Merit Scholarship at Pitt, Can I Negotiate it up?

kasmith
Sat, 07 Feb 2015 19:19:45 +0000

I recently received a 10k per year scholarship to the University of Pitt (which I am very very happy to have). I don't want to be annoying/over-confident; however, I was hoping to get full tuition. I have not yet heard back from other colleges about merit scholarships because I applied RD for them. But those colleges (UNH, UConn, Northeastern, U of Rochester, and Princeton) aren't known to give much merit aid. I only found out about Pitt in late December, and I ended up applying on January 15th, the last day for merit scholarship consideration. I was admitted within a week and recently got into the Honors College.
  I was wondering if I got "only" (I use this word loosely b/c 10k is a lot of money) got 10k per year because I submitted my application so late. I also submitted a resume of my ECs about a week after my acceptance (early February). My scholarship letter was postmarked February 2, 2015, so I am not sure if the scholarship committee even saw it. Would I be able to "negotiate" the merit aid offer based solely on my academics/ECs which the scholarship committee may/may not have seen? Or do I need to have better offers from my other schools before I ask for anything? Pitt is my number choice, but my parents would only allow me to go if I got the full tuition because it is so far away from where we live. Is there anything I could do?

Here are my Stats:
GPA: 5.08/5 weighted
Rank: 4/435
OOS
SAT: CR 750, M 800, W 750 one-sitting
Subject Tests: 750 M2, 780 Bio E

essays: alright, not the best writer
three recs. all good

Classes:
All APs this year
APs: World History 4, Macro 4, Calc AB 5, Physics B 4, Lang & Comp 5

EC:
All Varsity (4 years): cross country, indoor track, outdoor track
cross country captain, 2014 coach’s award
National Honor Society, Treasurer
French Honor Society, co-president
Mu Alpha Theta, Secretary
Student Senate (3yrs)

Community Service:
Volunteer at local hospital for 3 years (300+ hrs)

Other:
Piano since age 5
Half Korean, Half Caucasian
AP Global Challenge project
NMSSF

Parents make too much money for much need-based financial aid