<p>This is a really interesting situation.</p>
<p>On one hand, I do know about six or seven people who turned down HYP for Chicago, even though Chicago’s package didn’t match HYP. Some of these kids could have really used the extra FA, too, but Chicago was the place for them. It breaks my heart that there could have been more cases… I do remember quite a few students on these boards from last year who were bitter about going to Harvard-- their first choice was Chicago, and Harvard just gave more money. </p>
<p>I also know, just from an economics point of view or even just common sense, that the school is not more expensive than it has to be for each person. I know that President Zimmer is not taking what he gypped you in grants and stuffing it under his pillow.</p>
<p>And also, our FA packages might not look great when you put them alongside schools that can afford to give more money out to students, but in the scheme of college admissions, I think we’re quite generous. Some students are very pleased with their FA packages, and it seems like Chicago’s FA does tend to match up with the packages given by its peers, and occasionally bests them. I don’t think we can do better than what we are already doing.</p>
<p>In the meantime, good luck with the letter!</p>