same $ from HWS because they do not meet 100% demonstrated need where MHC & F&M both meet 100% demonstrated need and are higher ranked schools. HWS may not have the $ to give.
You must also ask that barring any major changes in income if you will get the same type of package (100% demonstrated need) for the following 3 years.
Wouldn’t send UMASS as a comparison to a public may not be relevant. Ditto for the all girls schools. I would send the LACs with the best aid as well as F&M as it is the most selective on the list
I would send the best private packages. Look at the admission criteria for all schools, then match or above.
Are any NOT full need met? I would also send that one.
I do not think you have to give a reason, I think it is enough to say, your school costs more than every other school she was accepted, here are your top 4 competitors, what can you do for us in a polite way of course.
Absolutely make sure that the FA will be the same for all years if your need does not change and ask what happens if your need increases.
Totally agree that you need to make sure FA will be same for all 4 years (given meeting certain GPA requirements). Not sure if sending 3 or 4 “better” offers will get you anywhere though. IF HWS is one of her top 2 choices, and choice #2 is substantially lower cost, it makes sense to play that one off of HWS. But I would fear that sending 3 or 4 better offers implying “everyone else is giving us more” won’t necessarily work. You want to spell out why HWS is her top choice over college X and make it clear that $$$ is your only obstacle to saying “yes.”