I’m not sure if this is the right place for this question. My D26 received significant merit aid from Scripps ($20k per year). She did not receive any from Pitzer (we knew they give out much less). However, she would much prefer to go to Pitzer. Does anyone know if Pitzer responds to being informed a student got merit aid from Scripps by offering any merit aid? Suggestions on how to approach this with the college?
For context, we do not qualify for need based aid at either school. Thank you.
You can call admissions and ask. It’s very possible that the bar for receiving merit aid at Pitzer is higher than at Scripps.
Merit aid is usually given out by admissions. So…start there.
You can ask…but even if they give your daughter some merit aid, it’s not likely to be $20,000 worth at this point…in my opinion.
You have to ask but it’s how you frame it - as you noted.
Forget merit - look at cost of tuition, room and board. They are not identical.
Can you get to Scripps quoted room and board - we’d sign now (if you would).
Scripps is $91K next year. Pitzer is $3K more - so you need $23K to be equal.
Scripps offered merit to 42 of 275 last year. Pitzer to 5 of 310 - and at a much lesser amount ($7K vs. $24K at Scripps).
So - you can try and frame it as - we want to be here but the additional near $100K is a hardship and see what they’ll do.
But numerically, I wouldn’t expect anything - but you can go down swinging.
The good news is - she can still experience parts of Pitzer from Scripps.
Good luck.
Thanks. I have no expectation of getting $20k from Pitzer given their merit approach, let alone the $23k to make the cost of attendance the same as Scripps. But closing the gap at least some could really help. As we work through visits the next couple weeks and see where my daughter is leaning after that, if Pitzer is top of the list, I will make the pitch to Pitzer and see if they will offer funding to make it not as much more expensive than Scripps.
The good news at the 5 Cs, none are large and there is overlap. It will be up to you to decide if the delta is worth it. I’d decide that up front - such as you can only choose p if….if that’s a deal breaker for you so that there is no - let me think about it if you’re on the fence.
I’d have an appointment set up so you can ensure an audience when you are there. I’m guessing merit is through admissions, not FA but you can find out.
I hope you get $$ but given they give out 5 a year it looks like, I wouldn’t count on it.
They actually note they give a limited amount - $7k for year one and $5k for the remaining.
Good luck.
Thanks for the responses. I like the idea of an appointment while I am there. That said, the info on the actual number of students who get merit at Pitzer was very helpful to see in plain text. It seems the odds are extremely low. So, I will have that in mind. Also balancing not wanting to even make the ask until I can say if they can offer us some money, she will say yes for sure. And we are not there yet.
I’m researching the same thing at different schools, and the only thing I’d add is to assess any indications that your student is a priority-type applicant at Pitzer. If so, you have more confidence in them being willing to budge in order to retain. Certainly some signal of priority at Scripps!
Thanks! I agree with your assessment. Scripps clearly really wants her. Sadly, I have no reason to believe Pitzer does in the same way. She has certain outside activities that we think are uniquely attractive to a women’s college. They are also attractive to a school like Pitzer, but in a way that is less uniquely suited to them.
The irony is, I agree with D26 that Pitzer is a better fit for her even though Scripps is a better fit on paper. But, this is the best kind of problem to have, so I am not complaining. I feel fortunate that we are in this position.
If I can be realistic here:
Pitzer is a rich kid school. Gives 1/3 need. It has a yield of 35% (domestic students only).
Scripps is also a rich kid’s school but gives a slightly higher % need. It’s domestic yield is 25%.
The schools are similar in size - Pitzer is obviously test blind. 40% take at Scripps.
I’d venture to say - based on the data, Scripps is more aggressive because it has to be.
It’s less - in demand - looking at two schools not overly different in size.
Lest not forget these are businesses - and businesses that need revenue. Scripps likely needs to reach deeper to get not as much revenue - for whatever reason that the market has determined. Maybe it’s the all female bent, I don’t know - but it’s clear Pitzer in seen as superior value wise - to me, anyway.
