Teen was accepted to Berklee College of Music but did not receive any scholarship money and we’re doubtful that they will be eligible for any need-based aid aside from student loans. Is it possible to appeal a Berklee scholarship amount the way one might appeal a merit aid award? It was surprising to us that they didn’t offer any award, especially since my teen was awarded $24-30k+ awards at other schools. It is their #1 choice for school, so we don’t mind paying more, but didn’t expect to pay sticker price, especially after feeling like they did a really good audition. We wouldn’t expect a huge amount, but even a small amount to offset the cost of books and equipment would be helpful. If it is possible to appeal, what would be the process, what would they need to prepare, and when is the best timing for the request?
I don’t know about your teen’s case, but I do know someone who emailed admissions to ask if they could get an increase in their scholarship amount in order to be able to attend. They were told there would be no increase.
Maybe in your case, since they did not receive any money and they can show scholarship offers from other peer schools, Berklee might give something. It wouldn’t hurt to ask.
Can you - sure. They don’t list a process for non-need appeal. So ask your financial aid counselor how. You’ll need to show why you are worth theur investment vs just asking for more because they are getting the creme de la creme. Why do they need to invest in your student vs others.
Will you get money ? I can’t say. But statistically, per the CDS, they awarded merit to 559 of 1396 first years with an average of $19,500. So most aren’t getting merit and just because you want it doesn’t mean you’ll get it. But if you don’t ask, you can’t. So become a salesperson - have your student sell themself.
Good luck.
You can reach out letting them know that this is the first choice, that the following schools have offered between $x and $y, and is there any merit/scholarship money you might be eligible for. It’s possible they’ll throw you a bone. You don’t know if you don’t ask!
Yes - appearling for higher scholarship offers (or non offers) is pretty much standard practice for music schools. Find someone to email or call in admissions and show them your other offers. Maybe a professor can also be involved as they are often important in pushing for higher financial merit offers.
Did you run the NPC before applying? That should have given you a great idea of your costs.
I personally think parents need to handle these types of appeals and communications with the admissions office, which typically gives out the merit awards.
Merit and scholarships are the same. Your child received no merit award. So you are going to ask them for money based on the fact that other schools did offer merit. Are any other schools at the same level of prestige and selectivity as Berklee? If so, give them proof. If the other schools are not at the same level, your chances are smaller, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.
Indicate that Berklee is your child’s first choice and if money is forthcoming, they will attend.
I didn’t realize it was standard practice! I’m such a bad haggler and my teen is super modest, so this will be new for us! I really appreciate all the advice you and everyone else has given so far!
So far, the offers we’ve received have been from excellent schools, just not the top 5 because their deadlines were later than Berklee’s EA date. Hoping to hear from some more schools very soon.
@Lindagaf, Ineresting you mention having the parent handle appeals. Is that standard practice? I had a friend mention having the student reach out, but I’m curious to hear if there’s a preference from admissions and what message each approach sends to them.
The single most powerful statement your kid can make is “If you can offer X thousand dollars, I will accept”. So match the award of the most “Berklee like” school which has awarded a scholarship- and I’m there.
Once you start the “We’d love 20K” and they only offer 12K it often goes downhill from there. Your kid will want to accept, you’re going to want to wait and see if one of the schools which haven’t offered anything yet are going to kick in more; it’s messy.
So if Berklee is the clear first choice, and 10K is going to seal the deal- tell them that.
No. This is a music conservatory. This poster is talking about music merit aid. Much of this is based on the strength of the audition. The NPC talks about need based aid at this school, and Berklee does not guarantee to meet full need.
Yes, the student can ask for merit aid. There is nothing wrong with asking for this and it’s done by many students.
The question the parent might want to ask themselves is how much merit aid is needed to make this affordable.
Oof! Thanks for the pep talk! It’s definitely helpful to hear advice on how to approach the appeal. @blossom , so are you saying it’s best to wait for as many offers as possible before accepting? I am thankful we went the EA route to have more time, though I do get nervous about housing availability, so I’ll have to juggle both.
Agree. And the budgeting/how much can we really pay needs to be granular and realistic. Do you know how many parents of current college freshman I know who have said a variant of “what was I thinking?” when they got the bill for second semester? The adrenalin is flowing in July and August- there are college funds-- yay! Grandma sends $500 for lab fees because she’s so proud of her “gonna be an engineer granddaughter” and then splurges on a baseball hat with the college logo.
And then it’s January. And the family is wondering why they thought they could bankroll/cash flow 8 semesters when it was kinda/sorta obvious that they could really only afford 2-3 semesters. Kid was homesick so came home over parents weekend even though everyone agreed that the budget could only handle Thanksgiving and Xmas. Etc.
Don’t have a reality check a year from now. Check it now.
I’m saying if Berklee is unaffordable, best to learn that now.
If it’s the first choice, come up with the “this is what we need” number and communicate with them. If it’s NOT the first choice, not worth engaging in a pointless dialogue, right?
Be realistic. If you need $30,000 in merit aid from Berklee, and your student got $0, this just might not be a possibility.
If you need $5000…then it’s possible.
Not wishing to be pessimistic but you need to be realistic!
Negotiation 101: know your walk away number. What does Berklee need to do for you to get to yes? Hold onto that for your own decision making.
Understand Berklee’s BATNA (Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement). They have a pretty reasonable BATNA: they can admit another kid to take the spot they offered to yours.
Still, they have an interest in yielding the kids they accept (it’s one of their performance metrics), and if your kid has some factor that helps them meet an institutional priority for shaping the incoming class, that will reduce the attraction of falling back on their BATNA.
So, appeal to their interests for a negotiated agreement. Your side needs to say Berklee is the #1 choice, contingent on some merit funding. You need to ask them to do at least as well as another school that they see as a peer (the kind of school they hate to lose out to) and ask them to match or come close.
Should your kid reach out or you? On most admissions communications, it should be the applicant. I think that rule is less important when it’s time to talk dollars and cents, though.
Good luck.
You’re the one with the money. I always think students should be the ones communicating in regard to other college matters, but I suspect that admissions offices have dealt with students who think they know what they can afford, but it turns out they are incorrect.
To add, I know a number of people who have asked for money and received it. Maybe not as much as they sought, but enough to make a difference. In those cases, it was never a student handling that aspect.
@thumper1 , thanks for setting me straight on that.
Also, housing at Berklee is guaranteed if you accept your admission by May 1 and turn in your housing app/deposit by May 5. So you do have some time.