<p>My son has three good offers with merit he is considering:
College A = private, 24k merit which makes tuition about 13K
College B = public - OOS, 10k merit makes tuition 16K
College C = public - IS, 4k merit makes tuition 7K</p>
<p>Would there be any chance to appeal? B is probably the top choice. We don’t qualify for finaid besides loans. Thanks for any advice.</p>
<p>Are these schools all similarly ranked? Are they “peer schools”?</p>
<p>What is the COA for each school? You mention “tuition”, but room, board, and books cost can vary per school.</p>
<p>
[quote]
College B = public - OOS, 10k merit makes tuition 16K[/quote[</p>
<p>It’s a public university and many have a limit on the amount of merit aid available to OOS students. What school is this?</p>
<p>Problem with looking at COA is the private seemed to boost it up with alot of personal/travel expense so I took it out of the comparison to make it apples-to-apples. But for arguments sake, COA for A = 55K, rank is 17 places higher than college B or C. COA for B = 38K, COA for C = 23K. College B and C are similarly ranked. College B does give more merit for OOS in departmental scholarships and similar stat kids have received full tuition (but then I really don’t know if their ECs might be spectacular or what).</p>
<p>9321haz -</p>
<p>The folks at FinAid.org have put together a nifty calculator that will help you sort out your numbers: [FinAid</a> | Calculators | Advanced Award Letter Comparison Tool](<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid) Maybe if you see them side-to-side things will clarify.</p>
<p>How are you planning to pay for your share of the bill? Can you do this with savings and current income, or would some of it need to be covered by parent loans? The picture for you really changes based on how much debt you might need to take on.</p>
<p>*Problem with looking at COA is the private seemed to boost it up with alot of personal/travel expense so I took it out of the comparison to make it apples-to-apples. </p>
<p>But for arguments sake, COA for A = 55K, rank is 17 places higher than college B or C.</p>
<p>College A = private, 24k merit which makes tuition about 13K</p>
<hr>
<p>Would there be any chance to appeal? B is probably the top choice.</p>
<p>COA for B = 38K, </p>
<p>College B = public - OOS, 10k merit makes tuition 16K</p>
<p>College B does give more merit for OOS in departmental scholarships and similar stat kids have received full tuition (but then I really don’t know if their ECs might be spectacular or what). </p>
<p>College B and C are similarly ranked. </p>
<hr>
<p>COA for C = 23K. </p>
<p>College C = public - IS, 4k merit makes tuition 7K</p>
<p>*</p>
<p>Well, can you take out personal expenses and just include tuition, fees, room, board, books? If so, is the difference between A and B about $3k?</p>
<p>It looks like you might have a case if you use A’s out of pocket cost to get $3k more from school B. Be sure to state that your child will enroll if they can make this work out.</p>
<p>So basically the leverage I have is to say that the out-of-pocket COA (that is, COA less merit award) for the higher ranked College A is 3K less than the out-of-pocket for College B. And to leave the IS public, college C completely off. Is that right?</p>
<p>Also, would you call with this appeal or put it in an email? I haven’t been able to find any info online about a formal process for appealling or a form. Should student be the one to initiate this or doesn’t it matter? Thanks Mom2CollegeKids, you have been very helpful!</p>
<p>In speaking with Admission’s counselors - they say the letter must be sent or faxed by the student and can send letters with offers from other schools.</p>
<p>*So basically the leverage I have is to say that the out-of-pocket COA (that is, COA less merit award) for the higher ranked College A is 3K less than the out-of-pocket for College B. And to leave the IS public, college C completely off. Is that right? *</p>
<p>I don’t see the need to include College C, unless you’re going to say that your child will be attending College C if these other two aren’t more affordable.</p>
<p>Your issue is your out of pocket costs and what you can/cannot afford.</p>
<p>Also, would you call with this appeal or put it in an email? I haven’t been able to find any info online about a formal process for appealling or a form. Should student be the one to initiate this or doesn’t it matter?</p>
<p>I would send an email detailing the info and attaching the better offer. Include your child’s stats. Send it to the Director of Scholarships. It should be from the parent, since you’re the one who knows the most about what you can afford. Be sure to mention that your son will immediately agree to enroll if this can be worked out. Let them know that his is his #1 choice. Schools don’t want to do this for some other school’s benefit.</p>