<p>Question about these two forms of aid. Am I correct in saying that grants are financial aid and scholarships are merit (both of which are obviously not to be payed back)</p>
<p>Ok so, I was wondering if it was possible to call/email any of these schools seeing if I can get more aid from them. I heard you can show schools what another school is giving you and get more money? I’m completely undecided as to where I am going and money will be a factor. Thanks!</p>
<p>Carnegie Mellon gave me a grant of 35,777
(also offered fed workstudy 2800, subsidized fed direct loan 3500, unsubsidized federal direct loan 2000) This all totals 44k… cost of attendance is 57k</p>
<p>BU gave me a grant of 30,000
(also perkins loan of 2500, subsidized fed direct loan 3500, unsubsidized federal direct loan 2000) Totaling 38k… costs estimate 55k</p>
<p>NYU gave me a scholarship of 20,000
(also pell grant 4300, NY state TAP of 500, and then a bunch of loans one of which was 24k !?)</p>
<p>Well…CMU gave you the best package, and my understanding is they will negotiate aid with you…based on other offers. BUT you didn’t GET a better offer from anyone else.</p>
<p>NYU is a FAFSA only school. They offer much less %age in aid than the other schools you are indicating. I seriously don’t think they will “negotiate” aid because they make no pretenses about meeting need…they say they don’t…and they don’t. BUT certainly, you can ask.</p>
<p>You can ask BU, but again they don’t guarantee to meet full need.</p>
<p>I DO have a questions…you mention the Pell Grant from NYU but you do not mention that as part of your package from BU or CMU. Seems to me that if you are Pell eligible, the Pell grant should be included in ALL of your financial aid packages. Was it?</p>
<p>If not, that would add $4300 to your CMU and BU awards.</p>
<p>I’m sure someone here will correct me if I’m wrong…but the Pell is awarded based on your FAFSA EFC and is an entitlement award…in other words, if you are eligible to receive it, you get it. The thing to consider, however, is that your Pell Grant would reduce your need by that amount so CMU and BU might reduce your loans/self help financial aid amounts. BUT that’s not a bad thing as the Pell does not have to be repaid.</p>
<p>A grant is based on financial need. If your family EFC changes in future years you might get more or less. A scholarship is for merit, but many have requirements that you maintain a certain GPA to continue to get it in future years.</p>
<p>You can always ask for more money, but unless you have a compelling change to your financial circumstances they may not give you much if anything. Still, the worst they can do is say no. They are more likely to give you additional aid if you are a very desirable student to them – for example if your stats put you in the top quarter of their class.</p>
<p>What do you plan to do about the gaps between what the schools have offered and their COAs? Will your family make up the difference?</p>
<p>Both grants and scholarships are money that you don’t need to pay back. One university might label that money “scholarship” and another might label it “grant”. In either case, do find out what the requirements are for renewing it in future years. For example, you may need to maintain a certain GPA or stay in a certain major.</p>
<p>That’s weird, BU and CMU dont show any Pell Grant money. This would help quite a lot for both if I get it for those schools too. (it does show up for a couple other schools)</p>
<p>Give BU and CMU a call tomorrow morning and ask about the Pell grant. BUT make sure that this will not reduce OTHER grant money should you receive it.</p>