I doubt it’s - they really want you - well they do. They want and need your $70K.
Just being honest..
Somewhat unrelated, my daughter was accepted at Scripps and are overjoyed! But I was expecting merit in the amounts she has been offered elsewhere. I tried to work up the confidence to call Scripps and ask. But what stopped me is knowing they only give out merit to some and we weren’t chosen. So I felt shy to be annoying and ask. But I was confused bc she got really big merit amounts at similar schools. The only difference I could decipher is geographic region- maybe the offers we have are to draw a Californian away to a colder climate, and maybe here in sunny California they know they don’t need to offer merit to draw Californians like us?
You should have asked - I get the shyness - but it’s 4 years x….
There is no question, schools like to say all 50 states. CA is usually one of the bigger states at top schools, due to sheer size.
Perhaps someone from Arkansas or Wyoming was more attractive, etc.
And then not every similar school gives merit aid.
One never knows the secret sauce - that’s why if you have expectation, that means you have a budget and you need to have schools that will assuredly hit that budget.
It’s becoming more and more a buyer’s market I believe - ie. schools need kids - more than the kids need a school.
I don’t even know what you were trying to do here. I’m sure it was not your intent, but it came across as an attempt at a passive aggressive dig that didn’t quite land. Sometimes it is better to quit while you are ahead.
I’m not trying to make offense - I’m just noting these are businesses - and the #s tell a story.
It’s not to take away from anything - but it’s also the reality of the situation. I tend to look at the data.
These schools are very careful in who they target - is my belief. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try Pitzer - the worst they can say is no. I was just noting they have less “need” for the student - based on data.
Sorry if it came off as insensitive but it’s more statistical.
Good luck - and congrats to her on the two admissions.
We are the opposite of you in our expectations re Scripps. We were not expecting merit from Scripps despite merit money from many other places as well. We knew they did not give it to that many students.
And, despite my daughter being more interested in Pitzer, Scripps seems a fantastic school. To me the Claremonts are a bit like Hogwarts and figuring out which house fits one best. For many kids I think one stands out more than the others, but they are all great in different ways.
It was not your statistics, it was your words I quoted. Like I said, I did not think it was your intent, but the words one chooses also tell a story and that was the story the words you chose told me.
That’s the reality of many kids, at many schools - mine included.
As schools struggle to find full pay parents, they target those who pay. It’s not meant to be rude - but there is a reason the schools are need aware and provide a low percentage of students any need aid.
I apologize if you think it diminishes the student but I’m looking at the stories. We often see kids get into schools where statistically you’d say no. Or some state schools let in a higher % from out of state - given higher tuition payments (although typically lower yields).
It’s easier for me to analyze -as I’m not involved. But I’m convinced (and I’ll never know), that my student got into W&L because she was Jewish. Of 17 acceptances, it’s the one I got wrong - but they wanted Jewish students, and we presented one.
Again, two great admits at tough to get into schools - and I wish you well in asking Pitzer for $$. You never know. Someone asked - why do similar schools give differing amounts so I started analyzing is all.
But I do think, as an example, schools use mathematical tables (Scripps has a 25% yield but likely lower for full pay) and they’re accepting x amount (some with merit) and counting on u joining.
I’ll beg off now. I’m simply being analytical.
Again, best of luck in whatever your daughter (with your help) decides.
Again, nobody is making issues with statistics, data, your view on colleges as businesses, any of that. It is the words you chose to use to make your point that I questioned. It is not the first time I’ve noticed where you have good information and your delivery leaves much to be desired. But, that is easier for me to analyze because it is not me being given constructive feedback that they do not want to hear. I’m not invested in the word choices.
But I get that my point is not being received. I do thank you for the information in your earlier posts. It was useful.
Just updating to close the loop in this thread. D26 decided to go to neither Pitzer nor Scripps so we did not end up asking Pitzer if they’d match Scripps. She’s headed to another school where her cost of attendance is slightly less than it would have been at Scripps.