D has a friend who has amazing stats, likely NMF and it blows me away that he is considering UT (U of Texas) because they do not have a NMF package. He states “I’ll use offers from other schools to negotiate a package from UT…I know schools will do that.” I feel like this fantastic kid is going to end up with empty hands.
So what say ye, CC?
Wait…I need to edit that to be:
Does UT negotiate MERIT aid?!
This kid will not qualify for any financial aid other than loans. So if this kid is NMF can he get an offer from say, OU and then go to UT and ask them to match? And will they?
No they will not match OU’s offer.
** moderator’s note**
Please have your friend establish their own account and post for themselves.
@sybbie719 …will do! Sorry…I had no idea. I am not asking for the friend so I doubt they will create an account. Feel free to delete the string if this violates CC policy.
@“Erin’s Dad” …thanks for the response. Will try and pass this on when the conversation comes up again.
I’d like to suggest that the CC community do away with the term “negotiate aid”.
First- because it’s inaccurate. No legitimate college or university will negotiate- many WILL re-evaluate the package they have already put together based on new information (which might include a better package from a peer school) and virtually ALL will reconsider a package if/when there is a substantial change to a family’s circumstances or a material omission from the information presented.
Second, because it leads casual readers on here to assume that college’s negotiate in the way that you negotiate with the kid cutting your lawn- he offers to do it for $50, you say you can only pay $20, and you end up at $30. (we cut our own lawn so this is for illustrative purposes only). There are so many posts starting now and leading up to May 1 where parents assume that the Trump-like “I’m a great negotiator” is going to get them merit aid at a school that is need only (false) or get them better aid at a college which is already awarding their kid the top merit package (good luck with that) or allowing them to stack outside offers to reduce their family contribution even when the college stipulates that outside awards go to reducing loans only.
The idea that the facts on the ground are what get you a meaningfully better package- updated information, NOT your ability to pound the table and negotiate the heck out of some financial aid officer- is what’s relevant here.